We recently had the chance to connect with Danielle Krippes and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Danielle, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
The thing I’m most proud of is the life I’ve built and the strength I found along the way—small wins, personal growth, and the choice to keep showing up even when no one was watching. People might see the finished product, but they don’t see the moments I had to keep going when things felt impossible, or how much I’ve had to grow to create the life I have now. That quiet, internal work is what I’m most proud of.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I started practicing photography in 2020, and what began as a creative outlet quickly turned into something I fell in love with. I’ve built my photography business through trial and error, a lot of growth, and the support of mentors and incredible peers along the way.
By day, I work as a creative project manager, where I get to design and oversee promotional advertising campaigns, giving me a unique perspective on both the visual and strategic sides of storytelling. The balance between my photography work and my professional creative role keeps me inspired and constantly evolving.
I’m proud that everything I’ve created has come from passion, perseverance, and staying true to my vision—and I’m just getting started.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
When you’re starting out—especially as someone self-taught—it’s easy to fall into the mindset that you have to do it all to be taken seriously. But that version of me has served its purpose. It got me here, but now, I’m learning to move with confidence, to value rest, and to trust that I don’t need to burn myself out to create meaningful work.
I’m also learning to release the need to please everyone. For a long time, I worried too much about what others thought of me—how I worked, how I showed up, even how I ran my business and lived my life. But I’m finally learning that it’s okay to put myself first. Nobody is going to look out for you or care for your peace the way you can. You are your own biggest advocate, and choosing yourself isn’t selfish—it’s necessary.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of not being enough—of failing, of being misunderstood, or not being taken seriously.
When you’re self-taught and carving your own path, that fear can be loud. Comparison to so many other talented people in the same field will never let you move forward.
But over time, I’ve learned that growth doesn’t come from perfection—it comes from showing up anyway. I’ve started choosing courage over comfort and letting my fear become fuel instead of a roadblock.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the photography industry tells itself is that success is defined by aesthetics, popularity, and constant output.
There’s this unspoken pressure to curate your life, your brand, and your work to fit into a polished, trendy box. If you don’t have a certain look, followers, or client list, it’s like your work doesn’t count. But that’s a lie. Real artistry can’t be filtered—and neither can real connection.
Another damaging belief is that burnout is just part of the process. That if you’re not booked out, constantly shooting, constantly posting, you’re falling behind. It glorifies the grind, but ignores the importance of rest, boundaries, and longevity.
And lastly, there’s a lack of transparency. Too often, people act like they built everything overnight—without struggle, failure, or help. It sets up unrealistic expectations for those trying to enter the field. I think we need more honesty in this industry: about the work, the cost, and the reality behind the highlight reels.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What I understand deeply is that everyone is carrying something you can’t see—and empathy will always matter more than judgment.
In both life and business, I’ve learned how important it is to move with compassion—for others, and for yourself. Mental health doesn’t always look like what people expect. High-functioning anxiety, burnout, self-doubt, imposter syndrome—they can all exist behind a smile, behind a thriving business, behind someone who “has it all together.”
As someone who’s had to work through a lot internally while still showing up creatively, I’ve come to understand the value of grace: giving it freely, receiving it when it’s offered, and learning to offer it to yourself when no one else does.
You never know what someone’s going through behind the scenes. I think if more people led with empathy instead of ego, the world—and the industry—would feel a lot safer to show up in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://daniellekrippes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellekrippesphotos/
- Other: @danielle.krippes on TikTok
