I’ve known Danielle for a little while now and she was always one of those people who innately had a really specific vision and a strong drive for success. When not behind the camera snapping impressively beautiful fashion shots, Danielle heads up Photographers Without Borders, a Toronto based not for profit that aims to promote the arts as an effective strategy for sustainable development. Despite her incredibly busy schedule, I was able to ask Danielle a few questions about what inspires her creatively and personally, and what it’s like to work in the fashion industry.

Zoe: How did you get your start in fashion photography?
Danielle: I am self-taught and have derived my teachings from various sources, however I attribute a great deal of my success to the help of my mentors and just being resourceful. Developing and maintaining relationships is important. You never know where they may lead you!

Z: What do you like most about your job?
D: Being creative. Setting my own schedule. It’s awesome. The potential is so great.

Z: What’s the most challenging part of your job?
D: The other part of having your own business is all the backend work—the paperwork, the advertising, the production. It’s…a lot of work! But I asked for it and I love it.

Z: What would your advice be for potential fashion photographers wanting to get into the business?
D: Work hard, work smart, and build relationships. Some of the best advice I’ve been given is to always work with people who are better than you. You will learn a lot and your work will constantly be elevated upwards.

Z: Who would you love to work with?
D: With regards to designers–VAWK. I love their clothes. I’m also in love with Toxic Vision and wish I could fit into their pants! With regards to magazines, I’m impartial at the moment—there are so many I admire and would love to work for. I’d love to travel more often with my work though, so I’m always looking internationally.

Z: What inspires you?
D: Natural beauty of people and places, the planet, the universe, my family, silver linings, and women. I am incredibly inspired by women—I think they are the most beautiful things on the planet.

All images courtesy of Danielle Da Silva. For more information, please visit www.danielledasilva.com or www.photographerswithoutborders.ca

By: Zoe Alexandra Torell, Toronto

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