About Daniela
Your bi-coastal bestie
Hi, my name is Daniela, but you can call me Dani. I’m a born and raised New Yorker who fell in love with San Francisco when I went moved there for college way back in 2014! As a gemini, my heart is always in two places.
New York will always be home.
The lush green summers and the crisp cool air in the fall. The landscapes are something I took for granted growing up, and when I moved back east in 2019, I was really excited to explore the Shawangunks, Catskills and Adirondacks, as well as NYC!
However, San Francisco is where my heart is.
The light, the crazy hills and beautiful architecture. The food. The art. It’s where I really found myself, where my husband and I fell in love and eventually got married. It’s a really special place.
I realized that I loved two coasts and realized I could never choose between the two of them,
so, I decided to follow my heart and serve couples in both San Francisco and New York. It keeps me on my toes, fuels my creativity and makes me feel so fulfilled in my work by getting to connect with amazing couples in both of my favorite places.
I’m also a travel addict and have been to 6/7 continents and all 50 states!
I just have Asia left :) I’ve been to ~25 countries so far. If you’re wondering if I travel for elopements, the answer is yes! You can check out my travel schedule here.
My passion for my work is most deeply connected to the process of telling people’s stories through photographs. Most of my work centers around the human experience, our shared existence, and the quest for revealing the truest form of each person that I document.
While my photography journey began as a young child, I honed my craft more thoroughly at the San Francisco Art Institute, receiving a BFA in 2017. I was fortunate to study with and among leading artists and artistic minds. I bring this experience and perspective to each and every shoot.
I have always marched to the beat of my own drum (hi, enneagram 4w5 here).
My heart lies with storytelling and creating art. It was when I started photographing intimate weddings, and planning my own elopement, that I felt the same twinge of sparkles in my stomach- the same feeling I get when I am creating my fine art, that I knew this was something I was called to do.
When my clients and I can truly be our authentic selves, we feed off of each other and create MAGIC.
This is where I am able to collaborate with you two and create art of you being yourselves on your best day ever. This is what lights my heart on fire. Empowering couples to choose authenticity, intentionality and intimacy to create the most 'YOU' day ever. I am SO inspired by people who live their lives 100% true to themselves.
scroll through the gallery to get to know me through photos
Outside of hanging with amazing couples on their elopement day, here are some things I love:
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The New York Mets- but I am married to a Yankees fan...ooopsss
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Any and all tea, I only drink coffee when I'm in Italy!
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Essential oils and non-toxic living- I have been living non-toxic for 6 years so you won't find any chemicals in our home.
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There's a very high chance Gilmore Girls, New Girl, Harry Potter or Twilight is on in the background while I'm editing.
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Sushi- I could eat it everyday! I cannot wait to visit Japan.
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Plants- I have tons of plants, but only the kind that don't die if you don't water them for 3 weeks
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Crystals & Spirituality- yup, I'm a hippie but I promise I wear deodorant!
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My family- I'm named after my favorite person who ever walked this earth, my sweet Nana.
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The city, the ocean and the mountains- I am a city girl who LOVES nature. I like living in the city with endless options for what to do, eat and see, but I crave nature on a daily basis. I need both in my life! Sometimes I feel 'too city' for the nature community and 'too naturey' for the city.
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I'm a Peloton girlie who loves to run, bike, hike, rock climb and do yoga.
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I met my husband Nick when I was 14 years old...he's my best friend and we have so much fun traveling the world together.
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We have an English Cream Golden Retriever named Cooper (named after Cooperstown, NY) and I am absolutely obsessed with him. He's my actual child, and yes, I am one of 'those' dog moms. Sorry not sorry about it ;) Cooper travels all over with us and has been to 38 states! Please bring your dogs with you to your session!
Pretty much all the things! Geminis get bored pretty easily so I've got to have a lot of options! ;)
I'm a messy human, who is perfectly imperfect- just like you.
"Dani is AMAZING!! Personally and professionally. My husband and I wanted our wedding to be simple, intimate and stress-free.
Throughout the whole process, Dani truly cared about understanding our vision and was so thoughtful in bringing it to life.
We couldn’t have asked for a better photographer and hype woman on our day. She made us feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera.
She is magic in all that she does from start to finish! I will continue to recommend her to anyone in need of breathtaking photos that capture the essence of YOU!"