Capturing families, in candid and posed settings, all around the Chesapeake region
What prompted you to focus on families under sail?
I’ve always been mesmerized by sailing. I love being underway and letting wind and nature’s elements lead the course. It’s exciting when a family requests a photo shoot on their boat or near the water, whether at the dock or marina. Family pets are always welcome too! I shoot all over the Chesapeake and welcome families that live here as well as families just visiting and passing through.
When did you first experience being on the water?
I’ve been a water bug my whole life. I spent my early years in Rhode Island working as a lifeguard for an open-water state beach. My great-grandfather was a crew member of the America’s Cup Resolute. I wanted to follow in his footsteps and be one of the first women to sail in the America’s Cup. Unfortunately, I missed my shot when life got in the way. I found myself craving to be back on the water recently and brought my passion for photography with me.
What’s the ideal setting for a family considering a photo shoot?
I love the two hours just prior to sunset, often called the golden hour. The sun is lower in the sky and casts a beautiful glow on everything and everyone. A hoisted sail also tends to give a beautiful vantage point for gorgeous vertical pictures. Obviously, photos at the marina or dock, even while anchored, allow for more posed images that provide families with a nautical feel without compromising safety.
What about the Chesapeake inspires you in your work?
I grew up on Narragansett Bay and love being on the water. The ecology, the history, even the watermen who still work on the Chesapeake remind me very much of those years. I love to capture that feeling in my photos. The families I shoot purposefully choose to be on or near the water, so they often feel the same way.
Do families come to you with an idea in mind or do you make it up while underway?
Ever family gets to customize the shoot: what time of day, where, for how long, and whether posed or impromptu. We also talk about whether it’s an important time in their life like a retirement or wedding, even a birth of a child. We find a location and let the moment unfold. Sometimes I catch a unique “gotcha moment,” and sometimes it’s posed. Either way, the wind, reflections on the water, changing sky—all of it comes together to give the photo a sense of motion.
Is there a good time for the photo session?
If the boat is in the water, we go out. I don’t mind bundling up, so you prepare for any weather environments.
Do families use their own boats or charter boats?
Most families own their own boats which allows them to comfortably move around. They know the most natural way to stand and aren’t in unfamiliar surroundings. But it varies. Recently, I captured a retired Boston firefighter who came to Annapolis to pick up his newest vessel. Being on hand to capture his first boat as it leaves the dock to head north was magical and very emotional.
Has photography been a lifelong passion or more recent business?
I spent almost 15 years in Boston and San Francisco in sales and special event planning. Photography was a hobby for over 30 years, so when the cross country move back to the East Coast had me changing course with a second baby, I needed something to feed my soul. My husband encouraged me to pursue my love of photography. The rest is history and Danie Photography evolved over time. Most importantly, it allows me flexibility to watch my two daughters (ages six and nine) grow up.
Learn more about Danie’s work on Facebook/daniephoto or email her.
Interview by Gwen Mayes
About the Interviewer: Gwen Mayes is a writer, life coach, workshop host, and docent for the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park. Find her at anchortoself.com.
