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.

“LIKE” my DRP FB page if you haven’t already!

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!!!

THANKS FOR READING!

CALL TODAY to get your beautiful family up on your walls displayed the way they should be!!!

If you’d like to stalk me see below!  

{Follow me} on Twitter:  DRPLife

{Follow me} on Instagram: DRPLife

{Follow me} on Pinterest: DRPLife

{Follow me} me on Facebook and “like” My DRP page

I went from a Mom With A Camera (MWAC) to a Sears Photographer (not actually just more like an amateur) to a Boutique Photographer.

My DRP Life STORY of 5 years  (I apologize for the length):

I purchased my first SLR camera in 2007.  A Nikon D80 with a basic kit lens.  I was so excited to really start a hobby in Photography without needing to wait for the film to be processed.   This same year I was working as a FT Bookkeeper for a small home builder, Noyes Development.  We all know the market tanked and business was not good.   Unfortunately due to the economy my hours got cut in HALF. I panicked!  What was I going to do?  I have a mortgage to pay, kids to raise, and a car that wasn’t paid off yet.  What am I going to do?  Get a PT job at a coffee shop for minimum wage?

I KNOW!!!! I have my new camera. I’ll create a photography business!   I won’t charge too much since I’m just starting out.   Off I was… I bought a domain, some business cards through Vista Prints,  and a $20 website through yahoo.  I’m going to rock this!

***Shaking my head at past Danyel*** {{{Girl being a PROFESSIONAL photographer is HARD work}}}

My first paid shoot was the amazing Mr. Ryder. He will forever hold a special place in my heart.  This is where my business started, as bad as it was.  I charged $50 for ALL the images on a disk.  Looking back on those images today….DEAR LORD I was bad.  Bright sun, horrible lighting, barely in focus, and don’t get me started about the white balance! No problem though just turn it Black & White. *fixed*  Now at this point I’m just learning Photoshop as well so even that is sloppy.  Check out that leaf selection!  OMG  It’s scary and downright embarrassing, but I had to start some where right?!?!?!?  Thank you Heather for being patient with me while I learned my skills!

Here’s what sets me apart from being just another person saying “I’m a photographer” and ACTUALLY being one.

• I spent (and continue to spend) countless hours/days reading books, watching videos, going to seminars, asking questions in photography forums, etc.
• My business is registered with the state and I pay taxes!
• I’ve slowly been getting professional equipment  speed lights, strobes,  reflectors, backdrops, light stands, additional lenses, better camera bodies, a better website, a blog…

By 2011 I was slammed. I was back to FT at my day job and was shooting 2-5 shoots a week + editing. I raised my prices to $140 (watch out I’m getting expensive).  By now I was basically working 2 FT jobs.  I was barely seeing my family and at one point I was actually schedule family time. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT PICTURE???

I also started noticing I had ZERO pictures of my family on my own walls (just stock photo I had framed).  I had been perfecting my skills for 3 years but NOT ONE  had landed on my walls! I forced myself to get 3 portraits hung for me to see daily. I splurged and got them printed on luxurious 16×20 METAL prints! WOW they were stunning!  Why hadn’t I done this sooner?

I thought of the hundreds of disks that stored THOUSANDS of clients and family images.  Where were they you might ask????  On a shelf, behind a room divider, collecting an inch of dust being unloved, unseen, and basically forgotten about.  Is this where my clients images are sitting as well???  On a shelf collecting dust too saying I’ll print them later??  Was that worth all that time away from my family, learning my craft, and perfecting each image????  HECK NO!!!

There was a reason I was working like crazy.  I was creating amazing images and was basically PAYING people to get their portraits done by me. Yes, you heard me right. I WAS PAYING MY CLIENTS  to enjoy images I took of their family. Time is $$, right???

By the end of 2011 I knew something needed to change. I MUST stop devaluing my art, the industry as a whole,  and get paid to create what I do.

In 2012 I made the announcement that my business structure was changing.

