I am feeling top notch today and I can’t wait to share why next week :D I hope you’re having a pleasant start to your week!
Today I want to revive a feature I intended to have as a regular one, but we see how well that worked out lol. So I’m bringing back Music Monday! Music is such a huge part of my life so I will try and make this feature not so sporadic :)
For the past month, I have been on a heavy 90’s music kick! And for the past few days I can’t stop listening to early 90’s Mariah! That’s my favorite Mariah lol.
These are my absolute favorite albums of hers! Not that late 90’s- 2000’s and beyond Mariah isn’t awesome, but this Mariah? No comparison in my opinion. Kind of how I feel about Toni Braxton’s first CD… Nothing that came after that compared. I’d like songs here and there, but for albums that I can just listen to straight through? Those were some of the best!
But singing along with all of these songs this past weekend totally transported me back in time and I remembered just how much I loved to sing (I still do, I was just MUCH less afraid of doing so in public!). I remember singing “Hero” as apart of a chorus for our 6th grade graduation in elementary school (totally just gave away how young I am lol) and then singing the same song again for my high school graduation with 3 other girls! I remember trying to decide what we wanted to sing and then when it was decided that we’d do “Hero” I was like “Oh… great.” Lol clearly they love “Hero” at graduation ceremonies.
(eek!) thinking back, I can’t believe I actually did that! Lol I’m so nervous singing in front of people now. And I remember being disappointed with how it turned out because the music person played the wrong version of the song, so instead of singing to the instrumental we had to sing along to HER version :/
I had a chance to redeem myself though because I was the salutatorian so I think my speech went better than that song did lol.
Anyway, this year makes 10 years since I graduated! :D
Somehow this post morphed into graduation memories when it was supposed to be about Mariah Carey, but yeah… that’s it. I just wanted to share how much I loved early 90’s Mariah lol!
So do yourself a favor and go listen to those early albums if you haven’t already or if you haven’t in a while.
That’s it for today! Stay tuned for more blog awesomeness this week :)
I hope this week has been good to you :) Today I have another super inspiring creative to share- wonderfully talented writer, Gina!
I linked up with Gina on instagram after someone I follow, posted her work and I’ve been hooked ever since! GG has such a warm and genuine spirit that truly transcends the realm of social media. Her writings made me feel like I knew her, so much that when we did finally meet in person, it was like chatting with an old friend :)
Her awesome hair can’t go without mention either, because it’s probably no secret that I love hair! Just not on my own head of course lol. GG and I had a great time together and her interview is one of my new faves!
So, without further ado, meet Gina!
What is your name? I go by GG Renee online but most people call me Gina or GG.
Where are you located: DMV
What do you do? I’m an independent author and coach. I help women explore their complexity and layers through writing. I never would have guessed that my career would take such a drastic turn. I worked in financial services for 12 years before I quit in 2013 to work for myself. I’d started blogging in 2009 and that was where this journey started.
How long have you been a writer? I started freelancing professionally in 2012. My first paid gig was blogging for Carol’s Daughter’s natural hair blog. I think that was when I started seriously considering what life would be like as a full-time writer. But I struggled with believing in myself. I compared myself to “real writers” and I didn’t think I was worthy of the title, even after I was getting paid to do it. Eventually, I realized that I was letting fear and self-doubt stop me from doing what made me happy. There was a shift in my mindset and since then - even when I was still working the 9 to 5 - I started identifying as a writer and when people asked me what I did, that is what I said. I had to own it. Claim who I was and who I wanted to be.
How did you become interested in writing and when did you know you wanted to make a career out of your passion? I’ve always loved to write but I never took it seriously as a potential profession. When I was younger, I wrote stories and plays. Long love notes, letters and poems. I kept affirmations, quotes and scriptures posted up all around me everywhere all the time. This was just what I did, and I didn’t think of it as a passion or calling. My mother pushed me towards business and science and even though those things didn’t inspire me, I never considered that I could do anything else until my late twenties. As an adult, I lost touch with my imagination and I told myself that I wasn’t a creative person. I reached a scary low point in my life and I went to see a therapist who encouraged me to start writing again. Writing helped me find purpose in my struggles and I discovered a passion for leveraging my own problems to help others. Soon after, I started blogging and I found my sweet spot in helping women wake up from unsatisfying lives, fall in love with themselves again and live more creatively.
Who are some of your influences/inspirations? My big sister inspires me as a woman, an entrepreneur and a constant source of support and love. My writing career has been strongly influenced by other writers who I have seen leverage blogging and social media to create their own path and build their dream careers. Seeing others do this gave me courage to carve out my own space and create my own dream job too. Creatively, I am inspired by so many. I love the radical self-expression work of Akilah Richards. The consciousness and desire work of Danielle Laporte. The concise expansiveness of Nayyirah Waheed. There are too many to name. All in all, I feel most connected to creative non-fiction writers who delve deep into the hearts and minds of women.
