We recently connected with Danielle Estep and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Danielle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?

Absolutely! One of my favorite client success stories is working with Semifreddo, a food truck specializing in beautifully crafted semifreddo desserts and gourmet sandwiches. Jordan Shirk, the owner, reached out to me through a mutual friend because they needed high-quality photography to elevate their brand and bring their vision to life. Their goal was to create a strong, cohesive brand identity that would not only make their products stand out but also help them expand their reach.

We spent eight hours in the studio, carefully crafting each shot to highlight their four signature flavors of semifreddo. Every detail mattered—we matched backdrops to each flavor, incorporated fresh ingredients to emphasize their commitment to quality, and styled the desserts in their signature cups and cones to create a clean, modern aesthetic. We didn’t just capture food; we built a visual identity that felt true to their brand.

Beyond the desserts, we focused on their sandwiches, using a bright blue backdrop for contrast, stacking them for a bold, eye-catching presentation, and capturing playful, in-the-moment shots to bring personality to their brand. To tie everything together, we took advantage of a golden hour shoot outside their bright white food truck, capturing Jordan and Emily in their element—smiling, serving, and doing what they love.

The impact? Semifreddo’s business has grown significantly. With the new branding images, they launched an online ordering system and expanded into local markets, giving them a whole new way to reach customers. The photos we created gave them the professional, polished look they needed to stand out in a competitive market, and seeing how they’ve grown since has been incredibly rewarding.

This project was such a great reminder of how powerful strategic photography can be—it’s not just about beautiful images, but about helping a business tell its story, connect with its audience, and ultimately, grow.

Danielle, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hey, I’m Danielle – the owner of Elle Design & Photo, where I specialize in photography, brand building, and web design. My work is all about bringing brands, businesses, and life’s biggest moments to the forefront in a way that feels authentic, elevated, and intentional. From brand photography and lifestyle content to event coverage, creative direction, and full-scale website design, I help my clients create visuals that don’t just look good—but truly represent who they are.

My journey into photography and design started as a creative outlet, but it quickly became something bigger. I’ve always been drawn to visual storytelling—capturing not just how something looks, but how it feels. Over time, I honed my skills, worked with incredible clients, and built a business that allows me to help brands and people show up confidently in their own stories.

What sets me apart is my ability to seamlessly blend into different spaces, whether I’m shooting a high-energy corporate event, crafting brand visuals for a small business, designing a website that tells a brand’s story, or building advertising materials that help businesses connect with their audience. I take the time to understand my clients’ vision and make them feel at ease, ensuring that every session—whether it’s a photoshoot, a design project, or a full branding overhaul—feels natural, not forced. My background in design plays a huge role in my work—I don’t just take photos, I think about composition, branding, and how these images or designs will function in the bigger picture of marketing, storytelling, and connection.

I’m most proud of the trust my clients place in me. Whether it’s a company like Acrisure, where I’ve captured their brand’s journey through event photography, a business like Semifreddo, where my brand photography directly contributed to their expansion into local markets, or a project like Hey Honey Hair, where I built a full website and branding system from the ground up—I love seeing my work have a real impact. But beyond the big names and projects, I’m just as proud of the everyday moments: a bride seeing her wedding photos for the first time, a business owner getting excited about their new website, or a family looking at a holiday card that perfectly captures their love.

At the core of Elle Design & Photo, it’s about more than just photography. It’s about creating something real, intentional, and meaningful—whether that’s for a brand, an event, or a personal milestone. I build brands, craft visuals, and design websites that bring my clients’ vision to life in a way that feels truly their own—because when you see yourself (or your business) in the best light, that’s when the magic happens.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Elle Design & Photo started as a side hustle—something I did because I loved it, without really knowing where it would take me. I’ve always had a strong creative drive, and photography was one of those things that just felt right. At first, I was picking up sessions here and there—shooting for friends, doing small branding projects, and experimenting with different styles. It was something I poured my energy into, even while juggling other work.

The turning point came when I started booking more consistently and realizing that I had built something with real momentum. People weren’t just hiring me for photos—they were trusting me to bring their vision to life, elevate their brand, and tell their story visually. That’s when I knew I had something worth pursuing full-time.

Some key milestones along the way:

Expanding beyond photography – I realized that my skill set went beyond just capturing great images. My background in design and branding gave me a different perspective, and I started integrating brand-building, advertising materials, and web design into my work. Clients were looking for cohesive, high-end visuals across their websites, social media, and marketing—and I was able to deliver the full package.

Rebranding Bay Pointe Inn – One of my most transformative projects was working with Bay Pointe Inn, a luxury waterfront hotel on Gun Lake. I led a full rebrand, ensuring that everything—from their property signage to marketing materials—felt seamless and reflected the high-end experience they provide. On top of that, I’ve continued capturing their signature events, like the Gun Lake Live summer concert series, and photographing their top-tier food offerings for advertising. This project really showed how strong branding and strategic imagery can elevate a business’s presence.

Landing major clients – Working with companies like Acrisure on high-end corporate event photography and building the brand identity for Semifreddo showed me that my work had real impact. These projects gave me the confidence (and proof) that my business was growing into something sustainable.

Going full-time – The shift from side hustle to full-time career was an exciting and empowering moment for me. I reached a point where I had enough consistent work to take the leap, and it was thrilling to step into a world where I could truly thrive. It wasn’t just about the transition—it was about diving into an environment that aligned with my passions and where I could work with incredible people who trusted me and shared my vision. The opportunity to bring my creativity to new projects and collaborate with different brands and individuals has been energizing, and it’s been an absolute joy to build a business that reflects my style and values. Every day feels like a new adventure, and I couldn’t be more excited about the journey ahead.

Now, Elle Design & Photo is a full-fledged business that blends photography, branding, and design. I get to work with incredible people, help brands grow, and document meaningful moments in a way that feels true to them. What started as something small—just me and my camera—has turned into a career that allows me to create, connect, and help others see themselves and their businesses in the best light possible.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is the ability to bring someone’s vision to life—whether it’s through capturing a moment, building a brand from scratch, or creating visuals that speak to a deeper meaning. There’s something so special about working with a client, understanding their goals and values, and then using my creativity to help them communicate that to the world.

For me, it’s not just about creating something that looks good—it’s about creating something that resonates. When a brand comes to life in a way that feels authentic to the people behind it, or when a person sees themselves captured in a way that feels true to who they are, that’s what makes all the hard work worth it.

Another part of it that I love is the constant learning and growth. The creative process is never static—it’s always evolving, whether through experimenting with new techniques, working with different industries, or finding fresh ways to tell stories. Each project brings a new challenge, and that keeps me on my toes and constantly striving to push my limits.

Ultimately, it’s the connection—whether it’s connecting with the brand’s audience or the people I work with—that makes being an artist and a creative so fulfilling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elledesignphoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elledesignphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elledesignphotography/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielleestep/