My freshman year of high school I took my first photography class that focused solely on 35mm film but we also did a little digital AND BOY OH BOY DID I LOVE IT.
To make such a long story short, somebody stole all of my camera equipment out of the classroom and it wasn’t until many many years later on Christmas of 2018 that my husband bought me my first camera. For months I was telling my husband that I wanted to get into couples + wedding photography but just knew it was going to be so hard and expensive to start. So he bought me my camera and ever since then I’ve been shooting weddings + couples professionaly and I’m never going to turn back.
I strive to build a forever friendship + trust with all my couples. That’s because I believe that you truly deserve the best. I’m here from beginning to end to make sure that you and the love of your life have the best experience of your effing life.
Being a photographer who gets to capture true authentic love between two humans has brought me such a true appreciation for human connection. I'm here to capture love, the laughter, the happy tears, and the messy drunk reception photos and literally everything in between, it'll be documented for you two and you'll have these moments to look back on forever
hey there
i'm dana
It's so nice to meet you
ISFP-T | Enneagram 7W2
lets be friends
WHAT INSPIRES ME
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 be 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 FREAKIN' 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 document you both in the those silly, unfiltered, raw moments that you both share.
facts about me
- I have 2 big floofs! 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'm still very much an " emo " kid. All Time Low, The Maine, Our Last Night our my FAVORITE bands.
- But.. I LOVE like LOVE Harry Styles.
- I'm a true lover for Taco Bell, I go a lot. LOL.
- I love trying new beers anywhere i go! Sours 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 over 30 tattoos. I stopped counting once I got my little hand tattoos.
- I prefer working in a brewery over a coffee shop. Any day,
MY lOVE STORY
I married my best friend after only meeting him twice and both those times for about 8 hours each.
We met because one of my best friend's decided to join the Air Force and they ended up being in a class together in tech school. I was supposed to come out and see her in Texas and she kept talking about how excited she was so see me and her and Connor were good friends and he said the best line to her...
" 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 he left for Louisiana.
A part 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, face times, 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 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.
Finally fast forward to 2024 we will be moved back to Arizona permanently October of 2024 and will be welcoming our first little girl into the world November 2024.
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
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.
If you have gotten this far you can tell that I do market myself out to AZ + The West Coast primarily and that's because I'll be moving back to AZ for good Fall of 2024 and I really want to focus my business out there. I also do not charge any travel back home to the Phoenix area either. I still take inquiries all over + still taking North Dakota + Midwest inquiries as well so please do not hesitate to reach out.