Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniella Koontz.
Hi Daniella, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I starting taking photos when I was a teenager, back when it was film and every click cost. My parents were always supportive, my dad had a nice Canon EOS camera that he eventually let me use, but before that, he supported me by buying me my own point and shoot. They never complained about the endless rolls of film and developing but smiled graciously that I had a creative hobby. I took photos of our pets, the children that I babysat, and kids at school. This lead to me being invited to join the Yearbook committee a grade earlier than usually allowed. Even in my first year, I was able to fully cover events, create new pages in our yearbook, and take over other specialty pages.
Senior year of high school I was asked to take senior photos for my friends, then it was weddings. since I didn’t have any experience, they would hire a professional and I would just shadow. During this time, I met my husband, who worked at a photography studio, and we got married. I continued to take photos for friends and family, but really only as favors and not professionally. I remember buying the first Canon digital Rebel and being over the moon that I didn’t have to change out film ever 24 photos!
In 2005, we moved to Florida, where I am originally from. We had met living up North when our families had both moved to care for aging parents. My cousin’s wedding was the first wedding where I shot both film and digital, giving the new camera a try. I was hooked. I then found out I was pregnant and was searching for work that I could do from home. I had dabbled in graphic design, but everything I did was self-taught. I found a company that I could sub-contract out to but needed to have a legitimate business, so in 2006 Koontz Photography & Design was born. My first-born’s name is Lillian (Lilly for short), so I decided that my business logo would be a vector of my award-winning photo of a water lily. Although my logo has changed a bit over the years, it has always contained the lily, which reminds me every day why I started my business – to be able to set my own schedule so that I could spend the majority of my time doing the most important job in the world – raising tiny humans to one day become awesome adults.
The first several years were very sporadic. I poured my heart into being a mother and only picking up small jobs here and there. Around 2010, after the birth of our second daughter, I got a part-time job at a local photography studio. I had to quickly learn how to shoot in-studio, which is a completely different beast than on-location shooting. I spent a few years in the studio and then when it closed, I was sub-contracted out by another local photographer. During the week, I would come into their home-based studio and would answer emails, edit photos, help with sales, design pricing guides, and other marketing materials, as well as assisting the company in streamlining processes and creating spreadsheets and training manuals for those hired after me. On weekends I would second shoot weddings with the owner and eventually was one of the lead photographers on weddings for their company. After five years, I moved further away, so the daily commute was no longer feasible. Again, I spent some time focusing more on our family, which had now grown to three children.
After falling on some hard times, it was time to reinvent my business and figure out what worked best for my ever-growing family. I had heard about these big national wedding companies that were a one-stop-shop for Brides. I jokingly called them the Walmart of the wedding industry. Brides can talk to one company and get a DJ, Photobooth, Videographer, Lighting, and Photographer. So, I interviewed with one company, and then another, and then another. They get the clients, send us the information, and we take the photos. We hand over the images and their team does the editing, and that’s it. I decided to interview for a few more. Each time finding better companies that paid better and fit more in line with my goals and ideals. Working for these companies allows me the same amount of time to focus on my family and clients while adding extra income doing what I love. They fill in the empty slots when I don’t have clients of my own, without the added hours of paperwork and editing. It’s a perfect marriage of running my own business while sub-contracting out to others.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No. Owning your own business is never smooth. If it is, you are doing it wrong. Every person you ask, even the IRS themselves, you’ll get a different answer to your questions. You have to constantly be educating yourself on updated technology, updated laws, and updated styles, being self-employed means wearing multiple hats. From banking to contracts, to marketing, to client management, equipment purchases, equipment maintenance, social media, website-building, tax preparation, continuing education, networking, business psychology, doing the actual work, and everything in between. You know the illustration of the iceberg? What you see vs. what is underneath – THAT is what owning your own business is like. That is just the business side.
In the past ten years, we had suffered totaled vehicles, the loss of our house when the market collapsed, life-altering medical issues, moving several times, losing our storage trailer to theft, and a pandemic. While I’ve tried not to let personal issues affect the quality of service I provide for my clients, it does affect how much time and energy I have to give to growing my business. For a lot of businesses, their goal is to build a company that can run itself and be passed down or sold to others. For myself, I don’t have dreams of dominating the wedding industry or becoming the best in my field. I don’t want to make billions and travel to space. I just want to be able to do what I am passionate about, meet some awesome people along the way, and make beautiful images, all while providing for my family.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am a professional photographer that specializes in weddings, families, and events. When reading feedback and reviews from clients, I would say that I’m known for putting people at ease and making the experience of having photos taken a fun one. My favorite accomplishments have been being published by the Smithsonian, as well as being included in one of their traveling exhibits. I’ve also really enjoyed my time working with bands and other creative artists. I’m in a “Rock-umentary” DVD that was played in theaters and was on Dish. I have a photo on the back of a Nirvana tribute CD. I have been published in several books, magazines, newspapers and more. I’d have to say one of the most exciting was at the beginning of my career and it was the first time that Jones Soda selected one of my photos for printing on their label. They sent me a few copies of the run, I was so proud!
I don’t think that there is anything that really sets me apart from others. There are so many great photographers, and we all do our best to provide stellar customer service. We all do our best to put our clients at ease, educate the public on how to get the best results out of their experience, and give the clients memories to look back on. I’m not here to get all the clients. I want to work with people who love my style of photography and mesh with my personality. If your floral budget is $10,000, you have 1,000 Pinterest photos you want to be recreated exactly, and you eat caviar for breakfast, I’m probably not going to be the right fit for you. But if you are a nerd who loves all things sci-fi, are DIYing most of your wedding, and plan to walk into your wedding with lightsabers – I’m definitely the girl for you! Is this your second wedding, and you mostly care about getting photos with your kids and grandkids – come talk to me. I am here for you. I am perfectly fine skipping all the pomp and circumstance and focusing on what really matters in the end – your relationships and the memories you create with the people you love.
Honestly, though, I’m the type of artist that doesn’t think we as artists can survive by competing against one another. There is enough work and enough personality to find a perfect fit for each client out there. I like to network with other photographers so that we can learn from each other, support each other, and help each other in times of need. If I can’t help a client, I want to know that I can rely on others to take just as good of a job fulfilling their needs as I would have. Or, in the case of specialty photography – who to send clients to! In my case, while I love newborns and will happily take newborn photos – this isn’t my area of expertise and I cannot give a client those perfectly squishy wrapped newborn photos with all the props and blankets and cuteness. But I can guarantee that I can direct you to someone who can!
We’d love to hear about what you think about risk taking?
I’m in my mid-30s with four kids. My risk-taking is not having a 401K. I honestly think my biggest risk is not knowing what the future holds and not having those safety nets set in place that some employers can provide. But life has taught me that even the best jobs can tank, and 401Ks can be lost. For me, what is more important is being present NOW and providing the best life experiences that I can with my kids now. For me, that doesn’t even mean trips around the world or lavish parties and gifts. It means being present and available and a constant person in their life who guides them each day. I didn’t want my kids to have a nanny, go to school, go to summer camp, and hardly ever see me. I want to be involved in their education and development as humans. They grow up faster than you can enjoy each phase of their lives, so choosing not to have a “secure” job is the biggest risk for me and any other small business owner.
Pricing:
- Portrait Photography starting at $150/hr
- Elopements starting at $499
- Weddings starting at $1,699
Contact Info:
- Email: Daniella@KoontzPhotography.com
- Website: www.KoontzPhotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koontzphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoontzPhotography
- Other: https://linktr.ee/koontzphotography