• SESSION FEE: Any client hiring me as their professional photographer will pay a Session Fee. This fee is a retainer for my photography services. It covers my knowledge and wear and tear on my professional equipment to shape you into the most flattering pose and capture your stunning images.
• THE EXPERIENCE: My clients are known to receive fresh baked cookies, cupcakes, fresh veggies, DRP Bottled water.  My client get their own music to listen to while you rock out your portrait session. No top model experience is done until the fan has been used.
• HAIR & MAKEUP ARTIST:  I have 4 lovely hair and makeup artists I use as an add on to sessions. Why not make yourself feel & look like a million bucks?
• EDITING: After your portraits have been taken my work is not done!! I edit every image to perfection. Pimples gone, dark circles lightened, skin tone adjustments, bloodshot eyes erased, etc.
• ORDERING SESSION: Around a week after your portrait session you’ll come over to my home.  At this time you will arrive to view all the breathtaking images of you and your family. You’ll watch your personalized DVD created just for you.  Afterwards I will help guide you through the process of ordering amazing art pieces.  Items you can  hang  in your home to enjoy on a daily basis!
• DIGITAL IMAGES: I do sell digital images but I find the main reason people want them is to share on Facebook. I know online sharing is big and don’t want my clients to miss out on that.  Any image you order will be posted on Facebook in a low resolution format w/ my logo. This allows my clients to tag themselves and share your amazing images with your internet family.  =)

“LIKE” my DRP FB page if you haven’t already!

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

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

THANKS FOR READING!

CALL   TODAY and lets get your stunning family up on your walls displayed the way they should be!!!

If you’d like to stalk me see below!  

{Follow me} on Twitter:  DRPLife

{Follow me} on Instagram: DRPLife

{Follow me} on Pinterest: DRPLife

{Follow me} me on Facebook and “like” My DRP page

The first thing I noticed about Arden was her complete mustache outfit:  Shirt, Belt, shoes, necklace, etc….. Loved it!  After Kat, my lovely hair and makeup artist, had completed her look we were off to our first destination.

We started out at the Portland Rose Test Garden up by the Zoo.  She looked stunning.  To help ease her into the shoot we did some fun silly pictures with her and her sister. Such an amazing bond they had.  The other visitors couldn’t help but watch the action.

Near the end we moved to a very quiet one way road (completely safe mind you) for a few shots. At one point we moved to the side as we heard a motorcycle  coming. Funniest thing ever!!!  The motorcyclist finally becomes visible  fully decked out in black riding gear, tinted black helmet, driving an old Vespa Moped.  Arden gave her best princess wave as he drove by. We got the shot(s) and moved onto the next location.

Downtown Portland was a place she frequently visited so it seemed only fitting to use that as our second shooting location. The waterfront was the perfect setting for our final location.

I know it was difficult for her to be the main focus but she did fantastic.  I know it’s hard to view ourselves and not be critical but it makes me so excited when a model loves their portraits.

Such a stunning young lady! Show your support and comment below.

Boutique Imagery for the Modern Client

Contact DRP today to book your portrait session.

503.330.7669

info@danyelrogersphotography.com

www.danyelrogersphotography.com

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!

Ike faced a long battle in which he spent several years without the use of his back legs. To help him lead a more normal life he was fitted for his very own wheelchair.   I was lucky enough to photograph their family in 2011.  Ike looked very dapper that day!  It was clear he still had lots of life in him and his parents knew it!

In honor of Ike I’d like to ask anyone reading this to take some time out of your day and play with your fury kids.  Toss the ball, go for a walk, or scratch that favorite spot.

As we drove to Red Robin we passed a sign for the Hillsboro High School Play, Beauty & The Beast.  PERFECT!   I had yet to see a play even though my oldest daughter, Breanna, attends Hilhi.

We arrived early to get good seats.  It was amazing how many people we ran into:  Taylor’s teacher from last year, clients I had photographed, softball teammates, and friends we hadn’t seen in awhile.

I brought my camera unsure if pictures would be allowed.  The conductor instructed the audience to turn off cellphones and no flash photography!  Got it! No flash!

The kids did a fantastic job and the singing was amazing!  I can’t wait to attend the next Hilhi Play.

Meet Joanne, Casey’s first client to be photographed by DRP.  What an amazing lady.  Joanne shines bright and I was very lucky to document this time in her life. What an inspiration!

