We were lucky to catch up with Dani Weiss recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dani, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
In high school I started taking photography classes and was inspired to do some internships both in advertising and the wedding industry. I studied photography in college and also got to spend time with some very famous and talented photographers. I worked my way through college at a local newspaper, photographing bands and working in the darkroom with a master printer. I also worked for Jill Friedman who was an early mentor of mine.
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?
My business is as a professional photographer has been quite varied. I focus on people, events and their pets. The special thing about being a photographer is the lifelong relationships I form with my clients. I document families, weddings, mitzvahs as well as births. I also photograph corporate events and pets. I love the variety and it allows me to capture so many sweet things.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Some of the best qualities to have as a photographer running a small business are the connections I have made. It is imperative to be social, friendly and have the skills to do all the office work to keep things running smoothly. People don’t realize how much time you spend running a business and working with clients vs actual time behind the camera.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
An ideal client for me is someone who is having a special event that they want documented. I love being able to create visual memories for my clients. I tell stories with my camera.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://daniweissphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniweissphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniweissphotography
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniweiss/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dani-weiss-photography-decatur
Image Credits
Portrait of Dani and her dog Oscar taken by C Brown Photography All other images are copyright Dani Weiss Photography
