Meet Me
Greetings, I’m Dan Molina and I took up photography in 2020, when the world was struck by a pandemic. I like many in the world found myself unable to work, but as someone who thrives on activity, I found it challenging to remain idle. This prompted me to finally explore an interest I held for most of my life. So I invested in my first serious camera and embarked on a self-taught journey to master its use.
I began taking my camera everywhere, capturing moments at family gatherings/celebrations, while taking my kids to the park or on nature walks. It was during a friend's charity pirate-themed pub crawl—camera in hand—that I discovered my true passion for event photography.
After nearly five years of serving as the official photographer for the Pirates of the Canal Charity Organization and covering various events at my children's school, I realized it was time to transform my passion into a business.
My approach is heavily influenced by photojournalism and I prefer to capture candid moments of raw emotions, as I believe it allows me to convey a more authentic narrative through my images.
I am based in the Joliet/Crest Hill and surrounding areas in Illinois. If your are looking for a photographer for your next event or portrait shoot, send me a message I would love to tell your story.
My Method
They say a great photographer is a master of lighting and composition. While I absolutely believe that to be true there’s more to photography than just that.
It’s about the emotion, the expression, the reaction, the vibe.
I’ve seen photos taken with technical perfection and I’ve thought “oh that’s a nice photo” not giving it a second thought. Then I’ve seen images captured with no consideration for the fundamentals of photography that have stopped me dead in my tracks.
Why?
Its about the moment.
The feeling the images convey, the thoughts they inspire, the stories they tell and the memories they capture. I can’t guarantee every time I press the shutter button the result will be awe inspiring but I can say that it will be another small piece of a bigger story.
I love to focus on people when they don’t realize a camera is pointed at them. While every event and situation is different and I do some posing, my candid approach yields a more authentic photo story.
FAQs
How many photos will I recieve?
That all depends, I like to deliver quality not quantity. For Weddings, Quinceañeras/Sweet 16’s or other Special Events you could expect an average of 50-70 photos per hour of coverage. So for a 4 hour event you can have over 200 photos in your online gallery, a 10 hour wedding can yield 700+. For Portrait Sessions you can expect anywhere from 30-60 photos sometimes more.
How will I receive my photos?
I use one of two professional gallery sites to deliver photos to clients. They will be organized in to separate “sets” depending on how the day/event unfolded. You will receive a gallery link and password via email once your photos are ready to view. You can then choose to download the entire gallery or only a few at a time.
Can I make prints?
Of course! Every client gets a full print release form upon booking. There are some caveats, as I the photographer hold the copyrights to the images they may not be altered, reedited, sold or used commercially without my written consent. Anything for personal use is fair game. I also hope to offer prints in the near future as well.
How do I book?
Drop me a line by email, phone call or even text. We can cover details and get to know each other a bit more. Once I have your full confidence I will send over a contract for you to sign and an invoice for the non-refundable retainer, usually 40%, and once those are taken care of , your date will de locked in and the balance will be due 1 day prior to your Wedding/Event/Session.