Conversations with Danielle Thompson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Thompson.

Hi Danielle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story starts with the birth of our tween daughter. I had a “nice camera” that I would pick up every so often, but when she was born I wanted to learn to take better photos of her. I started with an online class titled “Photographing Babies and Children” and since I had a built-in model in my daughter, I was able to really learn about my camera, photograph using manual settings, and how to manipulate light. I then inched my way into taking photos of other families and realized I still had a lot to learn, so I continued to take classes, and in Summer of 2010 we relocated out of state. This relocation allowed for a break in my full-time career (as a healthcare administrator) and that gave me the space to pursue a family photography business. After working hard to get my business up and running and trying to grow my client base, the opportunity came to relocate out of state again! That relocation brought us to the South Suburbs of Denver. It was overwhelming to think about how to re-start my business, but with the help of my “Life Coach” I started to take the steps to re-establish my business in Colorado. My business was really built with clientele who were Moms in the same life stage as I am. Since then in addition to families at all stages of raising kids, I have also been able to include graduating Seniors, Headshots, and Small Elopements.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was not a smooth road at all. I would always read these stories about other photography business owners whose businesses just “fell in their laps” and grew out of nowhere. I since came to realize that everyone’s pathway into the business and how they may be defining success is different and no matter how easy things seem to be for them; it still requires hard work and hustle to grow. My struggles along the way have evolved. In the beginning, it was finding the time to learn the technical skills required to master my camera. You can always learn and grow in this area, but there is a confidence gained when you can walk into a situation and know exactly where to start with camera settings based on what you want to achieve. My subsequent struggles after deciding I wanted to open my own business was to find, keep, and grow a client base. I had to learn how to “market” myself and how to develop relationships with other photographers. Then, if you’ll recall that we re-located from the Midwest to the South Suburbs of Denver and that threw another wrench in growing my business because I had to basically start from scratch and I didn’t have a lot of personal connections when we moved to the area. After two years in the Denver Suburb, we initially moved to, we then decided to move across town which changed the client base I was serving. When I look back on these struggles, I am grateful for them because they have shaped me as a person and shaped my business into what it is today. It has also reinforced that there is no one pathway to whatever you define as success. We all create our own pathways.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m based in the South Suburbs of Denver, and I run a family photography business also specializing in maternity, children, lifestyle, senior and extended family sessions; as well as intimate weddings/elopements and event photography. The thing about my business is that I focus on making sessions laid-back, fun, and I spend my time connecting with you so you can relax and I can capture you and your family enjoying each other. I am most proud of the experience I created for a former client, in which she commented after receiving her gallery, “We had so much fun during the session, that I forgot to worry about whether you were getting any good shots, and then I saw the preview before I opened my gallery and you’re just killing me, it looks amazing!” This is the experience I strive to create for every one of my clients.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I have to say my favorite childhood memory is celebrating Thanksgiving with my extended family. I’m originally from the Los Angeles area, and I grew up around a large extended family of Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, grandparents, etc…and we used to gather at my childhood home every Thanksgiving and our house was full, there was sooo much food, and after we ate some of us would play board games we would draw names for a Christmas Gift Exchange. Such a special memory!

Contact Info:

• Email: makiaimages@gmail.com
• Website: www.daniellemakia.com

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