We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Danielle Deihl. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Danielle below.
Danielle, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us today. We’re excited to dive into your story and your work, but first let’s start with a broader topic that might be stopping many of our readers from pursuing their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. How have you managed to persist despite haters and nay-sayers that inevitably follow folks who are doing something unique, special or off the beaten path?
I’ve been fortunate to not have too many haters or negativity brought to my platform, but that’s not to say it’s never happened. Social media intensifies the desire for external validation. Oftentimes, I wonder if something I post will “do well” based on how many likes or how much engagement it will receive. In reality, the photo I’m posting has already done well because it reminds me of a wonderful memory and I feel excited to share that with others. By shifting the external validation to internal, it relieves the stress from people that hate on what you’re doing. Of course it never feels good to hear negative words about your work, but by knowing you’re doing it for yourself, the hate doesn’t have as much of an impact. People have become incredibly quick to judge, especially behind the anonymity of a screen. Simply put, as long as what you’re doing doesn’t harm yourself or anyone else, don’t let anyone’s opinion stand in your way.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Danielle and I run the food content account Passport on a Plate. I first created this account on Instagram when I studied abroad in Mallorca, Spain five years ago. I took a class on Mediterranean cuisine and one of our assignments was to share daily photos of Mediterranean cuisine. I loved being able to share all the foods I was trying for the first time, and decided to continue the account after returning to the United States. During COVID, I started a Youtube channel focused on being able to feel like you were traveling just from cooking different dishes from home. Most recently I made a Tiktok account, and have focused on featuring restaurants. I love using my accounts to share different foods and promote local businesses. I hope that my content inspires people to try new places and foods. I believe that food is a really powerful tool in connecting people and creating memories, and I hope that my content creates joy for those that see it.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would say three of the most important things are patience, consistency, and a general knowledge of photography. Patience and perseverance go hand in hand. There are lots of resources online for how to gain followers fast or make your account viral. Even if you don’t have the number of followers or level of engagement you want in your platform, be patient and give it time. Consistency is an important part of continuous growth as well. I don’t follow a strict schedule on posting content, and I enjoy the freedom in that. However, I do try to post frequently and actively engage with content from other accounts. I remind myself that not every post I make has to be the absolute best, and to enjoy just being able to share my content with others. I believe a general knowledge of photography is really helpful, and I mean that in a sense of how to take a great photo. Finding the right lighting, getting the best angle, staging the photo well, etc. This can come with trial and error as well. Over time, you’ll find better ways to capture photos, and it can be just as beautiful to watch that evolution through your content over time too.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I owe much of my success to my parents and the teachers I have had throughout my life. As the best parents do, they’ve always been there when I needed them, while also pushing me to learn and problem solve on my own. They helped me to build the skills and confidence to study abroad, and eventually move halfway across the country for my job. I am grateful to have had many incredible teachers as well. I am deeply indebted to all the teachers I have had along the way that have taught, guided, and advised me. Sometimes it only takes one person to believe in you, and I am so lucky to have had many.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passportonaplate/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@passportonaplate/featured
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@passportonaplate
