Life & Work with Danielle Vines of Raleigh, NC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Vines

Hi Danielle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
From a young age, I felt an unspoken pull to capture the beauty in the world around me, long before I knew how to translate it into photographs. My parents always captured our every moments growing up so the camera became a normal part of my life as a young child. I would watch sunsets, the way the light danced on leaves, or the simple yet profound moments between people, and I’d feel a deep, almost aching desire to freeze them in time. There was a magic in those fleeting moments, a truth in the way light shifted or how a single glance could say more than words ever could. It wasn’t until I picked up a camera that I realized I could preserve these precious fragments of life — not just for myself, but to share with others, so they, too, could see the world as I did. Photography became my way of speaking without words, of telling stories through moments, and it was through this medium that I found my passion — a love for capturing the quiet, beautiful things that too often go unnoticed in the rush of everyday life. I enjoyed adventuring with my Fathers cameras as a young girl, and slowly over the years would step into my professional path as my skills continued to reach new waves. Still to this day I am forever learning, yet I now can call this a beautiful gift of art. I am a mother to two amazing boys that enjoy filming/photography as I did, this makes my heart so full. Ending up back in North Carolina was by accident, we were moving back down to Boca and I was offered my schooling fully paid. This moment was one that I could not say no to so I choose to go Medical for Radiography which has placed me here in Nc to grow my clientele. Now I graduate in May 2025 and can say I take photos of the inside of the body as well as the outside.
In the end, becoming a photographer wasn’t about finding a career or a title. It was about reclaiming the joy of seeing, of noticing, of pausing to breathe in the world around me. It was about rediscovering that quiet, early realization — that some moments, once passed, are gone forever. And if we are lucky enough to see them, we owe it to ourselves to capture them, even if just for a fleeting second.

Photography became my way of saying to the world: “I see you. I see the beauty in you. And I will remember.”

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Photography has always been firstly a passion, so I would never say it was a struggle in a form to find my path. I trust the universe and I was placed in difficult life situations that drove me to focus more on my passion for photography. Life always has struggles. We Love, we take risks, we learn lessons that make us more resilient and humble and ultimately who we are meant to be. The only “struggle” to my career would have to be the learning to stop over people pleasing. It was hard for me to charge the prices I knew I deserved from my hard work. I always want to help others so much and try to bend for people and prices which actually set my business to not flow in the upward direction. It took me meeting my friend in Raleigh who owns their own business whom sat me down and told me to stand up for myself and know my worth. Teaching me that I need to charge without fear of others being judgmental. This moment marked a profound turning point for me—standing up for myself and transforming this passion into a career.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am in my senior year for the Radiography program. Taking on this career on top of my photography was not expected and a complete blessing. Stepping into this new goal was so much more than I could image. The sleepless nights and amount of knowledge that would become my new life for the next few years. I work at the hospitals in Fayetteville, Nc throughout the week while attending classes and on the weekends I drive over an hour to shoot my clients. Everyone around me always asks how I do it all…The answer is always because I have to. My children are watching me and I want them to see their mother follow her passion and be able to find another career to give them everything in life they deserve. I have a passion for people, I love being there for others from their happiest moments to their hardest moments. To be the energy someone needs in all stages of life is what fills my soul. I’m known as the one with empathy for all and want to have others leave my room feeling emotionally better than when they first came in. I’m proud I have successfully made it this far while being a single mother and running my Photography Business. My parents are my saving grace to be by my side the whole way.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I find myself finding beauty in taking risks. The positive side is that it opens the door to growth, discovery, and transformation. When we take risks, we step beyond the familiar and challenge ourselves to venture into new territories — whether it’s a personal goal, a career shift, or a creative pursuit. It’s in those moments of uncertainty that we often uncover our true potential. Risk-taking pushes us to break free from self-imposed limits and embrace the unknown, offering experiences and lessons that we might never have encountered by playing it safe. Even if things don’t always go as planned, the journey itself teaches resilience, adaptability, and courage. Each risk carries the potential for reward — not necessarily in the form of success, but in the form of learning, connections, and a deeper understanding of who we are and what we’re capable of. The beauty of risk is that it invites possibility into our lives, and it’s through those leaps of faith that we find new paths, unexpected joys, and sometimes, our most profound opportunities.

Pricing:

• 1 hour Studio Shoot and hour of sitting with me choosing your favorite photos ( $900.00)
• Business shoot $ 1,200 ( 6 people groups and individuals)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dvinesstudiothevintagevine.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dvinesstudio/