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Life and Work with Dani Olson

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Dani Olson.

Dani, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Photography has been a passion since my early teens when I would collect National Geographic Magazines by the dozens and I would plaster the wildlife all over my bedroom walls. As I went on into my twenties, I never truly tapped into the potential of what I could truly capture until I was accepted for a job at a local zoo as a photographer. That zoo created who I am today as a photographer, my passion and patience stemmed from working around the magnificent animals. I was able to get the chance to educate people with my photos as well as give back to the amazing zookeepers who worked behind scenes and missed a lot of moments of their beloved critters they cared for. It is due to the keepers and friends I made there and around the area that I realized I was meant to photograph, that I had the patience, the eye, and the energy to work a camera. I also felt very trapped in Florida and where I lived and in what I wanted to capture and see and after Hurricane Irma and some hardships we moved to Colorado, and it was here I truly discovered what was out here in this magnificent world to capture and share. I became more of an adventurer and traveler due to being in Colorado and the West and in turn, grew as a photographer. Now, I take clients on adventures into simple and yet beautiful hikes, I find hidden gems to sit and wait for wildlife, and I have captured a sunrise in Aspen that I never thought I would witness. With this new state and new chances to grow, I have been working hard to provide clients not only with beautiful photographs to hang in their homes but also a photographer who is a jack of all trades that delivers wonderful sessions and photos for life.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has and continues to be a bumpy road to head down the journey of photography, especially someone newer to an area. I am having to market myself like a new kid at a new school, you remember how awkward you felt? I was growing a community at my zoo and my Florida area and with the move, I lost all of my clientele. I have joined group after group, created ads, and reached out to models for collaborations to get my hands on any work, even free to keep from feeling a failure. I am currently flying home to Florida for the upcoming holidays to get work with my old clients due to just wanting to create and capture but not knowing where to start or how to reach out properly here in my current town and surrounding areas. I stay persistent and that is something everyone has to learn, do not give up just because you have a hard time in a new area or new passion. It takes time, money, and energy that you will exhaust and want to give up on. Do you know what makes it all worth it? Someone buys that photo, someone books you because you decided to just say screw it and buy that ad. The compliment from a high follow photographer on Instagram makes me feel less of a failure and more that I am on the right path. If you are truly passionate and determined, you will make it work, but you have to make the ads and you have to put in hours to create websites and reach out to people.

Please tell us about Danni Does Photography.
I love to tell people that I am a “Jack-of-all-trades” I know that I am a multi-tasker, an overachiever, and a creative mind. I specialize in wildlife and nature photography because that is what calls to me the most and I truly delve into my hikes and awareness of wildlife. I also can provide and constantly work to create the best sessions for: boudoir, engagements, pets, families, infants, graduations, senior photos, headshots, events, birthday smash cakes and events, and more. I truly love doing what I do! I love to photograph and create memories, I want to eventually become a National Geographic Photographer and see my wildlife and landscapes in their magazines and share my stories and other stories of the world. I do not want to be limited to what I can do or provide and I want to show people that with my work and in my sessions. I know that this world has a million photographers and I set myself apart by not limiting myself to anything, I take clients outside and utilize our beautiful world and I am not greedy. I know we need to make money as business owners but I also know what I can create and leave a person for a lifetime. I give clients as many photos as I want and can edit of our sessions and in a portable way, I love editing and I even offer the option to have Save the Dates and more created with their photo of choice(s) due to the fact I am also Photoshop certified and have the ability to create any style of card and announcement!

Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well-positioned for?
The biggest opportunity, that I feel women are well-positioned for, is leadership. We are mothers, we are caretakers and creatives, multi-taskers and can-doers. Women are used to running a household or being that leader and comfort, we are the ones to think on our feet and handle multiple things at once with finesse. I have worked with so many creatives and compassionate leaders and women who get the job done when I worked for my local zoo, they were the main caretakers and keepers. My teams were led by women and I felt they had more love to give their animals than anyone gives credit for, I know that the male counterparts can have the same said but there is something with women and their ability to truly care for wildlife and children, especially in the settings I have continued to work in and around.

Pricing:

  • I have started a Holiday mini session service until December 18th for $100 which includes Christmas cards and graphic work
  • I sell my 8×10 photos with bonus minis and free shipping and personalized shipments for $40
  • Portraits sessions are priced at 150$ but if you ask about my bucket list service you get a special deal and session.
  • Graphic work to create save the dates, graduation cards and more are also able to be discussed before or with photo session service

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Logan Newell & Casey Valentine

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