Today we’d like to introduce you to Danniell Gillette.
Hi Danniell, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Photography has always been a way for me to find peace of mind or a stress reliever since high school. In 2020 I had an opportunity to use photography for good truly. I never thought about doing photography as a profession, but when a cousin approached me about doing a special project for her, I fell in love with the creativity I could do with it. More so, I was able to help the youth in our community. In 2020 several reports of teens had tried to commit suicide or had accomplished suicide. Isolation and cyberbullying were huge then, so our teens’ silent suffering was unseen. Bethannie asked me to help come up with a shoot that she would be able to share and raise awareness around the school. Her best friend had been a victim of this and had jumped off a Bridge. The Teens Against Suicide project was the first shoot that changed my path for photography. We were able to offer this to a few other people, and surprisingly this has allowed teens to share their stories and work through what they are going through. Weirdly they could take their pain and share it to help others.
From here, I started shooting teen sports; my daughter plays softball, so it fits. I also started focusing on graduation sessions for high school and college students. In 2021 I decided to make this a permanent decision. I decided to return to school and get my Bachelor’s in Fine Arts with a focus on photography at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Colorado. I am now in my senior year and will finish in April 2024. Upon school completion, my assistant and best friend, Jaclyn Galloway, hope to open our gallery/studio. We will offer sports, portraits, special photography, senior photos, and family photos. I want to focus on more fine artwork and black-and-white photography.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest struggle for me has been the competition. Nowadays, anyone can pick up their cell phone, capture a picture, and call themselves a photographer. Before school, I assume the same thing, but there truly is an art to photography, and you get what you pay for. I see people offering a mini session for $50, and they only give 5 photos, but you always stay even with those prices between set-up, time, and editing. I want my photos to be remembered for something other than the price but for the quality and service.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
I am a photographer specializing in sports, portraitures, special photography, senior photos, and family photos. On a personal level, I do fine art and black-and-white photography. We are known for our detail and creativity. Working with teens is what I am proud of and sets us apart. You would be surprised how many suffer in silence, but being able to be a second shooter, a model, or work on a special project to raise awareness helps them take the pain and put it back into the community and raise awareness. Our logo is a horseshoe with a dragonfly landing on it. We want everyone who sees it to remember us and our quality and service.
Who else deserves credit for your story?
A few people in my life have contributed to my success. First, my three children, Mariana, Xavier, and Deven, have been huge supporters. They have sacrificed so much for me to be able to finish school, and the only thing they keep telling me is that I have sacrificed more for them. These three keep me going every day, and they are the reasons I wake up each day. Second, my biggest cheerleaders have been my best friend and assistant Jaclyn Galloway and her daughter, my model, Nicole Galloway. Jaclyn came to me in 2020 when I was doing the Teens Against Suicide shoot and said her daughter was interested in being a model if I needed one. Little did I know that she also suffered from this. Nicole has flourished over these years, becoming an amazing second shooter for me and an amazing model. I only use her for my fine art shoots. Jaclyn has been my rock and second mind. She keeps me on schedule and organized when going into shoots but keeps me calm and focused on the shoot at hand. Next, and this one will surprise some, I have to give my professor Edgar Hernandez credit for a lot of the work I have produced the last year. Our relationship has been a love-hate relationship. Any of my kids will tell you that I hate him, but I like him because he challenges me. He has been the professor who pushed me to my max and tested my creativity. It pushed me to perfection, and I still expected more. You would think a 99 is amazing, but you strive to get it when you know he doesn’t give 100s. Professors like him are the reason students strive to do their best. They test us, yet they are willing to take the time to show you what you are doing wrong and expect you to correct it on your next shoot. On any shoot, I always hear “detail, detail, detail.” Lastly, my mentor. My uncle, Mark Sineath, has been a huge factor in my photography career and has encouraged my creativity when most would shut it down. He has pushed me with every semester in school, and now the student has surpassed the teacher. I would visit him in Florida each year so he could teach me something new. There is no giving up.
Pricing:
- All shoots start at $185 for an hour session
- Boudoir shoots start at $350 for an hour session.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://danniellgillettephotography.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danniell_photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DGPhotography02
Image Credits
Assistant – Jaclyn Galloway, Model/Makeup – Nicole Galloway
