Today we’d like to introduce you to Faliesha Dawne.
Hi Faliesha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My love for photography started long before I ever thought of it as a career. I’ve always been drawn to art and creativity, and my grandmother gave me my first real spark for photography with her Polaroid. Over the years, I took photography classes, learned from other photographers, and spent a lot of time simply practicing and figuring out what I loved about creating images.
As I gained experience, I had opportunities to photograph everything from people and portraits to products and commercial work. One of the experiences that really helped shape me was working with Mountain Rose Herbs on product and commercial photography. It gave me a chance to see photography not just as an art form, but as something that could tell a story and help a business connect with people.
Then COVID happened, and I was laid off. What could have been a setback ended up becoming an opportunity to start fresh with something new and was the push I needed to take photography seriously as a personal business. I decided to build something of my own, and Faliesha Dawne Photography grew from there.
Today, I’m based in Eugene, Oregon, and photograph a mix of families, seniors and graduates, couples, branding and commercial work, and portraits. I’ve been fortunate enough to have my work published in many magazines and local locations and recognized with local awards, but what means the most to me is the experience I’m able to give my clients.
I’ve always believed that you shouldn’t have to be a model, or even know how to pose, to have photographs you love. I guide my clients through the entire process so they can relax, feel comfortable, and actually enjoy being in front of the camera. I just LOVE making people feel good and be proud of their images whether it is for family or their business or something else. For me, photography has become about much more than creating a pretty image. It’s about capturing people as they really are, telling their stories, and creating an experience that feels easy, genuine, and fun.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has been filled with many ups and downs, just as any entrepreneur goes through. Learning how to run a successful business was a challenge being an artist, learning to enjoy the slow times and push hard during the busy times and learning from mistakes have all helped me be better. Starting a business in the middle of a pandemic while home schooling our 2nd grader came with some challenges as well but that is what I like to look at all struggles as, challenges. Ways to rethink, become better, work smarter and provide the best photo session that I can for all my clients.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work is centered around people, stories, and creating images that feel authentic to who someone actually is. I photograph families, couples, seniors and graduates, portraits, branding, products and commercial work. I also love getting creative with fun projects.
I’d say I’m best known for creating a photography experience that feels easy and comfortable. A lot of people come into a session telling me, “I’m awkward in front of the camera,” or “I don’t know how to pose,” and I completely understand that. My job is to guide them through it. I give direction when they need it, but I also leave room for genuine moments to happen. I want people to walk away feeling like they had fun, not like they spent an hour being told to stand in uncomfortable poses.
With my branding and commercial work, I take that same approach but focus on telling the story of a person or business. I want the images to feel polished and professional while still having personality. Especially now, when people are seeing more and more artificial imagery online, I think there is something incredibly valuable about showing up as a real person with real photographs that build trust.
What I’m most proud of is how much my business has grown while still feeling like me and being able to be there for my family has been a HUGE reason why I have built this business. I’ve built it around creativity, connection, and treating people well rather than trying to fit into one specific photography niche. I’m proud to have had my work published and to have received recognition locally, but I’m probably most proud when a client tells me they felt comfortable, beautiful, confident, or genuinely themselves during their session or that they truly love their branding images and they have images that they can use for years to come.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are lots of ways to work with me! Families, couples, seniors, graduates, and individuals can book me for portrait sessions, while businesses and entrepreneurs can work with me on branding, commercial, product, lifestyle, and headshot photography.
I also love collaborating with local businesses, makers, creatives, and other professionals on projects that bring people and ideas together. If you have an idea that doesn’t quite fit into a traditional photography package, I’m always open to talking through it and figuring out how we can make it happen.
And honestly, one of the best ways to support my business is simply to share my work. Referrals, recommendations, tagging me when you see or share my photographs, leaving a review, or sending someone my way when they need a photographer all make a huge difference to a small local business.
I’m always excited to meet new people, create something together, and find ways to support families and other local businesses and creatives in return.
Pricing:
- All pricing is available through inquiries submitted through my website or by emailing me smile@falieshadawne.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.falieshadawne.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faliesha_dawne_photo/
- Other: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Faliesha+Dawne+Photography/@44.0662888,-123.2225284,7z/data=!4m7!3m6!1s0x866e80660c302ad3:0x5b4003ab58f1c816!8m2!3d44.0223175!4d-122.9990969!15sChpGYWxpZXNoYSBEYXduZSBQaG90b2dyYXBoeVocIhpmYWxpZXNoYSBkYXduZSBwaG90b2dyYXBoeZIBDHBob3RvZ3JhcGhlcuABAA!16s%2Fg%2F11rsphnmlw?entry=tts&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDgwNS4xIPu8ASoASAFQAw%3D%3D&skid=d8edfc04-82ab-43d5-a2dd-217e528c5f21
