Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dyan McNeely. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Dyan, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?
My generosity comes from my grandmother Sally (Kazuko). She was a very traditional Japanese woman who instilled many values in me such as being humble, being generous, family-oriented, and always going out of your way to help others in need.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am 40 years old and I currently live near Phoenix. I found my passion for photography when my oldest was a newborn and I used to take her into studios and watch how the photographer would pose her and create one of a kind portraits.
In 2006, I become a studio photographer for Picture People however I had to stop and put my passion on hold due to an accident that left me paralyzed for six months.
In 2008, I lost my father to suicide and through the grief, I regained my passion for photography. As of 2017, I became a studio manager for Picture People and during that same year, opened up my own company of McNeely Photography starting out in Dallas/Fort Worth.
Now in 2024, I am in the Phoenix area and I am a 17 time published and internationally exhibited photographer.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think learning how to cater to clientele of all ages, backgrounds, and needs was the most important skill to learn.
The second would be how to market your business and gain a following for your brand. Ensuring that you stay true to your brand at all times.
The third would be to know your limits and capabilities and not overdue yourself. Understanding that there’s always someone who will be better than you at your craft and not taking that to heart. Use that as motivation to continue to strive to learn and perfect your knowledge.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
I currently was diagnosed with lupus and intercranial hypertension. With this, I have vision issues that affect my daily life and it can make it challenging when trying to perfect the perfect shot.
I have learned ways to overcome these challenges and continue my passion in photography.
Contact Info:
- Website: Mcneelyphotography.myportfolio.com
- Instagram: Mcneelyphotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/mcneelyphotography
Image Credits
Dyan McNeely McNeely Photography
