I’m Daniela

I grew up in the woods of New Hampshire and have always been happiest outside. I’ve road-tripped across the country five times, visited more national parks than I can count, and for one very fun year we moved our kids just down the street from Joshua Tree National Park in the California desert. I watched my kids explore giant boulders and fell in love with documenting them. These days, I’m back in the Philadelphia suburbs with my husband, two boys, Great Dane, and hairless cat — where we spend as much time as we can exploring together.

Before I photographed families, I spent 15 years working as a photographer in corporate settings. Photography was already a huge part of my life, but becoming a mom changed the way I saw it. Suddenly, the images I cared most about weren’t perfect poses or polished moments — they were the in-between things.

My kids are the reason I started photographing families the way I do now. Watching them grow made me realize how quickly childhood changes — how the little habits, expressions, and routines you think you’ll remember forever somehow fade with time. I wanted photographs that felt honest. Not overly staged or forced, but full of movement, connection, personality, and emotion. The kind of images that bring you back to how this season actually felt.

That’s why my sessions are relaxed and child-led. I want kids to have space to play, explore, run, cuddle, climb, snack, twirl, or just be shy for a little while. I’m not expecting perfection from your children because I don’t expect it from my own. Some of my favorite moments happen in the in-between — when everyone stops trying so hard and simply enjoys each other.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at hello@danielamariaphoto.com