But my business really became my baby when I got pregnant (pun intended). Somewhere along the way, a friend convinced me to look into natural childbirth. I have never been so in awe of the female body and what it can do since giving birth to my daughter. My doula took some photos and videos of the process which still make me cry. Being able to relive that day lit a fire within my soul to be able to give other moms that experience. (You better believe that if you have a baby, I want to know all the details of your birth story!)

I am so passionate about labor and delivery but baby's first years are a close second. However, it hasn't always feel like sunshine and rainbows. There was no training to becoming a parent and postpartum depression & anxiety hit hard. I pushed through and eventually got the help I needed but my heart was aching to know I was doing something meaningful, something that would remind me to keep fighting.

Hi! I'm Danielle or D. Layne. (Layne is my middle name and was my granny's maiden name.) I became interested in photography after modeling for eight years. I really enjoy constantly learning new things so being on the other side of the camera to better understand modeling felt like a smooth transition for me. When I had to choose a second minor in college, photography was a perfect opportunity to do just that. 

So in 2020, I bought a camera and started a business. (I don't commit to something unless I'm all in.) I immediately fell in love with taking portraits of those around me not just because it was a fun creative outlet, but through the magic of my camera and my vision for the photos, I was able to help others feel confident again. Several people told me beforehand that they were self-conscious and didn't see themselves as photogenic. But after seeing my photos of themselves, I could see a spark in their eyes that wasn't there before. 

It genuinely made me so excited and ready to help as many people as possible see themselves in a new light. 

transformed by the experience of motherhood

I know what it's like to have your life flipped upside down 

I came to the realization that I was constantly taking pictures of my husband and my daughter, but that he rarely never took photos of me. This for me was the straw that broke the camel's back. I could not be the only mama who didn't have photos of herself slaying motherhood. 

This epiphany carved out the path for who I wanted to be as a photographer. Not just someone that can take beautiful family pictures, but a fellow mother who understands the sacrifice and strength you muster up everyday as a parent. I thrive capturing the minutiae of your everyday life because when you and your kids look back at photos in 5, 10, or 50 years from now, you want to remember all the tiny details of what made that time special: the tylenol bottle because baby was teething, the toy truck your son couldn't live without, the socks scattered on the floor because they never stayed on too long.

Would you allow me the honor, as a fellow mama, to create something so meaningful from the seemingly mundane?