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

River, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

As someone who has held all kinds of different jobs working for other people over the years, it was a big shift to jump head-first into owning my own business. Last year I was working as a housekeeper in the morning and waiting tables in the evening, and my body was really paying the price. After injuring myself at work and realizing I wasn’t taking my chronic health condition seriously, I finally called it quits. With the help of my partner, I took a break from work and then re-evaluated what my work life could look like. I’ve always loved creative expression, so it came pretty naturally to look at how I could use my creative skills to create a healthier life for myself. Now, I’m so grateful to have the freedom and flexibility to prioritize my health when I need to. I love working for myself and making my own decisions about my work life. Even though it can be stressful, I’m much happier as a business owner than I was as someone’s employee.

River, 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 specializing in storytelling and creative portraits. Many of my clients are LGBTQIA+ and are looking for a photographer who capture their authentic selves and not try to put them in a box. I love making spaces for people to feel comfortable to be themselves, to celebrate who they are and who they love. I’m so proud of the people I’ve met who have told me that they feel insecure in front of the camera, who then absolutely rock their photoshoots! Clients tell me that I help them feel safe and confident, and that’s a really amazing feeling.
I spent many years focused on nature photography, including landscapes and wildlife. In 2022, I started playing around with portraiture and found that I really loved capturing images of people just being themselves with their loved ones. When I photograph weddings, I make sure to get all the big moments, but my favorite are the quiet ones in-between that are so often missed. The little touches, giggles, dances when you think no-one is watching–that’s the good stuff that you want to be able to look back on forever.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of sharing my creative work with others is changing how people see themselves. For the queer community, so many of us grew up being bullied and made to feel ashamed of who we are. To be able to capture someone’s authentic self on-camera, to see their natural smile and confidence blossom, is really amazing. I love seeing people’s reactions when I deliver their photos and they see an image that reflects their true self, maybe for the first time ever!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I first began sharing my work online and booking people for family photo sessions, I had really great initial success. My first few months were busy and exciting.Then, it all dropped off suddenly and my inbox was like a desert for months! Even though I wasn’t getting paid work during that time, I kept myself busy by doing things like collaborating with other creatives, educating myself with books and videos, and building a solid foundation for my business. It was hard to keep going some days but I knew deep down that this is what I wanted to be doing, and trusted the process. Eventually things picked back up again and suddenly I was filling my calendar with my dream clients! I’m so glad I didn’t give up when things got hard because eventually, everything started falling into place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.photoswithriver.com
• Instagram: @photoswithriver
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/photoswithriver

Image Credits

Headshots of me taken by Jas Kitterman (Jas K Productions, @jaskproductions). All other photos taken by me, River Dantzler (Photos with River).