May 19, 2005

Photographer brings commercial experience to portraits

By Cindy Blankenship
For the Daily Tidings

Photographer Pam Danielle shoots for positive effect in her work. Submitted photo

While photographer Pam Danielle enjoys shooting a wide variety of subjects, including people, houses, and scenery, her experiences working on television commercials and fashion catalog sets have given her a distinct edge in the area of photographing people.

While she’s always loved taking pictures, she didn’t begin her professional career as a photographer until she was in her late 30s.

“I think a lot of artists don’t know who they are inside until they’re older,” says Danielle, now a professional photographer of nine years.

Asked what she loves most about photography, she says without hesitation, “I love that photography can move your feelings, that it has the power to make you feel.” She adds that she is referring to her own feelings as well as those of the viewer.

Before beginning her photography business, Pam Danielle Photography, she and her husband Leon Danielle ran beauty salons in Honolulu, Hawaii where they catered to a wide range of clients, including society page and political well-knowns.

Pam’s make-up skills landed her jobs on the sets of internationally famed photographers and commercial producers, including Dentsu, one of Japan’s most prominent advertising companies.

“They [producers and photographers from Japan] were very professional. They gave 150 percent,” she said.

On these sets, she worked with talented art directors, lighting technicians and wardrobe people. While doing make-overs and occasionally hair styling, Pam was also learning the ins and outs of setting up photo shoots.

The couple eventually decided they wanted to raise their children in Ashland where they would have a slower pace and better education, while not giving up things they did enjoy in Honolulu, such as natural and artistic beauty and culture. In 1991 they moved to Ashland with their two children, Kendall, now 18, and Chase, 17.

“I love the beauty in Ashland and the people,” she adds.

Pam says she became inspired to go professional with her photography only after moving to Ashland. Besides missing working on the fashion and commercial sets, she says she was greatly inspired by the seasons here and watching her young children.

She began with a large studio above their garage, but since clients often had difficulty finding it, she moved her studio to the A Street Marketplace in the space above her husband’s salon.

Pam’s photographs adorn the walls of the salon and specialty albums with subjects like senior pictures rest on shelves for browsing. She tries to capture clients’ personalities and highlight their most beautiful qualities on film.

She also enjoys those moments of surprise, like when preparing to photograph a young boy holding an egg, she was able to click the shutter at just the right moment. The boy had picked up the chicken, which was flapping its wings a few inches from his face. The expression on his face was priceless.

With all her commercial and fashion catalog experience it’s no surprise that much of her work as been commission portraits and other people pictures that require setting up, such as senior and wedding pictures.

She also enjoys photojournalism and the candid shots, provided they express something positive.

“Personally I don’t like photography that makes you feel yucky. Why even go there? There’s enough yuck in the world, why not add things that bring joy?”

At June’s First Friday Art Walk, art appreciators will be able to view some of Pam’s tropical scenes shot in Hawaii.

While she enjoyed shooting the gorgeous photographs of island life, she said it was living in Ashland that inspired her to take the step into professional photography.