Meet Dani Aquino | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dani Aquino and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dani, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea for my business, danicribo, honestly came up on its own. During the middle of the pandemic, my lease ended and I was frantically looking for a new place to move. As I was searching through Zillow, Apartments.com, etc, I found a spacious loft on craigslist in Downtown LA and thought wow maybe I can shoot photos in there as well and make a little photography studio. After moving in, it took quite a while getting my studio set up mostly because I had no idea what I was doing nor did I have any knowledge or experience of what a photography studio needed. After several months of research and slowly gathering the materials needed, I finally started having some photoshoots with friends and random people I met in LA. Once I got around to posting some pictures on Instagram, I was trying to think of a hashtag that I could use for everything I shot at my home studio and #danicribo just popped in my head. At the time, #danicribo was a name I never planned on using seriously I just need a hashtag for all of my photos to go into one place. Then gradually overtime the hashtag just stuck and now I use danicribo as my photography business.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Making the decision to pursue art as your career is a battle in itself. There is so much uncertainty when trying to decide if you are even worthy of giving yourself the title. Am I good enough? Do people like my art? Will I survive financially? Can I even consider myself as a creative? I am most proud of getting over that hump and making the choice to not care anymore because there’s no way I was going to live the one and only life was given not how I wanted. I was done being scared, done getting in the way of myself, done living in fear. From that point forward, I was able to to experience what love was, and after gaining the ability and confidence to love myself unconditionally is when everything started falling into place and I was able to find myself not only as a photographer but as an artist. To pursue art, let alone in the market of photography that is oversaturated, it can definitely get discouraging at times due to everyone else following the same dream. However I’ve come to realize that there is a place and niche for everyone. It’s not about being the best, its about doing what you love and sharing your vision by expressing it in photo mediums. Photography has helped me grow in ways didn’t think were possible and because of that I am extremely excited for what the future holds. I do photography because it makes me happy. I enjoy connecting with new people and letting them feel good and confident in themselves. When photographing I do my best in letting individuality speak through my portraits and I hope that continues to show throughout my work.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite food is ramen. So definitely would want to hit up either Tatsu, Shinsengumi or Ichiran. I don’t go out drinking that often but I do enjoy rock climbing whether it be indoor or outdoor. I also love shopping at flea markets all around LA.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I could easily shoutout a list of people/friends who have contributed to my journey as a photographer and the making of danicribo. However, there are two people that I think deserve the most recognition. My first shoutout goes to the most badass woman in my life, my grandmother. When I was 12yrs old, she took me in and raised me ever since. Without her unconditional love, support, encouragement and wisdom, I would not be the person I am today. Although her style is highly old fashioned and expresses with tough love, she taught me kindness, confidence, selflessness and bravery. Taking care of me was never in her plan, yet I don’t think she ever had any hesitation to do so. It took me many years growing up to realize the sacrifices she made for me and how her only was goal was for me to be happy in the end. Anything I did, anything that I wanted to do, anything I wanted to become, she supported and encouraged me to follow whatever made me happy. Without her I wouldn’t be able to follow my dreams, and because of her, I am motivated everyday to do just that. Secondly, I would like to shoutout a dear friend of mine, Aser Santos. He is one of the most talented, loving, intelligent humans I know and through our friendship I’ve grown so much as person, photographer, friend and professional. Even though he was one of my best friends, I look up to him in many ways and his passion for his craft will always be such an inspiration.

Website: danicribo.com

Instagram: @danieleaquino

Image Credits
Dre, Tani, Earvee, Madison, Gordo, Eli, Mizuki, Steel