Personal Update » Now Accepting Clients in Japan + Honorable Mention Award
Exciting news: Dani Benton Photography is now officially open for business in Japan! We arrived on Ōmishima island last February, started remodeling an abandoned house in April, received a Startup Business visa in June, opened Benton Guesthouse in November, and received a Business Manager visa in December. It’s all been very fast!
Read More»Mexico » Travel Photography » CDMX Mexico City
During our 14 months living in Mexico, we had the pleasure of visiting Mexico City on three occasions. Each time, we stayed in a different part of the big, beautiful city, to get a different perspective and new experience. Mexico City (CDMX for short) is incredibly huge. The population of Mexico is 130 million, and 22 million live in Mexico City alone. It’s both deeply historic and super modern, with all the amenities one could ever want: great public transportation, walkable neighborhoods, diverse global cuisine, and a perfect mix of both upscale restaurants and bafflingly affordable food carts.
Read More»Personal Update » “Hasta Luego” (for now) to Mexico » We Moved to Japan!
Konnichiwa, friends! We made it to rural Japan, and have hit the ground running to work towards building our new life here. Let’s take a brief first look at our new surroundings, a brief explanation of how and why we’ve ended up across the sea, and what we hope to accomplish here!
Read More»2022 in Review » Mexico Travel Photography + New Print Shop!
January is always my favorite time of year for reflection, in life and in business. 2022 was an incredible year, and wow, it’s hard to put into words. Fortunately, I feel like these Mexico travel photos do a pretty good job of speaking for themselves, so let’s take a gander back at the past year, driving over 9,000 miles through 21 Mexican states. This is also a perfect opportunity to announce a new addition to my website: a photography print shop!
Read More»Repeat Clients » Kind Words & Happy Memories » Josh + Sarah
One of the greatest gifts I can receive as a photographer, is when clients continue to choose my services over the span of many years, easily becoming friends more than clients. This week, let’s take a look at another client I’ve had the pleasure of working with numerous times.
Read More»Couple » Engagement » Fontaineblueau State Park in Louisiana
Louisiana’s climate is so diverse and beautiful; during my five years living in New Orleans, any time I had the opportunity to photograph outside of the city, it felt like a whole different world. This couple’s engagement session at Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville felt like a dream, with the oak trees and Spanish moss, swampy cypress trees, and a white sandy beach along the lakefront, all in one location.
Read More»Pattee Family » 30-Minute Portrait Session » New Orleans Garden District
Over the course of 15 years running my photography business, I’ve worked to create three different session options that can fit most family and portrait client needs: 30-minutes, 1.5-hours, and 3-hours. I chose to share this session, as it’s a great example of what we can capture in a 30-minute timeframe. Despite the big Louisiana rain drops cutting the session a little shorter, the Pattee family still got a nice variety of settings, family groupings, the kids, and the parents.
Read More»Woody + Kacie » Proposal » Puerto Vallarta, Romantica Zone & Playa Rosita Beach
I absolutely love it when I get to include good friends on my photo blog! Kacie and Woody came all the way to Puerto Vallarta to visit for a week of delicious food, swimming, snorkeling, beaching, and exploring Mexico.
Kacie is a talented photographer herself, so of course, vacation plans included a couple’s portrait session. But what she didn’t know (wink, wink) is that the session would also include a surprise proposal and a very sparkly ring! What better time and place for a proposal than sunrise, overlooking the Romantica Zone. Just look at these cuties!
Read More»Sam + Layken » Engagement » New Orleans French Quarter & Audubon Park
When Sam and Layken contacted me for an engagement session, they chose to book for a full 3-hours. This gave us ample time to thoroughly explore the French Quarter, stop by Jackson Square, order some coffee and beignets from Cafe Beignet, then head Uptown for Audubon Park. A full New Orleans experience!
Read More»Veronica » Travel Portraits » New Orleans Bywater & City Park
During my eight years as an Oregon photographer, I only had one session for clients vacationing in Oregon. But during my five years as a New Orleans photographer, I suddenly found that people on vacation made up over half of my annual portrait sessions! When my cousin Veronica came to visit, of course we made time for a travel session. She’s such a beauty, as you can see, in the Bywater and City Park.
