Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of catching up Daniela Duncan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Daniela, thanks for joining us today. The first dollar you earn in a new endeavor is always special. We’d love to hear about how you got your first client that wasn’t a friend or family.
I had already been a well-published stock photographer, mostly photographing nature and travel, but wanted to build and expand my portrait portfolio, so I started photographing photogenic friends; then friends of friends, who had seen the work and loved the pictures started hiring me for family sessions. It was something I found highly enjoyable and gratifying. Soon I was booked for 5 years straight. I believe the secret is to start, somewhere, somehow, using what you have, and to do it with love, not just thinking about the money. The money will come as a consequence of a work well done, of work that will supply a need and leave clients happy.
Could you share a bit about what sets you and your work apart?
One thing that maybe sets me apart is that I love incorporating nature when I’m photographing people: my headshots and family sessions are usually done surrounded by trees and lush greenery. I love working with oak trees, Spanish moss, and coastal features – marsh and rivers as backgrounds.
When I’m editing the albums, my purpose is that the end result is naturally beautiful – not bland or overdone. I make sure the colors are real and the image is not unnaturally washed out or overprocessed. And most importantly: that the captures reflect genuine moments and honor people’s personalities.
Also, I love when clients include their beloved pets – I encourage that, I always welcome them and give them special attention.
Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?
There was a time, after spending several years totally booked for Fall for family pictures, that I got burned out. With family pictures, it takes much more than the hour spent at a photo session – you’ll spend many more hours working on their album: saving, culling, editing, uploading, etc It was all consuming. So there was a time I just wanted to enjoy all four seasons again, and my family and travels, and my wildlife photography, too. I took a break for 5 years. Then I missed it, the connection, the fun moments, the enjoyable parts of it, and am now returning to people photography, happy to reconnect with favorite clients and being much wiser about it – not over booking, not saying yes to everything, being selective with quality clients, knowing how to set boundaries and to have time for myself and my other interests, too..
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
There were editing tools I wish I had learned and used at the beginning of my journey, it would have made things easier. In photography, it is necessary to have capable editing software and proper lenses for different types of photography. A wildlife or wide angle lens will distort people’s features – so my advice for beginner photographers is to do the research, and get the right lenses, the best they can afford, for what they’re photographing. The photographer’s eye, creativity, talent and skill are essential, but the equipment matters too and makes a big difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Daniela-Duncan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniduncanphotos
Image Credits
Images (c) Copyright Daniela Duncan. All Rights Reserved.