Daily Inspiration: Meet Rowan Daly

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rowan Daly.

Hi Rowan, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Growing up in LA, photography had always been a personal outlet for me. I was the emo kid walking around the neighborhood with headphones on and a camera slung over my shoulder. I was convinced that if I could beautifully frame the mundane things we pass over on a daily basis, then I could show people that there is beauty in every part of life if you’re looking for it. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the hardest parts of this career path for me to wrap my head around was how non-linear it is. There is no roadmap to freelance photography, and at the end of the day, it is solely up to your desire and effort. Some of the hardest obstacles to get around are completely mental — but that is true of any artist making their way in the commercial arena. If you can address your own mental blocks and find ways to expand your ideas and approach to being a freelance photographer, then you’ll find that the bumps in your path are less opportunity-based and more self-inflicted. Basically, watch out for self-sabotage lol; it can be a real thing. 

I’ll give you an example from my personal experience. When I started pursuing photography professionally, I assisted an amazingly talented photographer specializing in actor portraits. I was a big fan of his approach and aesthetic in this niche area of photography that is often belittled and considered low-brow. After shooting portraits of a couple actors, I turned to this mentor and mentioned how I feel like I’m taking advantage of these young, talented people because these were the types of shoots I would casually do for free and for fun. He turned to me and said that every one of the clients sitting in front of my camera are in full pursuit of their dreams; they traveled from around the world to be here in LA, spent their life savings to build this dream career, and the time and talent I am giving them adds direct value to that pursuit. Those seemingly innocuous portraits add real value to their life’s dedication and pursuit. This insight allowed me to get over my own mental block about taking portraits of actors and reframe it entirely in a way that honors their hard work in pursuit of their dreams. Ever since, taking portraits of actors became one of my favorite photo niches. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Los Angeles-based Freelance Photographer specializing in celebrity, fashion, and music. It’s hard to say specifically what I am known for, but there are two things I hear often. First, an amazing compliment I’ve gotten frequently is that in a sea of imagery it is often obvious to spot my classic style. It doesn’t seem to matter what genre I’m shooting in; I always aim to shoot in an iconic style that stands the test of time, as opposed to what’s on-trend in that moment. There are pros and cons to this, but it feels most congruent for me and my personal taste. My reasoning is: if I’m doing my job right, these images will follow the client for the rest of their professional lives, so why create imagery that you would not feel proud of 20 years down the line? The second thing I hear most often is about the photoshoot experience I provide. Every one of my clients goes home with what feels like an innumerable amount of usable imagery, but the thing they most often compliment is how comfortable and easy the photoshoot process felt. Personally, I can’t image being in front of a camera as much as my clients are, so I’ve made it my goal to try and squash any stress or tension my client might be having on the day of the shoot. This, paired with a natural curiosity about people and a love for making true connections with them (even if it’s only for a few hours of a photoshoot), makes for a unique and uplifting photoshoot experience. 

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up in LA included waking up before the sunrise and having my parents drop me off at the beach so I could surf before school. Weekends were filled with punk shows at The Wolves Den, a now-defunct venue from the ’90s. 

Contact Info:

• Website: rowandaly.com
• Instagram: @whereisrowandaly

Image Credits
Nick Jonas
Mishel Prada
Tyga Jake
Austin Walker
Kiara Barnes
Kenya Moore
Brenda Song
Jane Lynch