Life & Work with Danielle Villasenor

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Villasenor.

Hi Danielle, 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?
I picked up a camera for the first time when I was 18 years old. I had just moved to the bay area (on my own) to get away as my parents had just divorced and it took a major toll on me. I was going through a lot mentally at the time and so moving to a new city seemed like a good idea. When I relocated, I found community through a church I was attending and they had a media team that consisted of production, graphics, photography, videography, etc. One of the guys on the photo team was like, “Hey! I always see you taking pictures with your phone, would you like to take pictures for our event this Friday??” – Mind you, I had never used a camera before, had no knowledge of settings, composition, etc. So Friday comes, I shoot the event and all my photos suck! BUT in that moment, I discovered a newfound passion for photography. I instantly fell in love with the idea of capturing moments. With all that I was feeling about my parent’s divorce, being the oldest of six, living in a new city, take pictures really took my mind off of my problems. I know some people turn to destructive things to get their minds off of their problems, but for me it was photography and of course God.

That was in 2012, almost 10 years ago. Fast forward to now, I have been shooting for ten years, actively taking clients for seven years with a current focus on weddings and engagements/couples. I have had amazing clientele from Southern California to San Francisco all the way to Hawaii. I am so grateful for every person, couple who has booked me to document incredibly special moments in their life such as weddings. Currently, I am based in southern California but totally willing to travel wherever my clients want me to be. I am happily married and the mom of an incredible four-year-old boy.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been smooth, some years have been better than others. I think with the pandemic happening, a lot has shifted globally, economically, socially, etc. I had so many weddings canceled in 2020, there were couples who ended up just eloping and lots of canceled sessions. So there were things within myself and business that I had to change and adjust for the better.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a photographer who specializes in weddings/engagements and creative portraits. I like to say I know your best side!

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is serving every person who gets in front of my camera with the best of my ability. I always want them to feel comfortable, their total self, and have a fun experience with me! I am all about evoking real emotion so that it translates through my images.

Contact Info:

• Website: daniellecelestephoto.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/bydanielleceleste

Image Credits
Photos were taken by me Danielle Celeste Photo or My husband