Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Dolan.
Hi Danielle, 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?
Ever since I was little, I’ve felt more at home in my inner world than the outer one. I’ve always been drawn to the unseen—the quiet magic, mystery, and sacredness hidden within ordinary moments. When I picked up a film camera in high school, it felt less like finding a hobby and more like remembering a language I already knew. Photography became a way to give shape to my inner world.
As someone who was naturally shy growing up, my camera became a bridge that connected me to other people. It taught me that one of my gifts was seeing beyond appearances and reflecting back the inner light and beauty people often couldn’t see in themselves. I followed that calling through college, eventually earning my B.A. from Columbia College Chicago in 2016.
Chicago became my classroom in every sense. I freelanced constantly, said yes to nearly every gig opportunity, learned the business of photography, and slowly found my artistic voice. In 2018, I photographed my first wedding for my best friend’s sister in California. After years of already assisting other photographers, telling an entire wedding story through my own eyes felt transformative and freeing. I fell in love with documenting not just a celebration, but a living story of love, family, and connection. I’ve been traveling wherever those stories lead me ever since.
Later that same year, my dad passed away unexpectedly, forever changing the way I value photographs. While going through his belongings, my sister and I discovered boxes of forgotten film photos that brought memories rushing back. That’s when I realized photographs aren’t just meaningful because of their beauty—they are sacred vessels for memory. Scanning and digitally archiving those photographs became part of my healing process while grieving, and deepened my understanding of what photographs can hold.
After that chapter, I stopped chasing perfection with my camera and became more interested in truth. During the slower wedding season of 2020, I returned to the medium that first made me fall in love with photography: film. It asked me to slow down, trust my intuition, remain present, and embrace imperfection. I found that its softness feels timeless and glows with an ethereal energy, much like memory itself.
In 2022, I was honored to be named one of Rangefinder Magazine’s Top 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography. More than anything, it affirmed that following my artistic path to document with film—even though it was the more costly one—was the right choice. That same year, I moved back to St. Louis to be closer to my growing family. While I have found it more difficult to book out here because of my niche, I’ve found that authenticity has a way of attracting the right people. For this reason, I travel out of state to almost all of my clients—who find me through word of mouth or through Instagram.
Whether I’m documenting a wedding, photographing a family, or mentoring another artist, my work always comes back to the same intention: helping people recognize the love and beauty that’s already within them and around them. More than making beautiful images, I hope my work becomes something people return to for years to come—a place where they can feel connected to the people they love, the lives they’ve lived, and the quiet magic that was there all along.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course not! Finding my artistic voice and attracting clients who are aligned with my work has never been a straight path. There were many seasons when I questioned whether all the seeds I was planting would ever bloom into anything substantial. Choosing the slower, more intuitive path often meant moving forward without any immediate validation. I had to be willing to see beyond my current reality in order to keep my dream alive. Even now, I sometimes struggle to keep my business afloat. Ever since moving to St. Louis, I have taken on part-time jobs working as a barista in order to sustain my business. Shooting film is expensive and not everyone can see the value in it, but it will always be an integral part of my process! Becoming comfortable with struggle and letting go of fear is the only way to power through, I think.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I primarily document intimate weddings and family sessions on film, using a collection of vintage 35mm and medium format cameras to preserve memories. Most of the couples and families I work with are creatives themselves, so we speak the same language and value authenticity over perfection.
While I’m based in St. Louis, my work has always taken me far from home. Most of my commissions are destination weddings or out-of-state sessions. I genuinely love the opportunity to experience new places, meet kindred spirits, and document love stories wherever they unfold.
More than anything, I’m most proud of the role I get to play on these deeply meaningful days. Beyond making photographs, I see myself as a calm presence, a supportive guide, and someone who helps create space for people to fully experience the emotion and joy of the moment. There’s something incredibly special about being surrounded by that energy, and it’s what fuels me every time I create analog keepsakes for people.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
As an empath, I’ve always felt a strong need to spend time alone in nature to rest and reconnect with my surroundings. Having these moments of solitude and peace helps me return to my work with a clearer, more grounded way of seeing. I live near the Meramec River in Eureka, so I love going for barefoot walks on trails and finding hidden places near the water to rest. Sometimes I carry a small tote bag filled with books to keep me company. One book I return to often is Mary Oliver’s Devotions. I love that I can open it to any page and be met with a passage that invites reflection for as long as I need it. Mary Oliver’s way of looking at the world has shaped how I see beauty in the mundane. I admire her reverent attention to ordinary moments and the art of noticing. Her work teaches me to slow down and trust that what is quiet and unassuming often holds the most truth.
Pricing:
- family sessions on film start at $800
- elopements on film start at $3,500
- weddings on film start at $6,000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://danielledolan.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/danielle.dolan
