I love helping people get paid.

Especially when the payment is coming from them doing something they truly LOVE.

One key facet of my photography business is that my photos have a very powerful return on investment.

Clients have sent me dozens of testimonials expressing that HEARTshots are much more than beautiful photos. HEARTshots are designed from the ground up to help you grow your business and your impact. 

They work for heart-centered SPEAKERS, AUTHORS, COACHES, and CREATIVES. I know this because in the past 6 years I have taken over 600,000 photos of humans and I have a lot of data that proves exactly this. 

Next Tuesday I get to share 7 of my best tips for speakers who want to take photos that get them closer to getting paid. These are things speakers can do WITHOUT a professional photographer or any fancy gear. 

I’ll be speaking at the Emerging Speakers Academy on Tuesday, January 25th and taking part in their Professional Speaker Series.

If you’d like to attend a free class and join us for that workshop, you can sign up here: www.speakerslam.org/class

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Some of my favourite photoshoots feel like a private podcast just for me. Not a stuffy, boring podcast, but a juicy one where the people are incredibly honest and willing to dive deep together.

I love it when people honestly share their dreams, past failures and grand visions for the future. 

Within two minutes of meeting Melanie Sodka (AKA Mel) at my studio I knew she wanted to go deep.

Working with Mel felt like two old friends just hanging out. She has so much passion and wisdom to share. We talked about everything from books, to podcasts, to family life, burnout and even basketball. 

Of course we talked about many other topics too, like Mel’s dreams, her visions for her future, and some really amazing stories about how she became the person she is today. 

In addition to being a sought out speaker, writer and professor, Mel’s got a new podcast coming out soon called the Hustle Hypocrisy. It tells the stories of highly productive people who share their personal strategies on how they both respect and abuse their own capacity and boundaries.

I was honoured when she asked me to be a guest. Recording the episode felt like part two of our epic deep dive convo that started during our photoshoot. She asked many great questions. 

I can’t wait to hear our convo. 

For now, I will share a few photos from our HEARTshots session. 

Big love, 

D

PS: I've got a great promo this month. If you are interested in making something beautiful together with me in the next year, let's chat.

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Thank you Julie for these kind words.

I can still feel the energy of that incredible day together.

Sending you so much love.

D

“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.”  –  Albert Camus

It’s cold out there. And for many of us in Ontario, it’s extra gloomy because of another lockdown.

Today, I choose to focus on warmer days like the one in this picture frame. 

This photo was taken the first year Jenn and I started dating. One of our favourite things to do back then was to visit farmers’ markets.

I don’t even remember what else we did on that day. Nothing big or unusual happened. And still, this particular day was special for me.  

It’s special for me because when I look at this photo, I can teleport myself back to the emotions of that very moment. I distinctly feel how much joy, love and warmth was available to me on that day. 

It’s nice to have photos of warm moments like this, especially on cold and gloomy January days. It’s almost like going on a mini vacation for a few moments. 

If you’re open to it, pull up your phone and find a photo that holds a special place in your heart. Better yet, send a few photos to family and friends and spread that warmth around.

There’s a good chance that people you know could really use a mini vacation today. 

Big love, 

D

Seven seconds into listening to Priyana’s debut single, Forever, I wanted to cry. It was that beautiful. I think it’s already got 10,000 plays and over 3,000 monthly listeners. (Give it a listen on Spotify, you’ll thank me.)

Sometimes when people have this much talent at such a young age, it sweeps them off their feet. Yet with Priyana, I was impressed by how grounded, sincere and intentional she was with every aspect of this shoot. 

I was also inspired by the confidence and courage she approached this shoot with. 

My key takeaway from working with this incredibly talented 17 year old is that the future is hopeful for humanity. 

I can’t wait for her album to drop this year and to continue watching her follow her dreams. 

Good luck Priyana. I’m rooting for you! 

Big love, 

D

Link to Priyana’s spotify page —> click here

Hair & makeup by https://www.instagram.com/kellyd.makeup

The last two years have been the best two years of my life.

I know that sounds kind of crazy, considering we are in a global pandemic and there is so much uncertainty and fear in the world. Just like so many of us, loads of incredibly challenging things have happened in my life in the past two years. It’s been a roller coaster ride with some really gnarly lows.

And still, somehow…

These past two years have given me more joy, ecstasy and fulfillment than ever before.

My secret weapon has been exactly what Warhol is alluding to in this quote.

When I stopped depending on big, grandiose events to feel alive, it was like I found new eyes and ears and started to experience life like a six year old again. Everything was new again and my curiosity exploded.

Suddenly, everywhere and everyone was art.

No one can tell you whether or not your goals will actually happen. 

There’s always risk, and a chance that things will not turn out the way you imagined. 

But if you do nothing, then you guarantee that it will not work out. 

