We were lucky to catch up with Andreas Danner recently and have shared our conversation below.
Andreas, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I don’t know – did I?! For real though – I think imposter syndrome is something a lot of us are struggling with on a regular basis. I feel like there’s no clear path for how to overcome it for good, there will always be good and bad days. What usually helps me personally is taking a deep breath and looking back at what I have accomplished so far. The work I did and what I’m really proud of. I think everyone struggles a little and the world is never as perfect as shiny, perfectly curated social media feeds make it look like. That’s something I always try to keep in mind.
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 name is Andreas, I moved to Minnesota in the summer of 2021. Originally being from Germany, my wife and I moved here for her job as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Minnesota.
I am a photographer specializing in creative portraits, editorials and lifestyle photography. Family, branding and events are also among the photography services I offer. I’ve always been a fan of the outdoors as well so you’ll also find landscape, wildlife and nature photos in my portfolio. Prints of my nature and landscape work are sold online via various print on demand websites, for example here:
https://fineartamerica.com/
https://www.iamfy.co/shop/
There will be more to come in the near future as well so keep an eye out!
When it comes to my portrait work, I’m following a rather cinematic approach – I always strive to tell a story with my photos by adding a unique feel to them, something a little different from the everyday standard. I love getting creative and making the viewer feel something when looking at my photos.
In terms of graphic design, I mainly focus on print design and layouts.
Besides photography and graphic design, I also work and have a background in (digital) marketing, social media communications, influencer marketing and public relations.
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?
The first quality I would go with is curiosity. Stay curious, try new things – I know it sounds old and it’s sometimes easier said than done to step out of your comfort zone – but it is definitely true. If I hadn’t signed up for a photography class in college on a whim because I was generally curious about learning something new – who knows if this would have ever become my path later in life.
I feel like passion is key for pretty much everything in life. If you don’t have a strong passion or interest in what you are doing, you will never be happy doing it, even worse if you make something you don’t like your job. And this is especially true for any type of creative work. You have to be passionate about it in the first place…how else can you expect other people to be passionate about your work? And if you’re not then it’s probably best to find something else – and I strongly believe there’s a passion for everyone, you just have to find yours.
That also leads me to the third quality I think is vital – persistence. This is another quality that’s especially important for any sort of creative endeavor. It takes time. Practice. And while I do believe that a certain degree of talent is a must, I also think that persistence is equally as important. They say practice makes perfect for a reason, right?
I guess that would also lead to my advice for everyone just starting out – practice as much as you can, don’t get discouraged by results that might not live up to your own expectations. You will get better. And that applies to myself as well by the way – I am nowhere close to being finished learning and I think I never will be.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
To me, mutual respect, trust and honesty are key to a good artist/client relationship.
Specifically concerning my photography clients:
There’s always a person in front of the camera, not “just” a model or a client. To step in front of a camera means showing vulnerability. People are putting their trust in me and my abilities as a photographer and artist – to me that means a great deal and I never take this lightly. I always try to honor this by giving it my all and trying to provide the most comfortable and safe environment to shoot in as possible.
Another big thing to me is honesty. While I do have my own vision and artistic style and approach, I always value a client’s input and their transparency when it comes to specific wishes or needs – any input about what they are looking for, what they liked (or perhaps did not like about my past work) is always appreciated because this helps me get them the shots they desire.
I absolutely feel like these three concepts – mutual respect, trust and honesty are key to a good relationship with any client, no matter the industry or niche.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.andreasdannercreative.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreasdannercreative/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreas-danner-ba311372/
Image Credits
Model: Anna Stillwell
Model: Cha Lor
Common Loon
Devil’s Tower National Monument (Bears Lodge)
Model: Erin Shae
Model: Lizzie Lamoureux
Model: Micky Aoki
Model: Velvetine Magick