I asked Casey why he selected Joanne for this special celebration photo shoot and this is what he had to say:

I have known Joanne for years. She has always been an active member of the health clubs and personal training. She started training at BootCamp RDFT and soon became one of the hardest workers there. After going through a stage of allergy testing and clean eating we had thought she hit the lowest achievable weight and body fat without major additional sacrifices. We literally discussed the 5&1 program and how well it worked for so many of our clients for well over a year. I never tried to push her into making that decision for herself. She was already following a disciplined eating plan and was working out harder than anyone else. She would deliver on everything I could dish out in our One on One training sessions, but I always wanted more for her efforts. I was very excited and happy for Joanne when she made the personal decision to start in order to support her husband Gary while he did the program. They started the program and I coached them through the first 2 weeks while we were away on a family vacation. When I saw Joanne just after the 2nd week, I was amazed! I couldn’t believe the vibrant energy, the clear look in her eyes when she came prancing into her workout session. Already down several pounds of inflammation and body fat! Not only is she working out hard but her muscle definition and overall healthier appearance is above and beyond noticeable. I’m so proud of you Joanne. And thank you for trusting me to take you and Gary through your journey as you embrace the habits of health for a lifetime!

To give you an idea of Joanne’s healthy lifestyle journey I asked her about her recent experiences with added TSFL into her life:

Physical activity and fitness have always been important to me. From growing up on a lake and learning how to water ski at 5 years of age, to high school sports and running around with my friends, being active has been a part of who I am. I continued getting plenty of physical activity in my adulthood by running and through gym memberships. When my resources allowed for it, I would work with fitness trainers to improve my strength and endurance.

I joined Bootcamp RDFT during its grand opening in 2009, and absolutely loved it. The camaraderie and support from this group of people went way beyond the gym experience and they became like a second family to me. From the beginning, I was hooked. In addition, the one-on-one training I do with Casey Mitzel is always inspiring and very challenging. He simply understands, (better than I do, I think!) how to motivate me. He is always very positive and encouraging and simply expects that I can do whatever he challenges me to do—even when I’m not sure I can. It’s been quite the experience.

The truth is I was healthy, I was fit, and I was within goal range in terms of body composition and my weight… but for some reason, really reaching my goal was elusive. I felt like I was doing everything right, but still unable to actually reach it, and it was frustrating.  Trying to lose those last ten pounds seemed like something I had been trying to do for years and still, no matter what I did, no matter how hard I worked, it just wasn’t happening.

And then, the moment of truth:  My husband had his body composition measured by Casey. As a bit of back story, Gary, had always been fit and had attended Bootcamp classes with me until he started culinary school. In one year he put on 23 pounds and not only that, reduced the amount of exercise he participated in, so he also lost muscle mass. A double whammy. There we were, the three of us standing in this small room together after Casey had taken Gary’s measurements. Then he delivered the bad news.

Gary had a body fat percentage that put him in the obese range. What?! Now, you would never guess this to look at him. Yes, he had some extra weight on him and had that extra fat around the middle that is common in many men, but obese? Yes. He may carry his weight well, but the truth is the truth and at some point, you have to look at the numbers and make a decision.

The room got very quiet. We all looked at each other. Then I looked at Gary and I said, “Gary, If you want to go on the Take Shape for Life Program, I will support you and I will go on it with you.”

He looked at me. Blinked. And then said yes.  And so that was the beginning.

And as corny as this may sound, a miracle happened. Within a week, I was feeling different—lighter, stronger, better. I could tell my body was starting to change. Within two weeks, I could actually see those changes. Talk about exciting. I started this program for Gary, but now I was doing it for me.

Right after we signed up with Take Shape for Life, Casey went on a planned family vacation and gave us some coaching over the phone while he was away. When he returned and I walked into bootcamp, the look in his eyes said it all. He could see my body had changed. I saw his mouth drop open and his eyes light up. I wish I could bottle that moment in time. It was great.  He made a comment about how glowey I looked, which made me laugh. “Glowey,” I repeated. You just made up a word.” I knew he saw it.

