Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Clevenger & Dani Alger
Hi Anna & Dani, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We met on the sidelines of the soccer field and clicked immediately. We had so much in common, but especially our love of photography! We discovered we both had independent photography careers, but neither of us felt we were working to the capacity we desired. That initial conversation resulted in us becoming accountability partners. We gave ourselves weekly tasks and learned that the power of two is more than 1+ 1. We have so many similarities in our both our personal lives and our professional aspirations, and that helps us to both empathize with and push each other. It seemed a natural progression to join forces and so in 2018, we launched dna photo+style. We have found that we are so much braver and more willing to try new (often hard or scary) things when we are in it together.
A typical workday for us starts with packing up the car with our cameras and gear. We are always full of excitement and a bit of nervous energy as we hone in on our goals for the shoot, and we always drive together because we have so much to talk about. We come to the business with similar talents and complementary technical skills. We are so appreciative of the other because we know neither one of us could do it alone. The constant push from the other makes us both more confident.
We collaborate both with individuals and companies to curate images and help capture a unique brand. Now, even some of our biggest corporate clients are moving towards updated lifestyle images, which is so fun and creative for us to shoot. Our superpower is our ability to connect with our clients.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The hardest part of our journey was pushing past our fears. We are wives and mothers and for a long time viewed photography as a hobby. But as we began to partner up on projects that notion changed, and we started to take ourselves and our work more seriously.
We fumbled around the first year, trying to get a clear vision of our photographic style and target market. We knew we definitely did not want to shoot weddings. We loved corporate photography, but basic headshots started to get a bit stale. We decided to zero in on branding and portraiture for individuals and businesses.
Momentum was building momentum and we were having a blast when the Covid Quarantine hit and everything came to a screeching halt. We did not work or see each other for months while we tried to figure out how to adapt. Gradually over the summer, we were able to meet outside for practice sessions. Our clients started reaching out again and by September 2020, we were back at it. There have been many times when one or the other of us gets distracted by daily life and family obligations, but we know we can count on the other for a nudge to get back on track. Honing in on exactly what our goals are and honoring that commitment has made us more confident to keep going.
Neither one of us could have built this business alone. Prior to our partnership, each of us would get stuck by not feeling quite ready to put ourselves fully out there. There is no such thing as “ready”. There is only now, and we may as well do it now. We broke it down. We started by doing what was necessary, then did what was possible, and suddenly we are doing the impossible!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We shoot whatever the client’s brand needs. That could be bio photos and working shots, we plan time to capture those in a variety of compositions and layouts to ensure they have maximum usage across platforms. If the client is in need of photos for sales pages, email funnels, or online ads, we’ll talk through what those launches will look like, and we’ll brainstorm a collection of material that will compliment your message and stand out from the offer-heavy landscape of social media. Every branding session is different from the last. We do copious research and ask a lot of questions to make sure the photographs work for our client’s business.
Branding sessions are customized according to the business’ aesthetic, message, and upcoming needs. Prior to the shoot, we meet to discuss the ideas and hopes for their portraits, as well as any upcoming launches, offerings, or events, so we can map out the shoot to best tell their story from beginning to end!
What makes you happy?
For us, we feel happiest when we are creating and cultivating meaningful relationships and are in service to something greater. That applies to our photography as well as our personal lives. We are so lucky to have found a balance between what we’re good at, what we love, and what drives us to make a difference.
Some of our favorite memories are preparing for situations that felt a bit out of our comfort zone. The one that stands out the most was when we were invited to give a talk about our business to a large group. We would rather be behind the camera directing the action than in front of a group with all eyes on us. Neither of us feels comfortable speaking on stage but we knew it would be a great networking opportunity, so we agreed. We practiced for hours, laughing our butts as we bungled and stumbled over how to tell our story. But guess what, we rocked it!
We bring that approach to every shoot we do. Our clients are our partners in creation. There is nothing like the rush of learning something new, executing until we get it right and then celebrating the result together. We’ve had so many moments like that in the last few years. It’s what keeps us going, it’s what pushes us to keep playing around and to find new ways to tell a visual story.
Contact Info:
- Email: anna@dnaphotoandstyle.com
- Website: https://www.dnaphotoandstyle.com
- Instagram: dnaphotoandstyle
Image Credits
dna Photo + Style
