Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dionel Lake. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Dionel , thanks for joining us today. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

Balancing Passion and Boundaries in Business

Owning a photography business is a rewarding journey, but it’s not without challenges. For me, the greatest struggle has been balancing my passion for creativity with the realities of running a sustainable business. My drive to hyperfocus on details and perfect every aspect of my work is both my greatest strength and my greatest challenge.

At its best, this focus allows me to create work I’m proud of—thoughtful, meaningful, and detailed. But if I’m not careful, it can become draining. Ignoring the small warning signs, like irritability or mental fog, leads to burnout. When I push too far, even small tasks can feel overwhelming, leaving me emotionally and mentally depleted.

The turning point came when I realized that ignoring my boundaries didn’t just hurt me—it impacted my family, my clients, and the joy I find in my work. I started making changes: setting time limits, building downtime into my schedule, and letting go of perfection. I began trusting my instincts and prioritizing what truly mattered: connection, authenticity, and sustainability.

As business owners, it’s easy to prioritize clients over ourselves, but that approach isn’t sustainable. If we want to deliver our best work, we need to honor our own needs. The autonomy of running a business is a gift, and it’s one I’ve learned to use to live more fully and joyfully.

By creating a business that works for me, I’ve been able to show up as the best version of myself—for my family, my clients, and the work I love. And that’s a balance worth striving for.

Dionel , 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?

I’m a photographer with just shy of two decades of experience in the industry. My journey began in a food photography studio, where I learned the art of lighting and composition. Over the years, I’ve expanded that foundation into a full-time career capturing stories through my lens—whether it’s the personality of a home or the love within a family.

Photography has always been more than a profession for me—it’s a necessity. As a creative individual, having an outlet to channel my ideas, emotions, and perspective is vital. It’s my way of making sense of the world and expressing what words can’t capture. Photography brings me a sense of peace and fulfillment that no other job has ever offered. It’s not just what I do; it’s part of who I am.

Today, I specialize in two main areas: interior design photography and family photography. I collaborate with builders, contractors, and designers to showcase spaces with precision and artistry, helping them highlight their vision and hard work. On the family side, I create warm, authentic images that celebrate the unique connections and personalities that make every family special.

What drives me is the power of storytelling. I believe every space, every family, and every moment has a story worth preserving. My goal is to capture those stories in a way that feels honest, beautiful, and uniquely personal.

What sets me apart is my ability to balance creativity with meticulous attention to detail, combined with a genuine focus on making my clients feel seen and celebrated. My work isn’t just about delivering photos; it’s about creating an experience that leaves clients feeling valued and connected.

I’m proud to have built a career that aligns with my passions and allows me to share my perspective with the world. Photography is my way of giving back—turning moments into memories that clients can treasure forever

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Turning Challenges into Growth: How I’ve Navigated the Unexpected in My Business

Owning a photography business has been one of the most rewarding adventures of my life, but it’s also been filled with moments I didn’t anticipate—moments that pushed me to grow, adapt, and lean into who I am. Some challenges were logistical, others emotional, and many deeply personal. The most unexpected of them, however, became opportunities to better understand myself and shape my business in ways I never imagined.

In the early days of building my photography business, I had a clear picture of what I wanted: a career that allowed me to express my creativity, support my family, and honor the people I worked with. But I didn’t fully account for how my own tendencies—particularly my hyperfocus, perseverance, and meticulous attention to detail. Traits I had only ever seen as positives, without understanding the negative effect they can have without moderation. When I’m immersed in my work, I experience moments of flow where everything feels clear and effortless. I thrive on the details, and I’m proud of the way I can bring creativity and precision together. But when I ignore my natural limits, when I push too far or dismiss warning signs, the side effects creep in—and they can be devastating.

For me, the signs are subtle at first: irritability, difficulty focusing outside of work, or an overwhelming sense of mental clutter. If those barriers continue to be pushed, the impact grows. Emotional stability becomes harder to maintain. Simple tasks feel impossible, and the smallest disruptions—an unexpected email, a reschedule, or even a misplaced item—can feel insurmountable.

When barriers are ignored, the emotional side effects can be profound. I’ve experienced days where I feel completely shut down, unable to process the demands of the day or even communicate clearly. My energy feels drained, leaving little room for creativity or connection. Burnout isn’t just physical; it becomes emotional and cognitive, creating a cycle that can be hard to escape. And a term, those neurodivergent, creative thinkers are all too familiar with.

Overstimulation plays a big role, too. The constant demands of running a business—managing clients, coordinating schedules, editing, marketing—can feel like being caught in a whirlwind. When I don’t give myself time to decompress, I start to feel disconnected from myself and from the work I love. Creativity begins to fall to the side and function becomes a priority, sometimes at the expense of the quality of work I deliver.

One particular project drove this lesson home. I had taken on a series of interior design shoots, and I was determined to showcase every detail of the spaces exactly as the designer envisioned. I spent hours perfecting the lighting, rearranging decor for optimal framing, and diving headfirst into post-production to ensure each image was pristine. At the time, I felt unstoppable, proud of the work I was creating.

