Today we’d like to introduce you to Daryn Minster.
Hi Daryn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi! My name is Daryn Minster and I’m a photographer studying at the University of Georgia.
My passion for photography started early- as a child I could always be found with my disposable camera. As I got older, it turned into constantly having my phone on me to document anything and everything. Eventually, I got my first camera. During high school, I experimented and found what I liked. This eventually grew into a business of portraits. In 2020, I was accepted into the University of Georgia where I now study photography. In just the two short years I’ve been in the program, I’ve had the chance to meet the most amazing professors and work with so many talented peers. Being in this environment has pushed me and gotten my business where it is today. This year I’ve had the ability to share my story with magazines, publish my work, build my Instagram, and learn how to promote myself. The second I realized I could turn my passion into a business I never looked back.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been easy. Starting any business can be scary- there are many challenges you face when you are the only one accountable for your success. I’ve learned that being young and starting a business in school you receive lots of support. Still, there’s also the downside of being so young. I’ve learned that people sometimes underestimate you simply because of your age and experience. My advice is to keep your head up and only accept the best- never let anyone disrespect you or try to negotiate the standards you have put in place.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in portrait photography. I work to build model portfolios- whether it’s taking digitals to start them in their career or simply to update their book. I love getting to work with so many different kinds of people, whether it’s their age, where they live, or their goals. My favorite thing to shoot specifically is editorial shoots. Getting to create the theme, location, outfit, and emotion creates so much excitement for me. I find that my art sets me apart from others because of the emotion and diversity it holds. Whether it’s joy or anger or sadness each shoot makes an impact on the viewer. I love working with all ages, genders, and races to create inclusive art. My work represents and contains all walks of life which I’m proud of. Growing up in a small rural town where diversity lacked pushed me to move and start creating art that represents everyone and makes everyone feel seen.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
The advice I could give to young creators like myself is to not compare your growth and success to others. We all feel pressure to be at the top and always creating but in the end, it’s not reasonable. It’s okay to be right where you are and take each day at a time. You are always going to be surrounded by creative people who have amazing photographs and great ideas but at the end of the day, it’s not a competition. Aim for quality over quantity. Comparison kills creativity. Nobody can do exactly what you do with your talent, experience, and insight. Something I wish I knew back then was to just trust myself and take risks. I always had ideas when I was younger but I was too nervous to reach out to people to make my vision come to life. I didn’t take risks-now I know if I have a crazy idea I’ll have a whole group of creatives and models to back me up – all it takes is confidence and simply taking the risk to create something amazing.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daryn.photography/
Image Credits:
Models: Gabby Getahoun, Anna Grace Fantucci, Haley Scarborough, Christine Park, Alec Weeks, Krista Shirley, Isabella Nardone, and Jaz Fox.