What has been your favorite project that you’ve worked on so far? My first print book, The Beautiful Disruption. It’s my favorite because it was my first and because it’s so raw and personal. It’s written in free verse, like a stream of consciousness. The book takes an intimate look at what is going on in the main character’s mind as she’s trying to make sense of a difficult situation and expand from it. It’s part of my story and part of every woman’s story who has struggled with their past, with self-worth and speaking up for themselves. It’s about that epic heartbreak, disappointment or rock bottom that triggers us to wake up. Ultimately, I see myself with a platform of artful, introspective books that capture nuances of the feminine emotional experience.
What other types of creative work do you do? I create workbooks, e-books, guided journals, and online courses. I coach women one on one. I make t-shirts. I’ve recently started cultivating a line of essential oil blends to help women naturally enhance their emotional health and well-being. This year, I will also be focusing on becoming a dance and fitness instructor. Dance is another passion of mine that I neglected for many years and I want to incorporate into my livelihood.
What inspires you? My children. Being around creative, self-possessed women. Seeing people follow their dreams. The old me, because she shows me how far I’ve come. People who are not afraid to fully express themselves and be passionate. My Aunt Mi-Mi because she is 79 years old and she’s an active mixed media artist and a healer and she doesn’t live with any limitations.
What keeps you motivated? My children. Mortality. Wanting to suck as much life in and pour as much of myself out while I can. The desire to wake women up who were like me, unhappy and unsatisfied and scared to figure out why. My mom. She has schizophrenia and went undiagnosed for years. Warning signs were swept under the rug. People didn’t talk about their emotional issues. I want to be a part of changing that and encouraging women to value their mental, emotional, spiritual and creative health as much as their physical health. I believe that what’s good for your mind and spirit is good for your body and vice versa.
Any advice to fellow creatives (in your industry or otherwise)? For other writers and/or bloggers who are struggling to find their niche in the landscape: Keep writing. Write everyday. Challenge yourself. Share your work. Believe in it even when no one else does. You have to read and write consistently to get better and you have to share your work consistently to develop a thicker skin and become more confident. Don’t compare yourself. Start each day fresh, no matter how wonderful or horrible the day before was. Don’t be too affected by praise or criticism. Strive for authenticity and personal growth, not perfection.
Any other fun tidbits we should know about you? My most important role is being a mama. I live under the influence of three kids - 12, 9 and 4. One boy, two girls. Their father and I are long-time partners, college sweethearts. I love music and I’m always dancing and wiggling. I love big hair and natural beauty products and I could talk about both all day. I live in t-shirts and jeans. I’m an introvert and becoming more and more so, the older I get. I’m social, but I need lots of alone time or I get cranky. My favorite places are libraries and book stores, thrift shops, dance studios, beaches, cozy boutiques with handmade products, my friends’ living rooms and anywhere my kids can let loose and be free without breaking anything. I love women’s circles, breaking bread with people, inspiring conversation, exchanging energy with vibrant souls. I am endlessly curious about the complexity of women. How strong we are. How deep our love is. How we hold the world together. I write to help women remember how powerful they are.
I hope you enjoyed getting to know GG a little better! These features are really one of my absolute favorites to do. There are so many awesomely talented and inspiring creatives out there so I am super happy that I get to meet and share the ones I know with you :) Please make sure you follow GG on social media at the links above and let her know how much you enjoyed her feature!
-Danni
As promised, over the next few weeks, I plan to share the full sessions that accompanied the Artist Spotlight features because I realized that I want you to see how much fun we have lol.
So today? We have Anastasia! We got together back in September of 2013 for a fun mini session :) Maybe the warm imagery will help warm you up on this cold winter day lol.
If you’re interested in booking a session and would like to have the DFinney Experience yourself, email me and schedule yours today! Currently booking: March and April 2015.
You guys, I have been beyond thrilled with how this teaching thing has been going. Seeing the immediate improvement in a photographer’s images, workflow, and just overall understanding is just… I don’t even know how to explain it, but I never get tired of it!
After this past weekend’s sessions in DC, I have now officially taught over 55 photographers, can you believe that?! I can’t lol.
Since 2015 sessions are gearing up, I just wanted to take a moment to reflect :)
The weather this weekend was FREEZING. And that is not an overstatement lol. So due to the weather, we had our practice session inside and it turned out wonderfully! The same principles I use when shooting outside are exactly the same when shooting indoors, so the attendees were able to put them into practice in a slightly more challenging environment and they did a beautiful job photographing our lovely model Jennifer!
The two photos below were taken by Stephanie Decker who previously was very hesitant about sharing her work… but in one day we got rid of that! ;)
Such gorgeous shots! What I love most about these programs is that I don’t teach how to shoot like me. I teach how to honor YOUR vision and how to use the techniques that I do to get a well-exposed photo every time (I say well-exposed because what that means is up to you- everyone’s eye is different so what’s correct to me, may not be to you and vice versa)and bring to life what YOU see.
Ready for an AMAZING before & after? Boudoir photographer, Bonita Elias attended the DC session this past weekend and walked away with stunning results!
Before our mentor session:
After our mentor session (well technically after just a couple hours lol)
I was soooo happy with how quickly she was able to apply what she learned and get these great photos of our beautiful model!