You can’t win a basketball game if you are unwilling to let go of the ball and take a shot. 

For so long I desperately wanted to win and was frustrated that it wasn’t happening for me, but I was walking around the entire basketball game unwilling to take a risk and shoot the damn ball. 

Every time you take a risk—if you pay close attention after all your nerves settle down—you will notice your comfort zone just grew by exactly 2 inches.

(And in case you didn’t know, winning and losing in most sports often comes down to inches.)

So practice taking small, calculated risks every day, and before you know it you’ll be sharing half-naked photos of yourself on IG without flinching. 🤣

Just kidding… well, sort of. 

Today I find myself in a place where posting this half-naked picture doesn't even rattle me. I feel love and pride for my past self. From never being in a photo in his own social posts because of deep insecurities about how he looked… to this. He’s come so far.

What a journey. So much growth in the past 5 years.

2 inches every day can get you to your dreams. 

But only if you are willing to take a risk and shoot the damn ball. 

Love, 

D

Hi, I’m Darius. It’s a new year, so I thought I’d take a moment to reintroduce myself. 

Maybe we’ve known each other for decades. Or maybe you found me on the internet recently.

Either way, it’s good to check in because all of us are changing every day. 

1. When I was a kid, my dream was to play basketball in the NBA. I used to sleep with a basketball every night.

2. In my late teens and most of my 20s, I had really bad acne which totally changed my personality. I was very insecure about my face. As a coping mechanism I unconsciously noticed how different lights either amplified or neutralized the texture of my skin. Later I would discover that this was the best training for a career as a photographer. It gave me a great understanding of how to work with lights, and more importantly: it gave me tremendous empathy toward other people who have insecurities about their appearance.

3. I believe there is beauty, brilliance and bravery in ALL OF US.

4. I also believe there is divinity in everyone. By “everyone” I mean every single human. Even those who we totally disagree with. Even those who have harmed us or abandoned us. Even those who have done terrible things.

5. During the early days of COVID I kept getting a vision to start a community where people could come together to meditate and journal. I had never built a community before. I had never guided a single meditation either. I was terrified, but the vision would not relent. So I did it. That first guided meditation journey was with just me and 1 other person. It's been 20 months since then, and this community (Artist Morning) has been growing strong. There are a few thousand subscribers and followers on YouTube and Insight Timer, who start their day meditating with me. It's such an honour for me to connect with humans all over the world like this. I am grateful for each and every one of you.

6. I make a living taking photos of humans… specifically, I take portraits of their hearts. There’s a whole process that I call HEARTshots. I have watched this process transform people’s lives. It’s so much more than epic photos; it’s an experience that reminds people of how beautiful, powerful, playful and brilliant they truly are.

7. In 2022, I am bottling the best of my HEARTshots portrait experience into an epic online course called the HEARTshots Academy. The goal will be to teach people to take incredible photos of themselves. I believe every life is worth documenting. I believe every life is worth remembering. Not for social media or Instagram, but for us. For our future selves. For our families and friends. Because we are worth it.

Thanks for reading this far. Thanks for caring. If any of this resonates, please reach out and say hi. Leave a comment below or send me a DM. I’d love to hear from you. 

Big love,

D

There are only hours left in 2021.

Soon we turn the page and start something new.

Personally, I love fresh starts. I get so excited to see an empty canvas.

Sometimes if we are not careful, we can carry forward energy from the previous year into the new one. Like a painter who forgot to wash her hands and accidentally smudged old paint onto a new canvas.

Before we pick up this gorgeous new canvas called 2022, it might serve us to take a moment and gently wash off any residue from this past year.

Here are 2 questions that I am currently reflecting on before I step into the new year.

1) Is there anything I am ready to let go of before 2022?
2) Is there anyone I am ready to forgive (including myself)?

I hope these last few hours of 2021 serve you well and that 2022 is your best year yet

Thank you for all the love and support this past year.

Thank you for all the emails, comments, voicenotes, phone calls, Zoom chats, real life hangs and more.

This has been the most loving year of my life and this community (aka YOU) are a key part of that.

Happy New Year!!

Love,

D

PS: If you enjoy guided meditations I made one specifically for New Year’s Eve and the first few days of 2022. It’s great for anyone that wants to bring closure to 2021 and step into 2022 with intention, purpose and POWER.

Good morning beauties!

Hope your Hump Day is off to an awesome start. If you are looking for a BOOST of ENERGY this meditation might do the trick.

See you guys on Friday.

Big love,

D

PS: If you’re looking for a FREE collection of Guided Morning Meditations, I’ve got you covered. There are so many on my YouTube channel.

PPS: Come meditate with me live. We meet as a group on Zoom every Friday at 9am EST. Sign up here for free → Free Group Meditation / @artistmorning