I began to realize that I had been at a point where I just didn’t believe my body would let me go to the leanness that I really wanted to achieve. On some level I had given up on ever getting there. You see, I knew I was strong. I knew I had a good amount of muscle on me, but it was hiding under this last layer of fat that I just couldn’t get rid of. Once I was on the program, that began to change right before my eyes. Hope was springing up inside!

Every day I felt changes. Every day I could see myself changing in the mirror. I saw the muscles in my shoulders come out. I saw my abs coming out. I saw muscles appearing that I had never seen before! Each day, I saw something new. It was incredible.

8 weeks later I had dropped a total of 23 pounds and my body fat percentage had dropped to my goal! Ya Hoo! I remember in week number 4, I dropped 5.4 pounds in 6 days. I quickly called Casey and asked, “Am I OK? I have never, ever been able to drop weight like this. 5.4 pounds in 6 days. How is this possible. Am I ok?” To which Casey replied, “How do you feel?” I responded, “I feel fantastic!” He said, “I think you’re OK.”

My body dropped the weight it wanted to drop and it was easy. Take Shape for Life is a plan that is very specific and spelled out. You follow the plan, you get the results. Period. I was feeding my body on a frequent, regular basis – every two to two and a half hours, and it responded.  Have I mentioned yet how amazed and excited I was?

Now I have the shape of a very lean 22-year-old and I’m loving every minute of it (So is Gary, by the way!). My bootcamp classes are still hard; my training with Casey is still hard (and they always will be), but my endurance is better. My speed is better. My health is better. My confidence is better. I am proud of myself. When I run I feel lighter and almost joyous.

Casey had mentioned TSFL to me a few times over the prior year. He thought it might help me reach my goals, but I pretty much ignored it. I felt like I had tried everything and how could this program be any different? Once we made the decision for Gary to get on program, and I decided to go on it with him, well, the rest is history. I am a total believer!

I am sharing my story here as a way to give some hope to anyone who feels like he or she has tried everything. Our culture says if you’re a woman it’s harder to lose weight. If you’re over 40 it’s harder to lose weight. Blah, blah, blah. It takes the right program, and it takes making the decision. Even if you’ve tried it all before, why not give it one more try?  Make the decision to get healthy. Make the decision to lose the weight and get fit. Make the decision that this time you’re going to reach your goals. What do you have to lose? Except the extra weight. And wouldn’t that be great?! You work the plan, the plan will work for you.

Casey, thank you for your continued support and belief in me. You believed in me during the times when I didn’t believe in myself. You never gave up. Nor will I.

If you have a chance go over and “LIKE” Danyel Rogers Photography &  Bootcamp RDFT Facebook page.

Amanda Seyfried better watch out because she has a twin!

My husband, step dad, daughter, her BFF, and I are participating in the Warrior Dash out at Hornings Hideout Saturday Morning. I can’t wait to see all the crazy costumes and other like minded participants.

The pictures below are of  my husband & I participating last year. You go through crazy obstacles but it gives you such a sense of accomplishment when you cross the finish line full of mud.   I couldn’t have completed it without my partner in crime. It was a great bonding experience as a couple and I couldn’t have asked for a better day.

Thanks to my daughter and her best friend who followed us to random obstacles capturing the images above. This year I’m excited to have them on the course with us sharing in the experience.

Obviously the nature of this course isn’t mild by any means. I purposely didn’t schedule any shoots on Sunday just in case I’m too sore to move!  Haa Haa “just in case” who am I kidding! I’ll be icing my knees the rest of the weekend!

Good times & an amazing adventure in life!  Who wants to sit on the couch and watch life pass you by!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

For ONE DAY ONLY I’ll be hosting a back to school D-Lux School Portrait Event. One pose & one backdrop fully retouched.  I’ll be shooting all day to allow the most kids to participate.

All kids must have a scheduled time, including siblings!!!

Call TODAY 503.330.7669 to ensure you don’t miss out on this one day event!

Notice: These images can not be used for the  Junior & High School yearbook image. I’ve included a print credit coupon for parents that want to schedule a separate High School Seniors Session.