From Bonita on her experience:
“I had a blast and was pleased that DFinney Photography taught so many wonderful ways to shoot in natural light by changing a few settings in the camera. I love the small size of the workshops and already began to put to use the things I learned that will save me time. Danni is also a lot of fun with a great relaxed sense of humor. Well worth the investment!”
Thank you so much Bonita! I can’t wait to see how well you capture your subjects now in beautiful natural light :)
Next month, I will be holding sessions in DC (March 6 & 7) and Houston (March 13 & 14) so pleaseemail me ASAP if you’d like to attend because booking will end for DC at the end of this week and for Houston, at the end of next week!
Also, I’d like to see if there is enough interest to hold sessions in Richmond, VA, Phoenix, AZ, and San Francisco, CA. If you live in or near any of those cities and are interested, please email me and I’ll keep you in the loop if dates are added for your city :)
That’s it for today! I have lots of photo sessions to share with you this week and another artist spotlight so stay close!
I have a brand new creative to share with you today! My wonderful friend and fellow photographer- Erika!
I’ve known Erika for maybe a little over a year as we first met at a Munaluchi event at the end of 2013! We kept up via social media and finally met in person last year through Sugar of Taylor and Hov! I love linking up with like-minded fellow creatives so it has been a pleasure to get to know Erika, and I knew she would be a great feature for the blog :)
Erika has such a warm spirit that is conveyed perfectly through her work and I am consistently drawn to the emotion that she is able to capture in the sweet “in between” moments that I sometimes forget about.
Anyway enough from me! Lol Meet Erika!
What is your name? Erika Layne Salazar
Where are you located? Silver Spring, MD
What do you do? I am a professional wedding photographer, wife, mom of two, artist, plant lover, thrift store shopper.
How long have you been a photographer? That is a bit tricky to answer. I’ve always known I was an artist. I didn’t have to choose a specific art major in college, but I found that each year, my schedule was built around my photography interests. After graduation, I taught darkroom and digital photography for seven years, while working on my own personal projects and building by professional portfolio and client base. Two years ago I was able to transition to being a full time photographer and business owner.
How did you become interested in photography and when did you know you wanted to make a career out of your passion? Since elementary school, I remember going to summer art camp at MCAD, a small two year college that has since been adopted by the art program at Montgomery college. So I’ve been encouraged to explore art and been surrounded by it from a young age. They had a dark room and as soon as I was old enough to take the course, I did just that. When I was too old to attend the camp, I started assisting the teacher for my community service credits in high school. From the moment I found out that you could make a career out of the arts, and actually go to college to study it, I knew I was going to be an artist of some kind.
Who are some of your influences/inspirations? I have always loved the great photographers, Gordon Parks, Annie Leibovitz, Richard Avedon, I also draw inspiration from a number of photographers I stumble upon on Instagram or the web. When I find photographers with unique styles, I might have their work in my mind when shooting my next session, or when I’m editing I’ll try to draw inspiration from the mood of their photo when post-processing.
What has been your favorite project that you’ve worked on so far? Definitely the #LoveYourLines campaign oninstagram that Alex Elle and I created @loveyourlines. This project has fulfilled me in ways that I never imaged. I have always felt self conscious about my own body, specifically about the many stretchmarks I have had since I was a teen. I knew I couldn’t be the only one. You can Google stretchmarks and all you see are remedies to get rid of them and photos of celebrities who just had babies who seemingly don’t have any. It can really make you think that stretchmarks are not supposed to be there and something is wrong with you if you have them. It gives me new life, to think that I had something to do with changing everyday women’s perception of their themselves for the better.
What other types of creative work do you do? I love to craft, and make things in general. I like making things for the house or the kids rooms. My father and I made my son a speed racer bed, back when he was into race cars. Now I want to convert it into a cloud bed for my daughter. Lately, I have had an urge to sew, so that’s on my Sunday afternoon to do list. Most of my creative projects are born out of a want of need, for example I needed a new work desk, so I found an old affordable one I liked from the thrift store and painted it purple.
What inspires you? Nature, good conversations, seeing other artists making a living.
What keeps you motivated? Brainstorming with other creative thinkers, and doing a mix of what I want to do with what I have to do.
Any advice to fellow creatives (in your industry or otherwise)? The lesson I have to constantly remind myself is that I am making my dreams come true at my own pace and try not to compare my achievements to other creatives. Also, as a wedding and lifestyle photographer, I don’t want to get caught up in thinking I’m supposed to be shooting in a particular style. I love Elizabeth Messina as a wedding photographer, and her work is greatly sought after. While I want to draw inspiration from her work, I don’t want to copy her, I want to develop my own style and always be true to myself with everything I create.
Any other fun tidbits we should know about you? I think I merged the answers to this question into the other questions. But what I didn’t share yet, was that my husband Carlos is now in business with me. He started out as my second shooter for weddings, then joined on board full time about six months ago. It has been the biggest blessing and the biggest challenge at the same time. I am so excited to be on this crazy ride with him and to be able to be a bigger part of my kids lives while they are young.
I hope you enjoyed getting to know Erika a little better! Be sure to check her out on social media and stay tuned for the next two weeks because I’ll be sharing new creatives every week this month!
If you’re interested in booking a session and would like to have the DFinney Experience yourself, 
