Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Nicole Jenkins.
Danielle Nicole, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My love for creative arts, including photography, grew through my life experiences. At 21 I got engaged and moved to China with my now husband to explore a new culture and support my fiancé in his business venture. While traveling the world, I sparked a new passion for photography. I learned everything I could from reading blogs and watching “how to” vlogs. Also, I was fortunate enough to get some hands-on training during our Destination wedding in China with my wedding photographer. I had a prime opportunity to ask about her about techniques, camera settings and editing while she was there to shoot my wedding photos.
In 2010 while still living abroad I started by taking photos of friends, family, and other expats that lived in the same community. Very soon I realized I was drawn to photographing women. I loved everything about the portrait shoots I did with friends: styling, hair, makeup, and retouching made things that much more creative for me.
It wasn’t until we relocated back to Texas after years of being away that I decided now is the time to pursue my photography business full time. I renovated and opened a quaint home studio in Euless December of 2018! Having my own studio space allows so much freedom for creativity, as well as the freedom to avoid the challenges of on-location shooting including bad weather and pesky mosquitoes!
I focus on giving women a Luxury Portrait Experience that delivers heirloom matted prints, Italian made folio boxes and beautiful wall art for their home. In such a digital age I believe in the power of a printed portrait and want to deliver quality heirloom products that will outlive a USB stick.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The most challenging thing for me in starting a business is by far re-learning the DFW metroplex, and having to make connections with women and potential clientele after being gone from Texas for close to 9 years. Most of my clients come from word of mouth referrals; therefore, the last six months I have focused a lot of my time getting connected with other women in my area, other local businesses, and connecting at networking events.
Another challenge I find is showing women the value of how portraiture can be a positive experience (especially the value of being photographed alone), without their kids, or without their husbands. All women, including myself, have insecurities about the way we look. I want to show women that it is ok to capture their beauty, flaws and all. One thing I always tell my clients is, “In ten years, those ten extra pounds won’t matter. You are going to be so grateful that you were brave enough to capture who you were through an incredibly beautiful portrait.” I truly believe that portraits can change the way women see themselves. It can be a beautiful gift to have as we grow older.
Please tell us about Danielle Nicole Portraits.
The main objective of my portrait studio is to create a space for women of all ages, stages of life, colors, shapes, and sizes to come and have a custom portrait experience where we create the most beautiful photos you have ever seen of yourself. It is a very uplifting, body positive space where I coach you through the whole photoshoot. I will tell you where to look, what to do with your body, your hands, your chin, and even when to take deep breaths! One thing I hear frequently is, “I am not photogenic”. I often tell people, “Don’t worry. I’m not going to make you look bad!” All I ask from my clients is that they relax, try and have a good time with it, and trust me!
I have created a very personal experience that walks clients through the entire process ensuring the final product that we create together is going to be of the highest quality and be something they cherish for a lifetime. I sell heirloom wall art and folio packages that are meant to be passed down to future generations. However, my clients get the best of both worlds. Any images purchased also receive the digital cropped and resized to match the size print purchased! That way you have images for social media, as well as archival prints that will last forever.
Danielle Nicole Portrait Experience:
1. In Person Consultation: Where I can show you my studio, explain to you the process, go over pricing, and let you touch and feel the print product offerings.
2. Planning Phase: After a client books their session by paying the session fee, we go into the portrait planning phase. We plan the styling of clothes, hair, makeup, set design, lighting, and mood.
3. Day of the Shoot: My professional hair and make-up artist comes in and gets you all glammed up and ready to go! We then go through all the looks and sets decided on during the planning phase.
4. The Portrait Reveal: 2-3 weeks after your Portrait Shoot, you will come back to my studio for your Reveal Session! This is when you will be presented up to 30 fully retouched printed 7×10 images in an 11×14 mats up on my Reveal Wall. You will get as much time as you need to choose your favorites and build your Folio Box Package. This is when you decide what portraits you will buy. The best part of this is that you only purchase what you love! You get to touch, feel, and hold your portraits before you decide what you are going to take home.
5. Product Delivery: Because I source the highest quality products from around the world, delivery depends on the current workload of my suppliers. Usually, the turnaround time for final product delivery is 2-3 weeks once the order is placed.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
The only thing I wish I would have done differently would have been to start sooner. It took me close to eight years to finally take the leap to do this full time. While this gave me time to refine my craft, I can only imagine where I would be if I would have started doing this full time eight years ago! However, I am grateful for the path I have taken to get here because I was able to learn many lessons in running a business while working in start-ups before opening a portrait studio of my own.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.daniellenicoleportraits.com
- Phone: 972-643-8148
- Email: danielle@daniellenicoleportraits.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellenicoleportraits
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniellenicoleportraits
Image Credit:
Danielle Jenkins | Danielle Nicole Portraits
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