it all started when...

I was 13 and I though it would be easy to become a YouTube celebrity... 

I got as far as getting my first "professional" camera, and making a few vlogs before I realized I had a different calling!

Long story short, that calling was wedding photography and I haven't looked back since. I think my favorite part about wedding days is the love stories. I have a special place in my heart for the feeling of falling in love and developing safe, romantic relationships. The fact that you both agreed that "yup, this is my life partner" is one of the most beautiful commitments & acts of human connection that we can make. No wonder we go all out celebrating that new chapter!

Before moving to Virginia, I lived in a couple of different places

I was born in Ecuador and immigrated with my family to Miami, Florida when I was very young. Although I didn't spend much time in Ecuador, I still consider it a big part of my personality. I'm grateful to be fluent in Spanish, and once upon a time I performed with various salsa dance teams in celebration of my heritage.

I insisted on going to college in a different state, so I ended up in Baltimore to attend Johns Hopkins University, which is where my photography career began! My major was wildly unrelated to photography, but I suddenly had friends who were graduating from college and wanted somebody, anybody, to take their photos. Graduation portraits turned to family portraits, then engagement photos, and suddenly I had a side hustle on my hands. This is also when I adopted the love of my life, Lexi (a spunky morkie who is 7 years young these days).

Life then took us to a college town in Oregon, where the mountains and gorgeous nature trails became my muse for some time. A friend of mine inspired me to pick my business up again, this time with a fresh set of eyes and a crazy passion for the business side of things.

We moved to Northern Virginia in 2021, and I could not think of a more perfect setting to curate the look and feel of my photography style today. Since then, I spent a few months living in Costa Rica, returned home, and the family has grown to include another furry friend, little Joey (a cavapoo and rascal-in-training)! We can't wait to see where life takes us and this business next. 💛

Top: The famous Lexi dog
Left: Newest addition to the family
Right: Happy to be in front of the camera too!

Fun Facts

Dani in a nutshell

Guilty pleasure

Moulin Rouge 🎤

alternate universe job

100% a popstar's back-up dancer 🕺

favorite place i've been:

Ecuador! 🇪🇨

drink of choice

A hot chocolate before bed ☕️

can't live without

Lexi & Joey 🐶

usually craving

Peruvian food 🍗

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@danielazapataphoto