We were lucky to catch up with Danielle Cook recently and have shared our conversation below.
Danielle, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
A piece of helpful advice that an art teacher gave me when I was a kid is that being creative is a skill, and like any other skill it needs to be consistently practiced over time in order to develop. Although I only create using a few mediums (mostly photography and sketching), I get limitless inspiration from all forms of art, including movies, music, books, fantasy video games, fashion, as well as other photographers. When I feel that my creativity is going in circles, I lead myself out of my comfort zone and try something new, whether that be a genre of art that I’m not used to or an environment/experience that I don’t usually find myself in.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Hi! My name is Danielle and I’m a fashion and fine art photographer with a love for dreamscapes and vivid colors. I’ve been working in this field for around 7 years and there is nothing I would rather be doing. My core passion as a photographer is the opportunity to turn so many amazing characters and physical pieces of art into visual stories, and the happy responses of clients is my primary motivation. Whether the client wants to feel empowered, tell a tragic story, sell their art, or just capture their identity, each photoshoot is a challenge that I am thrilled to take on.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
3 qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were impactful on my journey:
1. I have always loved art and storytelling, but I had to try a lot of different mediums and genres of art before I found the best way to express myself. Exploration and experimentation is key!
2. As someone who loves to create dreamscapes and incorporate elements of surrealism, learning Photoshop and editing techniques was integral to being able to tell stories in my own way
3. Photographing people effectively requires learning the social skills to help make someone feel comfortable and confident in a fairly short amount of time, regardless of their personality and modeling experience
For those who are just starting their journey, no matter what that may be: find what gives you purpose and passion, and then figure out how to get good at it! Take inspiration from those who are further along a similar journey to you, and never be afraid of trying new techniques and experimenting – that’s how you’ll find what makes your creations unique from others.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I’m feeling overwhelmed, nothing helps clear my mind like spending time away from the city and interacting with nature either alone or with loved ones. Even just a few hours swimming in the ocean or lying in a field revives my spirit and gives me a fresh start to dive back into whatever I’m trying to accomplish.
Contact Info:
- Website: daniellelincook.squarespace.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/yellerwellerphotography/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/daniellelincookphotography
