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Meet Donna Dymally of Donna Dymally Photography in Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Dymally.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I didn’t start out to be a photographer. I started out as a real estate agent to sell houses. As soon as I received my real estate license, the real estate market plummeted. But I received an offer to be a real estate photographer and work on a nationwide project entitled “Photographing America.” The project entailed photographing 250 urban areas throughout the United States. I was asked to photograph cities in southern California.

I was assigned to photograph homes in different cities in California. Some of the cities I photographed included: Culver City, Pasadena, South Los Angeles, Bell, Bell Gardens and Cudahy. I photographed 800 houses daily for two years. The photos were later used for “Google” purposes.

I developed the ability to photograph homes which a less than 1 percent error rate. I was named one of the top real estate photographers in southern California for Zaio .inc.

After this project ended, I decided to pursue a career in entertainment photography. I had to start my career in this field from the bottom up. I have been photographing in entertainment photography for over a decade. I have had the opportunity to work for several magazines including Ambiance Magazine. My photographs have been viewed on television and various publications including newspapers and magazines throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It was not exactly a smooth path for me. Shortly after pursuing entertainment photography; I experienced a “stroke on a plane” while flying to work. I survived a five-hour plane ride to Dallas, Texas where I was hospitalized for over a week.

I subsequently lose my eyesight and my ability to move my left side as a result of the stroke. I was forced into therapy where I regained eight percent of the use of my left side. The medical doctors gave me little hope of regaining my vision. However, I found a natural healer who administered healing herbs to me and I regained my eyesight.

My physical challenges were great but I was determined to heal and photography became the instrument for my healing to occur. It spurned me on to never quit. I did not quit but continued to move forward in my quest to heal.

I was also faced with being a small woman in a business that was mostly dominated by men. I overcame those challenges by being steadfast in my pursuit of greatness.

During my quest, I was also challenged by the physical challenge of being able to only use my right hand. I was always taught that comedy was healing. So, for one year, I set in comedy clubs and practiced, practiced and practiced. I became adept at performance shooting, met a multitude of comedians and laughed myself back to good health. In 2018, I was selected as one of the top photographers in Los Angeles by Actor Ro Brooks… visit www.robrooks.com for photographers in 2018.

Please tell us about Donna Dymally Photography.
My business is Donna Dymally Photography. I work mainly in entertainment photograph. I consider myself a Celebrity/Event Photographer. I photograph mainly “on the red carpet” and for movie screenings, fashion shows, comedians, musicians, artists, actors and community events throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

I am very proud of the reputation I have built for my business of being timely, following through on my commitment and creating fabulous photography. The thing that sets me apart from other photographers is that whenever I photograph, I connect with my subjects. When I take a photograph, I make sure that I get that person’s name and that photograph is later seen by the person who posed. It is important for me to connect with that individual on social media.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I do not think that I would change anything. Everything happens for a purpose. I would leave things just the way they are. I have no complaints or changes that I would make. Everything occurred for me in divine order.

Contact Info:


Image Credit:

Donna Dymally Photography

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

1 Comment

  1. Momma Dee

    November 19, 2018 at 20:15

    Momma Dee knew you were the BEST, that’s why I choose you as my private photographer👍🏼💜📸

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