A LIttle ABOUT ME
Growing up I've always loved art, and I have my mom to thank for that.
I would find myself helping my mom with whatever craft she was doing whether that was knitting, scrapbooking, drawing but my favorite was whenever she was taking pictures of our family. I would always take the camera from her and just start taking pictures of whatever or whoever I could.
So to say that my love for photography and just art in general started at a very young age is an understatement.
My freshman year of high school I took my first photography class that focused solely in film but we also did a little digital AND BOY OH BOY DID I LOVE IT.
To make a long story short to this we were allowed to keep our equipment in the classroom and I did because it was my first hour and towards the end of my second semester someone stole my equipment out of the room **insert massive sad face here** I did not have the heart to ask my parents to buy me all new gear so I just swept it under the rug and took pictures on my phone and some disposable cameras.
UNTIL / FAST FOWARD MANY MANY YEARS.
My husband surprised me with my second DSLR camera for Christmas in 2018 and I fell in love, but just in a different kind of way this time. I fell in love with the idea of capturing stories, stories of how two humans love each other.
So, that's my story and now I am here to capture yours.
we're ready to do this
HEY THERE, IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU
UNSCRIPTED
NOMADIC LENS
OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS CIRCLE MAG
FEATURED IN
WHAT INSPIRES ME
"EVERY WEDDING, EVERY SHOOT, I SEE THE WORLD THROUGH A WHOLE NEW LENS. YOUR STORY WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM THE LAST, AND THIS IGNITES MY PASSION ALL OVER AGAIN."
01
My love for photography has always been apart of me. What really made me want to be a wedding photographer was meeting my husband. What I mean by that is that I wish I even had the slightest clue to even think about having someone capture moments of my husband and I prior to our engagement. No reason but just a thought to do some professional photos together so we can create that memory together.
I firmly believe that there does not have to a special reason to take some professional photos with your significant other. Like why not? It gets you both out of your comfort zone and I can assure you that WE WILL HAVE A BLAST! Taking photos doesn't have to be this stressful, awkward thing for either of you. Let's cater your session to you and your relationship. Want to bring your favorite 6 pack? Taco bell? Your dog? Literally anything bring whatever speaks to you both and let’s incorporate that.
I want you both to be able to look back at your photos and remember exactly how you were feeling in that moment. I'm here to capture you and your love and capture all those silly in-between moments the both of you share.
facts about me
"EVERY WEDDING, EVERY SHOOT, I SEE THE WORLD THROUGH A WHOLE NEW LENS. YOUR STORY WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM THE LAST, AND THIS IGNITES MY PASSION ALL OVER AGAIN."
02
- I have 3 big floofs! * from the left to right - Mufasa, Apollo & Zero *
- Married my amazing husband after only two months of knowing each other.
- I'm only 4'10"
- My heart and soul belongs in the desert
- I love the outdoors! camping, kayaking, riding my longboard, really anything to get me outside.
- I'm religiously at taco bell... at least twice a week.
- I love trying new beers anywhere i go! sours, wheats & stouts are my go to!
- I live in vans, birkenstocks or my docs. You literally wont see me in any other footwear.
- Gift shops are my favorite! I can spend so much money in one.
- I love the outdoors! camping, kayaking, hiking, riding my longboard, really anything to get me outside.
- I have 23 tattoos.
- Coffee shops are a true blessing- Ilove coffee and I can spend hours in a little coffee shop just getting work done.
MY lOVE STORY
"EVERY WEDDING, EVERY SHOOT, I SEE THE WORLD THROUGH A WHOLE NEW LENS. YOUR STORY WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM THE LAST, AND THIS IGNITES MY PASSION ALL OVER AGAIN."
03
I married my best friend after only meeting him twice and both those times for about 8 hour each.
We met because one of my best friend's decided to join the AirForce and they ended up being in a class together in tech school and I was supposed to come out and see her in Texas and she kept talking about how excited she was so see me. Her and Connor were good friends and he said the best line...