Read More»Igo Family » Portrait Session » New Orleans Audubon Park
What a cutie! This little family looked like they belonged with the whimsical Spanish moss in Audubon Park. Their coordinating white dresses was a really thoughtful touch, with Dad’s light colored outfit. It sort of feels like a fairy tale.
Read More»Lucas + Chey » Couple’s Session » Downtown New Orleans
This couple chose not one, but two, amazing locations for their couple’s portraits. Lucas and Chey really brought the glam for an indoor session at The Jung Residences, then they chose dressy casual for some fun chasing the streetcars as they rumbled along Canal Street.
Read More»Sophie » Senior Portraits » New Orleans Bywater
I’m going a little further back in time to share Sophie’s senior portraits from 2020. I can’t really imagine what it must’ve been like for her senior year of high school to be tangled up with school closures and isolation. But upon meeting her, I was instantly inspired by her bright, positive outlook, and her hope for a future in music.
Read More»Ian + Ally » Wedding » Derbès Mansion New Orleans
Ally and Ian’s wedding was one to remember. Together, they planned countless thoughtful details, to make their special day true to themselves, but they were also sure to incorporate friends and family from near and far.
Read More»Brooke + Sean » Couple’s Session » New Orleans Audubon Park
Since my last post featured my favorite location in Audubon Park, I wanted to show you the versatility of the Spanish moss-covered oak trees, by featuring another session at the same spot.
Brooke and Sean contacted me for a portrait session during their vacation in New Orleans, with the intention of creating artwork for their home display. They were great to work with! When shooting at the same Audubon Park location, in the morning light, you can see that the atmosphere is very different. The light is coming from overhead, but is greatly diffused, giving a gentle, breezy quality of light.
Read More»Jared + Eric » Engagement » New Orleans Audubon Park
I was so pleased when my friend Abbi contacted me; she wanted to book an engagement session for her friends Jared and Eric. It was such a kind gesture, that I offered to return her kindness, by offering to include Abbi and Max in the session as well. This was one of my last shoots in New Orleans before our big move, and I’ll always remember these two sweet couples.
My favorite portrait spot in Audubon Park at sunset did not disappoint! Gotta love that Spanish moss.
Read More»Steven + Mallory » Wedding » New Orleans Bywater & French Quarter
Steven and Mallory traveled from Texas to celebrate their love in New Orleans. What a perfect way to spend the time between Christmas and the New Year, they shared a week with their friends and family in a big, beautiful Bywater home, soaking up all New Orleans has to offer! Their wedding day included a backyard ceremony, a cocktail hour in the French Quarter, and a secondline parade, followed by a family-style shrimp boil. Amazing.
Read More»2019 In Review » French Quarter Sessions » New Orleans
In continuing my reflection on the past year, I took some time to look back at this year’s French Quarter sessions! I got to use this amazing backdrop for 52 sessions in 2019: couple’s portraits, solo traveler’s portraits, senior portraits, family portraits, maternity, engagements, proposals, weddings, and elopements. Everyone loves the French Quarter. It’s beautiful and full of surprises, like carriages passing by, and bubbles for some reason! In this post, I’ll focus on the couples, families, and individuals. It was really difficult to narrow down some of my favorite moments!
Read More»2019 in Review » Surprise Proposal Sessions » New Orleans
The beginning of the year is a perfect time to both reflect and plan for the year to come. I’m taking some time to look back at this year’s surprise proposal sessions. They all have their unique love stories, but they also all have one thing in common: She said yes!
Read More»Aimee + Christy » Napoleon House Wedding » New Orleans
I got to share a short time with Aimee + Christy on their wedding day, but it only took a moment to see their warmth and love for each other! Their French Quarter celebration was personal and sweet, as they included many friends and family in their heart-felt ceremony. The dance floor was on fire by the end of the night. All my best to you both!
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