I’m Daniel, founder and creative with Survey. Here’s how I got here. I grew up always doodling, drawing and loving art, but without any real direction for my life, thankfully, my parents had an idea. They called in a favor and I was able to assist a Charlotte photographer on a photoshoot. This changed the whole trajectory of my life. I met Jon, the photographer, and we took photos of a random piece of equipment in a grimy factory. It was anything but glamorous, and I was hooked. Fast forward through dual enrollment college photography classes while in high school, chasing an associates degree in commercial photography at RCC in Asheboro, and subsequently working at a photo studio in Greensboro, NC where I interned during college, I found myself looking for more. Nashville was somewhat familiar to me, having visited family in the area growing up, I moved here on an open ended trip to check it out. Thankfully, some gracious family members let me crash with them, without them, none of this would be here.

That was in 2012. Here we are over a decade later, married, two kids, 3 cats, and a dog. Life happens fast, but Nashville has become home. I have worked in the photo industry for 15 years now, 13 of those here in Nashville. Starting as an intern who knew next to nothing, growing into a low level photo assistant role, then to a 1st assistant and later, lighting director. I’ve learned techniques and tricks of the craft, and the business from dozens of world famous photographers, DP’s, and producers. I’ve learned what to do from the best, (and what not to do from others).

As a photographer, I’ve worked to help tell the stories of brands like Taco Bell, Unchained, Father Ryan, and Dewar’s Scotch. Through this crazy journey of life, I’ve learned a lot about myself and why I love this craft so much. Using still images and motion to tell a story that can be felt without words. Chasing, telling, and creating stories. We drive past thousands of stories a day that blend into the noise, I love telling those stories and giving them a voice.