About Dani
7+ years of experience
At the risk of sounding like a cliché, I always had a camera in my hand when I was young, and I was fascinated by the hundreds of photographs my mom stored in shoe boxes.
Over the years, I tried my hand at making YouTube videos, and I filmed and directed tons of silly skits with my brothers to present to our family in the living room. It was clear that I had a passion for documenting memories, but it took many years of trial & error, education, and curiosity to get to where I am today.
Daniela Zapata Photography is a product of years working during university lunch breaks, weekends, sunrises, and summer vacations. Today, I have a degree as a doctor of physical therapy, and over 500 sessions under my belt. What can I say? I didn't want to give up any of my passions along the way! In honor of the hard work I put into both careers, I spend a limited number of hours in the clinic serving patients in need, and the rest of my work week filling my cup serving clients like you. 🤍
what i can do for you:
Outdoor Family Portraits
Use your favorite park or neighborhood as a backdrop, or allow me to suggest some beautiful Northern Virginia/D.C. locations to bring your family photos to life.
In-Home Newborn Sessions
Capture this special time if your life with a cozy at-home session. This is a convenient way to have your baby comfortable in their natural environment with everything (and everyone) they need close by.
Contact Me
Graduation Photos
These are some of my favorite sessions to do! Whether it's with family, friends, or a solo session, graduation (from high school, college, and beyond) is a huge achievement that deserves some iconic photos!
Kind Words
Daniela is an amazing photographer! She took my graduation photos and the whole experience was flawless. I’m very camera shy but Daniela was very professional in that sense, guided me through different poses and made me feel confident and natural in front of her - and I ended up loving the pictures!!! Would highly recommend booking with her, she’s very approachable and easy to work with, and her style is *chefs kiss*
— Lucia, class of 2024
Daniela shot my grad photos at the National Mall, and I couldn't have asked for better results! The pictures are gorgeous, and you can tell the amount of care that she puts into her work which is present not only through her photography and editing skills but through the time she takes to make the client feel confident and at ease in front of the camera as well.
— Kate, Class of 2023
Daniela did a magnificent job with family photos. She was so efficient, so easy with which to work, and so fun. We laughed a lot and were at ease the entire time. She was flexible with wardrobe changes, and coached us on poses, clothing, and more. She was able to capture so many different moments, lots of movement, energy, and the spirit of the occasion, which included my nephew's college graduation.
— Rosita, on gifting a family session