We were lucky to catch up with Daniel Knoll recently and have shared our conversation below.

Daniel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I quit my job during the pandemic to start my photography business. It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done but it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I was working as a property manager at the time and doing photography on the side. When the world shut down and everybody was watching Netflix and learning how to make bread I got right to work. I spent everyday on all the back end work of starting a business and when I wasn’t doing that I was taking as many photos as possible. I lived in one of the buildings I was managing at the time so when I decided it was time to resign I had to move apartments as well. A lot had changed really fast and things got really hard at times but I never gave up. Fast forward a couple of years and I am flying around the world taking photos for National and International Companies.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

A long time ago I had a wood tech accessory company and I sold products in stores and online. I didn’t have the funds to pay a photographer for my marketing so I decided to buy a camera and try to learn myself. I was terrible but it got the job done. Eventually I moved on from that business but photography stuck with me. I started taking photos for friends and family and doing paid shoots every once in a while. It took a long time but eventually it turned into my everyday job. Now I do engagements, weddings, portraits, products, restaurants, real estate, travel, and more. I take extreme pride in every photo I deliver and it’s never lost on me how grateful I am to get to do what I love.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission with my creative journey is to be able to travel the world doing what I love. I’ve already began my journey down this path but I haven’t even scratched the surface yet. I’ve been traveling roughly once a month for photoshoots but there is still so many places I want to see.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

If you want to know how to build your clientele it’s simple. Give every piece of work you produce everything you have. Plan ahead for your projects, work extra hours on them. Don’t skip a beat. You never know who is going to see your work and want to hire you. If you do a low paying gig and think it’s not worth giving it your all you are sorely mistaken. Word of mouth has always been and will always be one of the best ways to grow your clientele. The only way to get people talking is to go above and beyond every single time. Not only does this help build your clientele, but it also helps you improve at your craft because you push yourself every single time.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shotbydanielk.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shotbydanielk/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shotbydanielk/
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/shotbydanielk

Image Credits
Photo of me on the highway with my camera – @jakem68