But when I delivered the final gallery, the client was thrilled—and their response surprised me. They were amazed at how I’d captured the feeling of the space, but they didn’t comment on the tiny details I had agonized over. I realized I had pushed myself to the brink for things that didn’t matter as much to the client as they did to me. That moment forced me to step back and question my priorities: Was I creating for my clients or for my own need to perfect every detail?

That moment forced me to stop and reflect. I realized I had ignored every warning sign, convincing myself that I just needed to push through. But the truth was, I couldn’t sustain the pace I was working at—not without real consequences to my emotional and mental health.

Learning to balance my passion with sustainability became a turning point. I realized I could still take pride in my work without letting hyperfocus and perfectionism drain me. Here’s how I made adjustments:

Setting Limits: I began setting boundaries for how long I’d spend on certain tasks. If I found myself hyperfocusing on details that didn’t matter to the client, I’d remind myself of my priorities and step away.
Recognizing Warning Signs: I started paying closer attention to my body and mind. Irritability, difficulty concentrating, and emotional fatigue became signals that I needed to slow down.

Recharging With Purpose: I built intentional downtime into my schedule, whether it was a quiet day with my family or a few hours to decompress after a busy week.

Letting Go of Perfection: I gave myself permission to embrace imperfection. My clients weren’t expecting flawless; they were expecting heart, creativity, and authenticity—and those don’t require every pixel to be perfect.
The hardest lesson I’ve learned is that ignoring my limits doesn’t just hurt me—it impacts the people I care about, too. When I’m emotionally drained, I’m not as present for my family, my friends, or my clients. My patience wears thin, and the joy I find in my work starts to fade.

But when I listen to my body and honor my boundaries, I show up as the best version of myself. I’m more creative, more focused, and more connected to the people and work that matter most.
As business owners, we often cut ourselves short when it comes to accommodating our own needs. We bend over backward to meet client expectations, sometimes at the cost of our well-being. And while I fully believe in providing exceptional service in a client-driven industry, it’s not sustainable to maintain that standard of work if we can’t uphold the parameters we’ve set for ourselves.

This realization hit hard. I started asking myself: If I’m running my own business, why am I not using that flexibility to live a more fulfilling life? As business owners, we have autonomy and the power to design our days. But too often, we trap ourselves in a cycle of overworking, thinking it’s what we owe our clients.

That mindset isn’t sustainable, and it doesn’t have to be the norm. I decided to take a cue from the French—who prioritize living over working—and create a business that allowed me to live.

Navigating these unexpected hurdles has taught me to approach challenges with curiosity rather than frustration, to ask for help when I need it, and to trust that my way of working is a gift and not a limitation.

As business owners, we owe it to ourselves to live the kind of lives we dream of for our clients. We encourage them to laugh, relax, and be present in the moment during photo sessions. Shouldn’t we extend that same grace to ourselves?

The beauty of running my own business is that I get to shape it around my needs and values. Whether I’m capturing the love between a family, the personality of a home, or the magic of a wedding day, I know that I’m doing it in a way that’s sustainable and true to who I am. And that makes all the difference.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Unlearning the Pose: The Lesson of Genuine Connection

When I first started as a photographer, I believed that mastering perfect poses was the key to capturing beautiful portraits. I’d studied angles, lighting, and composition, convinced that these technical elements would bring every image to life. But over time, I realized something critical: a perfectly posed portrait isn’t always a meaningful one.

The turning point came during a family session early in my career. I had meticulously planned the shoot, complete with poses and prompts. But as the session unfolded, the parents looked stiff, the kids were restless, and the atmosphere felt anything but natural. Despite my efforts to guide them, the connection I was hoping to capture wasn’t there. I left feeling like I’d missed something important.

Reflecting on that session, I realized the problem wasn’t my technique—it was my approach. I was so focused on how they looked that I’d overlooked how they felt. Photography isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about connection. I needed to shift my mindset from posing to understanding, from directing to guiding.

Since then, I’ve made it a priority to help clients feel at ease, especially because being in front of a camera can feel so vulnerable. My sessions now begin with conversation—not about the shoot but about them. I ask about meaningful moments in their lives: their family traditions, the milestones they’re proud of, the little things that bring them joy. That conversation becomes a bridge, shifting the focus away from the camera and onto the beauty of their story.

As the session unfolds, I treat it like a dialogue. I guide gently, creating space for kids to be themselves—wild, curious, and full of life—and for adults to feel comfortable in their own skin. Before long, the camera fades into the background, and they start to lean into the moment.

This lesson changed not only my photography but also my business. While technical skills are essential, creating comfort and connection is where the magic happens. A beautifully structured business can thrive on one-time clients, but a sustainable business is built on trust—the kind that brings people back time and again because they know they’ll feel seen and celebrated in front of your lens.

Unlearning the importance of posing taught me what truly matters: authenticity. And that’s the heart of every photo I take.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.themittentog.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themittentog
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themittentog
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themittentog

Image Credits

Dionel Lake / The MittenTog