Check Out Dasia Warren’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dasia Warren

Hi Dasia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always been a person to love all things art. Singing, dancing, paintings, poems, photography, the whole shebang. Since 2012 I had fun taking my own photos on those old digital cameras, editing my friends and I’s pictures, using the free picsart of course, but I never put together that’d I actually had a passion for photography until about 2020/2021. I had been modeling since 2017 when a few years later I realized I wanted to make people feel like how I felt after doing a photoshoot. Around march 2021 I got my first camera, took some online classes to learn manual settings and lightroom/photoshop, then around August I decided I was ready to take on clients! It’s been a great roller coaster ride since. With the good and the bad, my passion only continues to grow and I truly love being able to create memories that last a lifetime for my clients. After 3 years in business I was in shock after winning best of lenawee 2024! Knowing I have a whole village of supporters behind me keeps me going and makes me feel blessed and seen. I look forward to seeing what’s in store for me this year.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been smooth, but without the downs you can’t grow! After 2 years of struggling with focus on one of my lens, I realized I had the lens in manual focus the whole time, and as a beginner that was a disaster! In 2023 I fell on my bum next to a creek and fainted face down in the creek with my camera around my neck. I woke up with my client holding me up and the first thing I said was “Oh no my camera!” I ended up having to go to the hospital due to severe pain and had a very bruised tailbone for weeks, had to cancel my trip to Tennessee, my camera was done for and my lens had to be fixed! Another struggle I faced was anxiety with marketing myself and imposter syndrome, but I wouldn’t change anything because everything is a learning experience to help me grow more.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Be YOU Photography is my photography business that’s all about helping others embrace who they are and love themselves. I’d like to say I specialize in women empowerment, in all aspects including boudoir, beauty, and fantasy sessions, but I dabble in a little bit of everything. Why do I choose to dabble in everything still after 3 years? Because like my business name, I’m here to help everyone feel seen and loved with who they are, capturing genuine moments with families, kids, couples, weddings, just being in their moment.
I’m most proud of the growth I’ve made within myself since starting my business. It has healed me in more ways than I realized.
What sets me apart from everyone else is my empathy and love for everyone I work with and give back to, I give back almost just as much as I book, because I believe everyone deserves to experience at least one photoshoot. I also now annually do pay what you can pet portraits and 100% of the money raised is donated to the Lenawee Humane society in honor of my French bulldog onyx, who passed away at 7 months old due to congenital kidney disease. Last year we raised over $430 so I hope to grow that number every year!

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I can sing, but I have severe anxiety and stage fright so singing in front of people is a no no for me! I’m trying to work on that!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beyouphotography82.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyouphotography.21?igsh=YXNkZHVpcW9kMjJt
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1LhjJnG9pk/