We are always hardest on ourselves especially when we see ourselves in pictures.  Looking in the mirror saying “I wish my nose was smaller!” or “I wish I wasn’t so fat” or “I wish I looked like that other girl she’s so pretty“!  I’m guilty of it myself, but I’m trying to be more gentle with myself and accept and love who I am.

A beautiful mother!

A beautiful wife!

A beautiful friend!

I recently did a photo shoot with an amazing photographer here in Portland, Mike Long with the Portland Pinups.  People asked me why I was doing it.  The real question is WHY NOT???  Did it make me nervous to be in front of the camera? HECK YA!  Did I have butterflies for weeks as it came closer? SURE DID!  I spend countless hours behind the camera and decided to be brave and put myself out there. I was so glad I did!!!  I had a wonderful time. It will be something I’ll cherish forever. Thank you Mike!

Sitting at my own sales session I did exactly what every other person does when they view their images.

Am I really that fat even after losing 15 lbs?                       Look at that double chin and those thighs!

 *** this image has been edited by the photographer using his creative skills ***

Did I order a huge print of myself? NO, but I did invest in a 12 page album with a variety of images of each outfit to document myself at 38 years old.    I liked some images better than others only because of my own body issues, however I still put them in the book and here’s why:

1. I’m getting older (shocker I know) and one day the reflection will be altered with a lot more wrinkles,  a lot more gray hair (I may or may not be coloring blonde), and it won’t be trendy for me to wear the same outfits. I’ll still be beautiful but in a different way.  Future Danyel can look back and admire 2013 version of herself and see just how foxy she was.
2. There will come a time when I won’t be here any longer hopefully in the very far future, but the time will come.  It could be tomorrow or it could be 50 years from now.  It’s just the fact of life.  What I do know is this album will be around for years past my time. It’s something  my children will pull out to remember their pretty mom back in the day.  For their kids and their kids after that to see how beautiful (great) grandma was.

I’m not saying this to be conceited.  Truly the opposite. My point is some of those portraits I had a hard time seeing the full beauty because of my own self doubt, BUT someone else looking at them can instantly see it.

Stop making excuses why you shouldn’t get your portraits done!  YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!! 

Schedule them today! With me or your local photographer, JUST DO IT!

A friend posted this video on Facebook and I think it’s a great watch.

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NO more dusty CDs!  NO more junky prints from Walgreens!  Will it be an investment, YES…but SO worth it!!!!

Danyel Rogers Photography offers Boutique Imagery for the Modern Client!!!

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In my profession, having a model that is willing to try anything to get that perfect shot is always a nice treat to have.  If that model also happens to be stunningly beautiful, that helps too!  Luckily my latest target, Megan Granum, is both!  On a cloudy and occasionally rainy day in downtown Portland, we had an amazing time moving, posing and generally being silly.  Megan was willing to try just about anything with an unbelievable enthusiasm.

Her quirky attitude made for some interesting and funny poses.  She brought with her a pretty colorful collection of outfits and we managed to get shots in each of them.  The wind was not working in our favor while changing but was certainly appreciated when posing (who needs a wind machine when you have the real thing right?).

Megan is a smart young woman who is going to achieve great things in life.  She is passionate and quiet the go get’er.  I mean come on….this girl has already achieved getting her pilots licenses before she’s even graduated high school! Not to mention holding down a PT job at a law firm. AMAZING!

I had the privilege of photographing this lovely young woman named Ashley.  She’s an outgoing bubbly girl who shines super bright.  Many clients you have to work for those smiles but not Ashley.  I bet she’d smile ear to ear all day long if she could.  Models like this make my job so easy.

Amanda Seyfried better watch out because she has a twin!

When it rains, it pours.  And if you live in Portland, you have to expect it to rain….a lot!  But, if you have the right attitude, you can even turn a rainy backdrop into a series of stunning photos.  After a series of rain delays, we finally picked a day to get some shots done.  We packed a car with me, my camera, my assistant, a few umbrellas, a carload of outfits and  my Hilhi senior rep, Breanna C.  Knowing what I do about Portland, I should have known that if the forecast calls for partly cloudy, that equals rain.  Luckily we were able to find a covered bridge in Portland’s industrial district that allowed us quite a few locations to shoot

The great thing about shooting in Portland is that even when you walk down the same road, there are a multitude of ever changing backdrops you can use.  From train tracks to loading docks, staircases to hidden alcoves, we managed to get quite the variety of shots.  We literally stopped traffic at one point (because we were shooting in the middle of the street)!

Breanna was a great sport throughout the shoot and the photos speak to her beauty and style.  She just wrapped up her Junior year at Hilhi and is looking forward to that all important senior year.  Despite the glam look she portrays in the pictures, she has no problem getting down and dirty playing softball for the past 4 years.  In school, she channels a lot of her energy into her art, which she has a real talent for.  As part of the Leadership group, she also helps decorate the school for all the social events.  You may have seen some of her work decorating the halls of Hilhi and didn’t even know it.

If you see her roaming the halls, congratulate her on her work ask her for a postcard that is worth a $35 print credit at www.danyelrogersphotography.com!

Oh how I love Prom!  That special time of year when the guys dress up in their very best finery and the girls spend all day getting their hair and make-up done before slipping into that special dress for a night of celebration.  Getting that perfect look is almost more important than actually attending.  What better way to preserve how great you and your date look than in a photograph.  Before the Hilhi senior prom, 4 couples decided to do just that, and allowed me to be the honored photog.  Maggie & Austin, Courtney & Jacob, Anna & Junior, and Lacey & Jesus all met me at the top of Rocky Butte state park for a series of stunning pictures with Portland itself being the backdrop.

All the girls looked stunning and the men just as dapper as we posed, glammed, and just got silly.  Some of the girls were a little wobbly trying to navigate the stony steps in those killer heels but the boys were always there to lend a hand (and even carry them around in some cases)!  It was a great time and everyone left with a killer smile and some amazing shots.  Now off to the party!!