Growing up, most of my days were spent wandering around in a vintage, Olive Green Maverick + watching “Bob Ross” with my great-grandma. If I wasn’t joy riding with her, I was visiting my Nana in the mountains, willfully inheriting her love of taking pictures. I remember 10 year old me dropping off my 35mm film at the local drugstore so anxious to have it developed. Remember those little envelopes you’d have to print your name on + drop in the box? Crazy how times have changed. The anticipation of printing my photos excited me at such a young age and growing up with my grandmothers made me the old soul I am today.

Fast forward to adulthood, my baby had just turned two and we were off to our next adventure, this time to spend an amazing couple months in Lanikai Beach, Hawaii where my cousin lived. I started sharing photos from our trip on social media and realized how much I enjoyed taking them and how family + friends were encouraging my talent. The ocean in Lanikai is so crystal clear, the sunsets, like a painting. It’s like it’s own little paradise. It was a for sure ‘high-light of my life’ kind of adventure. This is also where photography took a turn for me.

In 2015, I came up with the name of my business. My original name, "The Mini Maverick” was totally inspired by my great-grandma I talked about a few paragraphs up. I knew whatever I did, I wanted her to be a part of it. So, her little Olive Green Maverick represented that for me. “Mini” was established when the first thing I thought of was my daughter. After several years in business, I changed my business name to something that reflects me a little more as a travel photographer. I also wanted to incorporate my love for videography. Thus, the birth of Wandering Maverick, Photo + Film.

Videography is such a special aspect of the art of capturing people’s most important stories and makes you feel as if you’re right there in that moment with them. I love creating short film clips and mixing it up with music, creating a whole vibe to bring a session to life. & you can’t beat the nostalgic, classic images that a film camera produces. I live for the organic grain and natural elements. Also my clients rave over the little reels we produce from their sessions and I truly just enjoy creating it.

Home for my lil fam is a small town outside of Nashville. I’m a single mom of two amazingly beautiful girls who I work full time for. If ya know, ya know! When I’m not dedicating all the time one dedicates to running a small business, I’m cheering on my girls at soccer, guitar, cheerleading, or anything else they have going on. Give me breezy, warm, starlit nights by the campfire, slow sunny days floating down the river under the summer sun, listening to every song on my playlist, relaxing days to hug my kiddos tight and do nothing except watch them just be.

I’m a huge music lover. I live for live music, writers nights + music festivals. My first job was at the Grand Ole Opry. I fell in love with traditional country music and the sound of the steel guitar and spent most every weekend on the side of the stage watching the Fri + Sat night Opry for years. I was also a music booking agent in Nashville and hosted a monthly writers night called “Live in the Living Room”. I love singing + everything about music as much as I love photography. My next goal is to be a traveling concert photographer living on the road in an airstream, maybe produce a music video or two. I’m an overly enthusiastic plant + holistic momma and enjoy tending to my plant babes, flower garden and making all things natural + straight from Mother Nature.

favorite things: dolly, turquoise, greenhouses, coffee shops, side of the road flower fields, horses, Friends, sunset drives and taking pics of the sky, afternoon naps, pilates.

I love to write so if you took the time to read this little highlight, thanks!

I look forward to having you in front of my lens + creating something beautiful for you

God bless, Dana