Bringing the Vibes to Life: My Branding Shoot with Stefanie Cole Photography

dpattonperformance
Jul 18
4 min read

My Brand Isn’t About What I Do—It’s About How I Make People Feel

This shoot captured the soul of my brand—and the dream I never thought would come true.

What I do matters—but how it makes people feel? That’s everything. Empowered. Energized. Seen. That’s the energy I bring to every training session, every conversation, every moment I spend helping someone move their body with confidence.

So when it came time to capture that energy in photos, I knew it had to be real. Honest. Full of life. And Stefanie Cole Photography delivered all of that and more. I didn’t want to just pose—I wanted to live in those moments. I wanted movement, emotion, and fire in every frame. That same passion I pour into my work every day had to radiate off the images—and it did.

"I didn’t want to just pose—I wanted to live in the moment. And it shows."

It’s a Good Day to Have a Good Day

That’s something I say often—not just because it sounds upbeat, but because I believe it. And I believe it because there were so many days that didn’t feel good at all. Days filled with doubt, hard lessons, and the kind of quiet struggle no one sees on social media.

But I kept showing up. Kept doing the work. Kept believing that if I stayed true to my purpose, good days would come.

This shoot? It was one of those good days. One that made up for so many of the hard ones. A full-circle moment that reminded me why I never gave up. There’s strength in the struggle—and this shoot captured what’s possible when you trust the process.

Bringing the Vision to Life

This wasn’t just about having beautiful images—it marked a turning point. A moment that captured the shift from dreaming to doing. The shoot was the kickoff to something bigger—the launch of my website and the next chapter of my business.

I knew I needed photos that didn’t just look good, but felt like me. Photos that told a story, captured a vibe, and brought my full vision to life. And I knew Stefanie could help me do exactly that. What we created together wasn’t just beautiful—it was unforgettable.

We shot in places that felt like me: a bold city rooftop, colorful stairs bursting with personality, a gritty parking garage with just the right amount of edge. These weren’t just cool locations—they were a reflection of my journey. Unfiltered. Unexpected. Full of color, strength, and a little hustle. The rooftop gave us that wide-open, sky’s-the-limit vibe. The parking garage? That’s my energy—raw, real, and grounded in hard work.

But the best part of it all was Stefanie herself. She didn’t just take pictures—she saw me. She brought my energy to life through her lens. She captured the fierce, fun, focused trainer I am, but also the woman behind the brand—full of love, drive, and dreams. I laughed, I moved, I was completely myself. And the result? Absolute fire.

The Day Itself — Full of Light + Laughter

You know those days that just feel good? This was one of them. The sun was shining, the spring air was crisp, and for the first time in months—with so much happening behind the scenes—I felt like me again.

“For the first time in months, I felt like me again. That kind of magic can’t be staged.”

We kicked things off at the colorful mural wall, then hit the stairs, explored alleyways, found unexpected pops of texture and light, and wrapped up on a rooftop just in time for golden hour. It felt like every corner of the city was made for us. I brought props from my home gym, Stef had a pop-up tent for outfit changes, and my husband took on the role of behind-the-scenes videographer like a pro. (Let’s just say he earned his creative director badge that day.)

And Stefanie? She’s not just a photographer—she’s a director, a cheerleader, a hype woman, and a posing wizard all in one. I’ll be honest: if it’s not a selfie, I never know what to do in front of a camera. But Stefanie made it easy. She told me exactly how to stand, where to look, what to do with my hands—and somehow, it all felt effortless. She’s wildly creative, hands-on, and has a vision for every single frame.

The entire day flowed with ease, laughter, movement, and so much good energy.

It was a whole vibe and experience. One that reminded me how important it is to pause and celebrate exactly where you are.

This Shoot Was a Turning Point

This wasn’t just a milestone—it was a celebration of how far I’ve come, and the fire that keeps pushing me forward.

And then…

V O G U E .

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any more surreal… I found out I’ll be featured in VOGUE this August.

It still gives me chills to say that out loud. Being recognized in a space like that—where fashion, art, and vision collide—is a dream I didn’t even know I was allowed to dream.

But here’s the part that means the most: my incredible husband made it happen. He believed in me and my vision so fiercely, he made moves behind the scenes to get me featured. His support, his love, and the way he always pushes me to chase big dreams—that’s the kind of partner you build empires with. And I’m forever grateful.

This shoot wasn’t just about launching a website or celebrating a magazine feature. It was about marking a moment. A moment that said: “You’ve made it this far. And you’re just getting started.”

Thank You’s From the Heart

To Stefanie: Thank you for capturing my heart through your lens.

To my husband: Thank you for always seeing me as someone worthy of VOGUE.

To everyone reading this: Whatever dream you’re holding onto—don’t let go. Your moment is coming too.

And a special thank you to Media Max Network for the incredible advertisement support—your work helped bring this moment to life in the biggest way. I’m so grateful!

XO, Danielle