We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Danielle Palko. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Danielle below.
Danielle, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
When I first started taking photos it was strictly of my dog, Paisley. She is my muse for starting my photography business Saint Paisley Photography. Multiple days a week I would take Paisley to different spots to practice my photography while also training her. I was putting so much of my time and effort into my photography even when I wasn’t in a creative mindset which lead to subpar work, stress, and burnout.
One of the things I learned along the way to keep my creativity alive is to take creative breaks. I don’t always have to be creating or practicing photography in order to develop my skills.
If I’m in a creative mood, but don’t have the environment for photos I like to go back to old photos and re-edit them or practice new editing techniques. It’s great to see old work come alive again which usually helps guild my creative fire.
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’m a photographer, dog mom, wife, and Florida native! My photography business started when I got my dog Paisley who is a Saint Bernard/American Bulldog mix that I got in Colorado. She has the cutest ears, loves to smile, and spreads lots of love through her kisses. Her adorable personality shines through photos which is when I picked up the camera and started posting on social media.
As my photography gained exposure through social media I started attracting pet owned businesses that wanted to hire me for branded photos. As I gained experience working with pet businesses I realized how much I genuinely enjoyed capturing professional photos with my dog. Who wouldn’t love working with their best friend??
As time went on and I kept posting photos of Paisley I had followers and friends ask for advice on photo editing, camera set ups, and dog training for photography. I launched my preset pack for Lightroom Mobile which is a great way to enhance iPhone photos to make them look more professional without investing in expensive equipment.
I also volunteer with a local senior dog rescue called Touch of Grey Rescue to take photos of dogs available for adoption and provide photos at their fundraising events.
I found my passion working with dogs and pet businesses to make a better world for our furry friends and have loved the pets and humans I’ve met along the way!
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?
There are many things I’ve learned along the way, but I have a few things I wish I could say to my past self. The first thing I would tell her is to be patient, success doesn’t happen overnight. Strive for perfection, but remember perfection isn’t possible. There’s always time to learn and grow.
Second, don’t compare your journey to someone else’s – you are on different paths and yours looking different isn’t a bad thing. The phrase “comparison is the thief of joy” is way too accurate in the age of social media. Make sure you reflect on your growth and enjoy your own journey and development. If you ever feel yourself getting in a funk go back to when you first started your work. Reflect on your growth since then, or remember the joy you felt. Slow progress is still progress and you deserve to celebrate that!
Which brings me to the third thing, celebrate the little things – no matter how small and have FUN. Creating a business can be so stressful which is why it’s so important to take time out of your day to celebrate the little victories! Set goals, track accomplishments, and make sure to celebrate all your hard work!
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
Our ideal client shares our passion for animals and keeping them healthy for as long as possible! A photo session with us includes our creative freedom/expertise to capture pet products in a lifestyle setting throughout our home. Paisley is trained in many cute poses that look adorable on camera which catches the eye of other like minded pet parents. Our clients love our in home photography since it relates more to their viewers and future customers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.saintpaisleyphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourlifewithpais
Image Credits
Saint Paisley Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
