We’re looking forward to introducing you to Daniella Koontz. Check out our conversation below.
Daniella, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Who are you learning from right now?
Rachel, a women’s empowerment life coach, came into my life during one of the hardest chapters I’ve faced. I was standing at a crossroads, finally choosing myself after years of not, and I was emotionally worn thin. I didn’t need someone to tell me what to do. I needed someone to help me listen to the noise in my head long enough to understand what it was really trying to say.
Working with Rachel has helped me slow down, get curious instead of critical, and start untangling years of stories I didn’t even realize I was telling myself. She doesn’t offer quick fixes or toxic positivity. Instead, it’s like she holds up a mirror and says, “Let’s figure this out together.”
This work has started to ripple out into my business in a really tangible way. I’m setting clearer boundaries, pricing my work in alignment with my experience, and not saying yes out of guilt or fear anymore. I’ve also learned that resting is not a reward, it’s a necessity. Making time for myself is no longer something I feel bad about, because I know it’s what helps me show up fully for my clients and for my family. It’s helping me protect my energy so I can build something sustainable and joyful, not just busy.
I’m learning to feel my emotions without judging them. To rewrite the scripts that keep me small. To ask better questions when the inner critic gets loud. And most importantly, to trust myself again.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Daniella Koontz, I’m the owner and lead photographer behind Koontz Photography, where I’ve been capturing weddings and portraits across Central Florida for nearly 20 years. What sets my work apart is how personal it is. I show up calm, adaptable, and ready to support each client like a friend, especially those who don’t feel seen in traditional wedding spaces. I specialize in working with neurodivergent couples, offbeat love stories, and people celebrating later-in-life love or second and third marriages.
One of my favorite things is building lifelong client relationships. I love when someone hires me for their wedding, then comes back for family portraits, holiday sessions, headshots, or just because they want to capture a moment in time. Being trusted to document each milestone is an honor I don’t take lightly.
I also co-host a podcast called Offbeat On Point, where we give practical, honest advice to couples who are planning weddings that don’t always fit the “traditional” mold. We’re big fans of lightsaber entrances, unique centerpieces, and saying goodbye to outdated expectations. If it feels true to you, it belongs at your wedding.
Right now, I’m focused on growing both sides of my work: booking more clients who align with my values, and continuing to share helpful, encouraging content through the podcast. Everything I do, whether it’s behind the lens or behind a mic, is rooted in helping people feel empowered, creative, and celebrated for exactly who they are.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I used to believe that my worth was tied to how useful I was. How much I had accomplished, how well I helped others, how productive I stayed. Rest felt like failure. Slowing down felt like laziness. I thought being valuable meant being needed, and constantly giving my energy to everything else but myself.
I’ve learned that’s not true. My worth isn’t measured by crossed-off to-do lists or how many people I’ve supported in a day. I have value even when I’m resting. Even when I’m quiet. Even when I have nothing to give.
That being said, this mindset still shows up. I fight it daily. But now I recognize it for what it is, an old story I don’t have to live by anymore. I’m working on being enough just as I am, even when I’m not “doing” anything. I’ve also learned that sometimes, slowing down helps me be even more present for the people I care about in the long run.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me that everything can change in an instant. That life doesn’t follow a straight line, and sometimes the rug gets pulled out with no warning. It taught me humility. It taught me to soften my judgments and give people the benefit of the doubt, because you never know what someone is carrying.
It also taught me how little we actually need to be okay. I used to think success meant more: more stuff, more status, more checking boxes. But when everything was stripped down, I found peace in the quiet, in the simple, in the small things that don’t cost a dime. Suffering taught me how to live more intentionally, to spend less, to let go of things that don’t matter, and to focus on what truly does.
Success never made me slow down like that. It never showed me what I was capable of surviving. Suffering did.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They’d probably say I care deeply about people feeling seen and understood. That I value honesty, loyalty, and showing up when it counts. They know I’ll drop everything for the people I love, especially when they’re going through something hard.
They’d also say I care about creativity and meaning, that I’m always chasing something real, whether it’s through photography, art, deep conversations, or just being fully present in a moment. And I think they’d say I try hard to make people feel safe being exactly who they are around me.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes. I’ve had photos hung in galleries. I’ve been published internationally. I’ve won awards and even had work included in a traveling Smithsonian exhibit. And while all of that looks impressive on paper, none of it brought the kind of happiness I thought it would.
What did feel satisfying was when an older, distinguished professional photographer came up to me with tears in his eyes and told me that one of my photos moved him deeply. He said, “These are the kinds of images that matter.” That moment reminded me why I do what I do. Not for recognition or accolades, but for connection. For emotion. For impact. That’s what fills me up. The rest is nice, but it isn’t as lasting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.koontzphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koontzphotography/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/koontzphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoontzPhotography
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9y6DDfoPblwNdM3XDvgBWwKEhHwnr8rn&si=dlKd7jhS4Xb5aYRm
