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

Hi Whitney, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Self-value and consistency is at the forefront of everything I’ve done and accomplished in my life. I kept showing up, regardless of who thought I was meant to be in the room; and each time I showed up, I showed up better. They can’t deny you’re out there doing it, when you ARE and the work is good. That takes time, trust in yourself, and a lot of self-value work, which in my opinion should be your very first task in pursuing a creative endeavor as a career. If you value yourself and your work above all else, you’re going to bypass the money blocks, imposter syndrome, and all of the other useless things we allow to get in the way of our goals in life.

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.
I’m first and foremost an emotive storyteller, but also an artist, a writer, and professionally I’m known as a photographer. I started photography as a means of emotional expression; portraits became the vehicle of my storytelling. I now run a working photography studio, where I specialize in contemporary portraits and headshots.

The ability to authentically capture each client’s unique beauty and hold emotion behind it, I believe is what sets my portraits apart from others in the industry. A portrait can be a very strong portrayal of someone’s life legacy when it’s done right, and I think there’s a lot of power in that.

As a little girl I would sit for hours flipping through my moms old photo albums; images of family and friends, past and present. The images that always stood out to me the most were the emotive portraits; full of beauty, true self, and strength that inevitably set the tone for the type of photography I would one day create, long before I ever understood those roots. It’s the type of photography we offer at our studio, and to me, it’s the most powerful form of art in our industry.

If you asked me what my mission is today, it would be just that; to create powerful legacy portraits of every person who walks through our doors so that one day when their time on this earth is over, those portraits will live on through the eyes of the next generation.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ah, this is easy! I’m a Los Feliz/Griffith girl through and through!

This would be a Saturday in the life of showing off the things I love to an out of town friend, and probably an exact itinerary of something I’ve done with visiting friends before:

We’d start off on Hillhurst, at Maru Coffee with a Cream Top (the best iced coffee in East LA – period).

A few blocks down, brunch would be at ALL TIME (there is no better avocado toast than theirs), and after that we FLEA!
I live for this! The local Los Feliz flea on Saturday afternoon (with FREE parking – we’re talking about Los Angeles, knowing these things are essential) is my favorite flea in the city, and one of the largest.

Next, to the views we go! If you have an out of towner with you, they came for this – a quick drive by through the Griffith Park/Observatory route is my “show-off” point for friends! The view almost always hits, and I could never see it enough.

Then we’d end the night at Encanto, for the most delicious, modern Mexican cuisine and cocktails. This place is my after-shoot ritual if I’m in town for work, and everyone always loves the dark, jazzy, lounge vibes inside.

LA is such an eclectic city with so many unique, thriving neighborhoods to visit. The example I gave is a small stretch in one neighborhood of the city that I’ve found is most ME. That’s the beauty of Los Angeles though, isn’t it? You can decide exactly what you want and who you are, or set out in search of it, and there will be a plethora of people and places that scream your name in like, and welcome you “home”.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Something I cannot stand to hear is when an artist or creative says they’re completely “self-taught” or “self-made”. There is no such thing is a completely self-made human being. Everyone on this planet has been inspired, instructed, educated, or directed by another individual, content, or experience that shaped them. Give credit where credit is due.

My journey has been inspired by so many of the greats in my field; Peter Lindbergh, Sue Bryce, Peter Hurley, Bruce Weber, Annie Leibovitz, Herb Ritts and so many others who blazed the trail ahead of me, and have left breadcrumbs of how they did it behind in their books, education, interviews, and the work itself. There is SO much to be learned in simply sitting with the work itself, always.

I also learn from my peers constantly, and in the beginning of my career, some of the most formidable moments were during those initial workshops where I learned to work alongside, and collaborate with, other creatives. Learning a new way to look at things, a fresh perspective through new eyes afforded me the ability to grow in versatility, and with people. I’m a better photographer because of everything these artists have contributed to me along the way.

Leaning into the mentorship you’ve received doesn’t make you a lesser artist, it makes you a BETTER artist, and a better human being. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of MANY others who came before me.

Website: www.whitneydaniellephotography.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitneydaniellephoto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitneydaniellephoto

Image Credits
Main article photo of Whitney by Nick Fancher, www.nickfancher.com The remaining 8 images by Whitney Brown of Whitney Danielle Photography Image 1: Hair by Bri Oro of Bri Oro Hair, Makeup by Genevieve Nicole of Artistry by Vieve Images 2 – 8: Hair & Makeup by Courtney Yurt

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