Meet Danielle Ford

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Danielle Ford. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Danielle below.

Danielle, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

Confidence and self-esteem are something that I continue to work on everyday and will for the rest of my life. When I was younger I had high anxiety and was well known for being the girl in the back of the classroom who only spoke when the teacher spoke to me. I cared too much of what others thought of me and that hindered my growth in so many areas. Once I found something I was truly passionate about I was able to let go of that way of. thinking. It took time but I was able to focus on my passion and through that passion build my confidence and self esteem. I was also able to use that passion to push me to live in Japan for two years. During that time I taught English and had no choice but to get over my anxiety and be in-front of classes of up to 36 students. That truly changed my life. I also learned through their kindness that I am ok just for who I am and I need not worry about what others think of me or what others consider success. Success will be different for everyone. Now that I have overcome that anxiety I am able to meet so many people and grow as a person, I am so thankful for that experience.

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 a fashion and beauty photographer located in Montana, in the United States. I’ve been running around with cameras since I was around 10 years old. It has always been a passion for me. I really started getting into fashion and beauty when I met my friend and creative counter part Lisa Gregory who is an amazing hair artist. We work together to create fashion shoots of all styles and use it as our true creative outlet. We are a very unique pair for Montana. Lisa is from Great Britain and I have spent a lot of time in Japan including living there so we bring both east and west influences to our work.

Starting in 2025 we will be hosting some unique events with very limited spots available where not only will you experience the beauty of Montana, but also learn hair techniques and how to go about a fashion shoot. Everything from the concept, design, communication with a team to actually doing the photoshoot itself with a possibility of publication. We have been published in 10 countries including a cover in both Paris and London, so the publication locations are endless possibilities! Stay tuned for updated information and event dates though instagram at @danifordphoto.

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?

One of the most impactful things for my personal journey has been exploring other cultures and using those influences in my work. The world is such an enormous place full of wonderful things and as a creative person there is a lot to be inspired by. Many people call themselves photographers with all the easy advanced technology we have today, but I was trained on film and developing my own images in a dark room which is becoming a lost art. I believe a true photographer will be able to shoot manual in any situation and also shows a true love for the craft. My advice for anyone starting out if their photography journey is to either get a film camera or if you do digital, set it on manual and learn how the camera works from the inside out. This will help you o grow and to be able to photograph in any situation easily. Lastly, dont be afraid to work with other photographers. Go out and shoot together and share information. Many photographers will be secretive about their work but part of a creative journey is to learn and grow and we can all learn from each other.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

I have a bachelors in photography, but I will be honest, I learned almost everything I know on my own with my own experimentation. Taking the time to sit and play wiht your camera settings, lighting equipment, or natural light and different objects such as textured or glass surfaced objects, this will make you truly grow and be able to conquer so many situations. We are so fortunate to have so much information at our hands with the internet. Youtube is a great place to get ideas from, but you still need to try them and experiment yourself.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

All images Dani Ford Photo

Image 1 models: Michala Zambon and Bennett Mosely
Hair: Lisa Gregory
Image 2 Model Bennett Mosely
Hair: Lisa Gregory
Image 3: Danielle Ford, photographer left, model Michala Zambon middle, makeup artist Harlem Dunbar right
Image 4: Photographer Danielle Ford left, model Bennett Mosely right
Image 5: Model Bennett Mosely
Hair: Lisa Gregory
Image 6: Hair stylist Lisa Gregory left model Michala Zambon right

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