" I bet she is cute, huh? " and lo' and behold he thought I was! yay me!! We were supposed to meet that weekend but didn't because his whole squadron got in trouble and had weekend duty, so not only did I not meet him that weekend but I barely saw my friend.
Fast forward a few months he somehow got ahold of my snapchat and the rest is history...
I drove 8 hours to meet him and we had the most magical first day in Cali, (he was home from tech school for 2 weeks before he had to be at his permanent base in Louisiana) we went to breakfast, the aquarium (where I almost broke his nose during our first kiss, lol) and then the beach. I left the following day just to come back the next and did that 8 hour drive all over again just to see him before her left for Louisiana.
Apart me thought I may not ever see him again after this day because I thought there was no way it could work but I was so head over heels and I just knew this was going to be the man I married.
After countless texts, facetimes, and calls I moved from Arizona to Louisiana to be with my person and we eloped a month later in an old lady's living room on 9/3/2017 and had our beautiful wedding with friends and family in the beautiful town of Julian, CA on 10/24/2019. When you know you know! I never believed in that saying until I met him (insert crying emoji here).
Now fast forward to Jan 2022 we've left Louisiana and the military has relocated us to North Dakota and we've built our very own home here from the ground up and it's perfect.
Now that I've bragged about my hubby, my whole point to that was that I want to be here for you when you find your person and be that person to hand you countless tissues and to hold up that beautiful wedding dress and be your personal dress holder on your big day.
where i'm from
"EVERY WEDDING, EVERY SHOOT, I SEE THE WORLD THROUGH A WHOLE NEW LENS. YOUR STORY WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM THE LAST, AND THIS IGNITES MY PASSION ALL OVER AGAIN."
04
I'm from the beautiful state of Arizona.
I was born & raised in Mesa and I lived there until I was 21 and then moved to Louisiana live life with the worlds most perfect guy.
I lived in Shreveport, LA from August of 2017 - January 2022.
My husband and I knew we didn't want to stay in LA. There were definitely things we enjoyed from Louisiana but for me myself coming from Arizona it was such a change that I missed home constantly, couldn't hike in Louisiana, couldn't just drive 20 minutes to the mountains and oh my goodness it was so humid, lol. Now I know these are such small things but I missed my family in AZ and moving away made me realize I did take AZ for granted. now- I'm forever grateful though that my photography career took off in Louisiana, I've made some great friends there but i knew Louisiana was not permanent.
In July of 2021 my husband was told we are changing bases to Minot, ND. We moved up here January of 2022 and we absolutely love it here. Now it is not AZ but there are so many things here that we love. We built a new home out here and it feels so nice being in a house that is ours and we were able to build it from the ground up and make it 1000000% our own.
With all that being said, that is why I'm North Dakota and Arizona based. I have limited how much I travel outside of these two states but will always say yes to any inquires in the surrounding states of North Dakota (Minnesota, Montana & South Dakota). Why? I've limited how many inquiries I'm taking in the country solely because I traveled SO MUCH in 2019 - 2022 & it made me realize how I much I miss being home. Spending time with my husband, spending time with the pups + I exhausted myself traveling the past couple years and i'm just so ready to be home a little more and enjoy family time. Like I said i'll always be taking inquires anywhere and everywhere just limiting how many of those I take every year.
i love all my couples from anywhere & wherever - never forget that.
SWEET NOTHINGS
Dana is one of the best photographers I’ve ever seen. She’s taken my engagement pictures, holiday pictures and now my wedding pictures. I swear each time I fall more in love with her work! She works so hard and is so dedicated to her clients making sure they get literally any pose they can think of and takes immense pride in EACH photo she takes an edits. I wish I had more special events in my life so I can always hire her to be there and take pictures ️ Don’t think about hiring her for your event, JUST DO IT!!! You will not regret it. I love you Dana!!!!!! You’re amazing and your work takes my breath away each time.
