Meet your Photographer
Hi! I’m Daphnie
Hello everyone! I’m Daphnie and I am a 25 years old mother who has finally decided to go for what I want in life by doing what I LOVE, photography, full-time! My passion for photographing & documenting stories/events stems from the lack photographs my family, who immigrated from Haiti, has to look back on. I love going to older family and friends homes and being able to go through their photo albums (the old fashion way lol), seeing the change in the way people looked, lived, their styles, and the simple thought of freezing time & capturing a memory has always been so fascinating to me. I feel a reconnection when I look at a photo. It’s a snap shot of someone’s life where everyone that look at it can feel a little more connected. I look back on photos of myself as an adolescent and I have nostalgic moments, like I relive the moment in a weird way lol. Being able to relive a moment with a friend or a loved one is something I feel should never be taken for granted. Which is why I’m in love with photographing others! I understand the importance of capturing moments in time that you want to cherish for life. That is why I love photography. And it isn’t just my job, its been my passion! Whether it’s a birthday shoot, headshots for your business, a special moment for you with your children and/or significant other, or your BIG DAY, I’m the girl here to capture that memory! And you’re on the camera-shy side, one thing any of my clients can tell you is I will ALWAYS get you out of your comfort zone while ensuring you’re comfortable, of course!!
Everyday I work to improve my abilities as a photographer by simply learning what I can every morning during my hour of “study time”. Whether it’s from another photographer, YouTube, or physically practicing, refining my skills with elements such as new lighting & posing techniques, attending workshops on equipment & software as those are ever changing, and soon I’ll be able to join photographers and creative individuals at conferences for new ideas and inspirations.
I truly care about each and every one of my clients. That is why when you book a full session you become a part of the Daphs Gallery Family.
Here I Am!
These headshots are about 4 years old! lol shhhh..
Photos by @jimenez (Instagram)
My journey...
Photography became a big part of my life when I got accepted into a Center of Art school in Lehigh Acres Fl, Lehigh Senior High Scool. There, I found my niche for photography & finally able to enjoy school a little more. From the 9-12 grade I had a Photography class and joined the photography club as a sophomore. I began taking photos of every and anything around. Architecture, animals, flowers, and more random things! (I will be posting my teenage gallery soon!).
I also got the opportunity to learn photoshop, light room, and a little on graphic designing which has really helped me in the field I choice to make a career.
After high school, doing photography was definitely something I wanted to do but with the lack of support from my family, I convinced myself that school was the only way to have a success life, which was a bit detrimental to my health & mental state in so many ways. At one, I was in school full time while working full time and I realized working for someone else and going to school for something I didn’t WANT, is just a life I couldn’t settle for.
But even after I decided that school was not for me, I worked as a home health & resident aid for years because to everyone else THAT was a steady & good job choice… I really allowed people to get to me by calling something I was so passionate about a “hobby” because it wasn’t a 9-5 job… 7 years after graduating I’ve FINALLY followed my dream and have gone full time working as a photographer. Moral to this little story, don’t give anyone the power to belittle or discredit the gift God gives you. Believe in yourself & you’ll go as far as YOU take yourself.
My Motivation…
I am a single mother to the sweet little angel that you saw on my cover homepage. D’Angelo is 15 months now and I couldn’t have asked God for more from such a perfect baby boy. D’Angelo came into my life when I needed motivation. He gave me just that and more. “He lit a fire up under my a*s” lol. He has become such an unexpected blessing to everyone in our lives & I couldn't be more proud & grateful for his placement in my life!
When I got pregnant, I was stuck between working an overnight nursing assistant job at a retirement home while still trying my hardest to get my photography off the ground. After a few months, I couldn’t take the smell or the heavy lifting I was being forced to do while there, so I went back to the hospital as a newborn photographer for 3 months before leaving at 8 month. Being a newborn photographer was exciting, BUT working to photograph for someone else’s business, didn’t sit well with me!
After I gave birth to D’Angelo I went back to working at the hospital as the newborn photographer. Again, something I love to do, but if I’m being honest, the pay was SHIT! lol. I felt so under valued because I KNEW my worth as a photographer. Every new parent LOVED every photo I took but them buying them that day or even that week was never guaranteed.. some days getting the hourly $12 rate for the few hours (5-8 hours, photographing 5-10 newb babies) was better then the commission would be so I just couldn’t do it anymore. Especially with my son. I needed more. We needed more.
February of 2022, I quit my job & committed to what’s been my Plan A all along, being a photographer. No more plan Bs… Everytime I picked up a job because I “needed a stable job”, I was miserable because those things truly were not MY CALLING. It took me a while to realize it, but the only way I can be truly successful in building my brand/business is by putting my all into this journey that I know will soon pay off. It hasn’t been easy being a full time mom while trying to build my business but it is so rewarding being able to work from home and watch my son grow these past few months. From taking his first steps, to saying so many new words. I couldn’t imagine missing out on the most important moments in his life due to working a job I wasn’t happy at!
D’angelo at 1 month old
Milestone: 3 months