We recently had the chance to connect with Delsé Del Valle and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Delsé, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
If you would have asked me last year I was most definitely wandering, but now, I would say I’m walking a path. I recently got accepted to graduate school and will begin a Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree in September of this year. Though the next few years will be full of strict schedules and endless coursework, I’m sure I’ll be back to wandering after graduation when it’s time to find a job that best suits my skillset.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Delsé Del Valle and I am the owner and CEO of DCD Images photography! Our brand strives to capture the raw beauty, emotion, and personalities of each and every one of our clients while ensuring each photoshoot is nothing short of a memorable experience. With a specialty in natural lighting, we are able and willing to shoot in practically any scenery/ location our clients can dream of.
We have been featured in numerous publications as well as the FUA art exhibition in Florence, Italy.
DCD Images was born of a passion project and has been operating for 4 amazing years now. We have grown so much in such a short time and plan to continue not only meeting but exceeding all of our goals in the near future.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My fiancée, Matthew, has been such a guiding force in not only my career but in my life as well. He has provided me with 6 years of endless unconditional support and reassurance. As most creatives do, I often times find myself criticizing, critiquing, or second guessing myself to the point where I am ready to scrap an entire project. From day one, Matthew has made me aware of my worth and talents and consistently provides me with constructive criticism to help push me to my creative limits. Matthew is part of the reason why I decided to pursue this hobby as a career. He saw something in me that I never saw in myself, and still often times don’t.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I had the opportunity to say one kind thing to my younger self it would be to “slow down”. My entire life I’ve been a worrier, constantly stressing and obsessing about my next move. I missed out on a lot of childhood staples trying to overachieve and get ahead in life. The phrase hindsight is 20/20 resonates with me because of this. Looking back I realized how much I rushed myself through life to rack up achievements and, now that I am aware, I have made it a point to make a mindful effort to slow down and enjoy the journey rather than rush towards the destination.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I believe the biggest lie the photography Industry tells itself would be that of conformity. As an art form, photography preaches free will to express creativity however the artist sees fit. I feel as though so many people getting into the art form feel pressured to conform to certain styles and media that are popular today. While the impact of social media in the photography world has broadened the medium and allowed small business owners to grow their craft, it also has the potential to skew the perception of newcomers into thinking they have to follow a certain style or look to be successful and “in demand”.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, I think my customers would miss the overall experience they get when they book a photoshoot with my company. From the moment a customer accesses the DCD images website, they are greeted with a warm and welcoming introduction to the company and what we offer. Each experience is completely customized for every client. The most common customer feedback we receive, whether directly from the client or via online review, is the quality of service we provide. Clients have told me they have booked with numerous photographers in the past yet they have never felt so comfortable, relaxed, in control, or laughed as much as they did with me. I have even managed to turn reluctant spouses eager into pre-booking another appointment before the shoot is over! For this reason, I have built a large (and still growing) network of unwaveringly loyal customers I like to refer to as the DCD Images family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://book.heygoldie.com/DCDImages
- Instagram: @dcd_images
- Facebook: @DCD Images Photography
