Today we’d like to introduce you to Dena Meeder.
Hi Dena, 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.
Photography has been my creative passion since I was in high school, and I continued to hone my craft at UCSD. I love all types of photography, including travel, landscapes, and wildlife, but I have realized my true passion lies in editorial and branding work.
I started working in editorial and fashion 4 years ago, primarily doing creative portraiture work. As I shared my work on social media, models, makeup artists, and designers began to reach out for collaborations. My first magazine submission made it on the front cover of Picton Magazine and the second on the back cover of HorizonT, both European fashion and art magazines. I was hooked! I also loved working and creating with other artists.
After two years, I opened a studio in La Jolla so I would have a permanent place to shoot. I also announced my first client project, photographing women in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. I was shocked that this project was halfway booked in 48 hours and filled in a month. It gave everyday women a chance to feel special, to be seen and heard. We celebrated their strength, beauty, and wisdom. At the end of the project, we had a celebratory event, and women connected with each other, so we also created a community. We even put together a trip for women to travel to French Polynesia together.
Many of these women continue to come together for happy hours, travel, and mast-mind events. What started out as a way for me to share my love of photography and create a successful photography studio turned into so much more.
Today, I focus mostly on personal branding, editorial and headshots for entrepreneurial women. I also have continued my original project, this time with women in their 50s and beyond. It has been so empowering for them as well as myself.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Of course, there are struggles and challenges along the way, but I believe if I approach my work with passion, caring, and “over-the-top” customer service and come from a place of authenticity, then it is all worth it and will all workout.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a portrait and editorial photographer with a fine art approach to photography, making my sessions unique and creative. I work with entrepreneurs and businesses that need “out-of-the-box” images of their products and services to share both in print and on their digital platforms, such as websites and social media. I bring decades of marketing and advertising experience and understand the importance of creating a strong brand.
I am most known for creating images that tell a story and connect with an audience. A business owner, especially solopreneurs or entrepreneurs, are the face of the business, and it is so important that they show up in their marketing. For many people, this can be very uncomfortable. Very few of my clients want to be in front of the camera. It is very important to me that my clients feel comfortable, that the feel heard and seen in a way that feels authentic to who they are.
I try to take all the things that can be stressful “off their plate.” I provide help with styling; I have a hair and makeup artist there so they can relax. I even have their favorite music, snacks, and drinks. I want it to feel like a fun spa day but with the benefit of amazing photos for them and their business.
What makes you happy?
Nothing makes me happier than seeing my clients SHINE. Whether during our photo session, I see them sit taller, smile bigger, or after when they first see their photos and are amazed that the images are truly of them, or when they share their images and they get so much LOVE on social media or on Linked In. It makes me so happy because every woman deserves to feel empowered, beautiful, sexy, and strong.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://denameederportraits.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denameederportraits/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/denameederportraits/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denameeder
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dena-meeder-portraits-san-diego
- Other: http://www.instagram.com/denameederphotos
Image Credits
Dena Meeder Portraits
