We had the good fortune of connecting with Dana Anderson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dana, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

I started my photography business because I have always had a passion for photography since I was in 9th grade. My dad gave me my first camera and back then it was film. My dad was a photographer in the military and he started teaching me everything he knew. In high school I took photography classes and competed in the Skills USA competitions winning 3rd place. Photography was just what I was meant to do.

Secondly, I had kids young and didn’t want to pay to have others take photos for me since I had the knowledge and equipment to do it myself. So I started what was then called A&P Photography named after my twins Alexis and Payton. Over the years I have had to slow down and step back on occasions to focus on what was more important and priorities but then made a comeback in 2016 as Dana Rene Photography. Then in 2022 I shortened it when making my website and creating a domain to Dana Rene Photos.

I love being my own boss and being able to work around my kids schedules. It makes it feel like this isn’t a job. It’s my passion and creating something for others. Seeing the look on their faces or seeing them share my work of them on their social media and raving about it. That is why I do what I do. They will forever have a piece of time stopped in an image that they will only remember one day because of that image.


Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I’m a family, child and couples photographer. I dabble in birth stories and fresh 48 photos on occasion and honestly LOVE THEM!!! I belong to a community of photographers who are always helping each other be better. I have dived deep into that and really looked at my own work and focused on stepping out of my comfort zones to get the BEST shots possible. I do some posing but the lifestyle shots are my favorite. I give them a prompt and capture how they interpret it. It’s some of the best photos anyone can take. Trying to figure out what your love or your passion is in this field is hard. You can do it all or you can find your niche. I have found I hate doing weddings, I wont. I love babies and fresh 48 photos which are done within the first 24-48 hours of baby being born. My niche is in family, child and couples. I love, love and capturing the love between families, siblings and couples is my absolute favorite thing.

Figuring all this out has taken a really long time and a few burnout moments where I stopped doing photography for long periods of times. This is when I figured out to stop trying to do it all and picked the 3 areas that I love the most and they also compliment each other. That would be the advice I would give someone if they are getting overwhelmed in this industry. Also don’t compare yourself or your work to other photographers. Yes, some will be better than you, that comes with experience but you will be better than others as well. You will have your hard times and your bad times but the best of times comes from that. This industry is hard and I feel it always will be but once I stopped comparing myself to some of my friends and just did what I loved for myself and my clients that is when it all turned around for me. I love photography again and haven’t stopped since.


Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Oh this is a hard one, I’m new to the area myself. I just moved here in February 2023. I will list things I want to see and do as well as places I have already been too and LOVED!

I live in Fruita, CO near Grand Junction. We would hit the monument and take some incredible photos up there! Definitely eating at the Ale House for some cupcake wine and a good meal.

I would take a drive to Palisade to one of the winery’s and explore the vineyards and do a wine tasting.

All my friends and family have kiddos so I would take a day to do the Dinosaur Museum and explore Dinosaur Hill and go to Hot Tomato pizza.

I’ve heard so many good things about The Grand Mesa for hiking and how beautiful it is up there so I would take them to go explore for the day and pack a picnic for lunch so we can spend all day there. Then for dinner go to the Rockslide.


The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My dad, Joe Austin. He was the one who introduced me to photography. He is a photographer as well and did it in the military. He gave me my first & only film camera when I was in the 9th grade and I took it to Yellowstone on our family vacation and he taught me the rule of 3rds. He also bought me my first DSLR camera when I was 20 and I used that camera to start my business until I upgraded it to a full frame camera in 2017. So shoutout to my dad Joe for supporting me and helping me get started!! I couldn’t have done it without him!!

Website: www.danarenephotos.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/danarenephotos

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanaRenePhotos

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.