Life & Work with Dakota Rosell of Wolverine Lake, MI

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dakota Rosell.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Photography has been an interest of mine all my life. From the time I was young, I loved to play with disposable cameras and my family’s film camera. I took a lot of pictures of my dogs, as well as the sunrises and sunsets on the beaches of the Jersey Shore, where I grew up. I was always (still am) the type of person who could spend a few hours in a museum or a zoo and end up with hundreds of pictures in my camera roll.

I spent my younger years shooting with my phone and being satisfied with that. One day, my dad brought home a fixed-lens Canon DSLR which changed everything. I loved being able to take high-speed action shots, freezing moments that normally happen too fast to appreciate. I was captivated by the ability to zoom in on my pictures and see all the extreme details of my subjects.

After I graduated from Rutgers University in 2020, General Motors relocated me to Michigan and helped fund my photography hobby. I picked up a couple of cameras of my own, starting with a second hand Canon EOS Rebel T7 and eventually upgrading to a Sony α6700. I have taken advantage of the beautiful nature and wildlife of Michigan, as well as the artistic, individualistic culture of the Metro Detroit area and started to hone my photography skills. I’ve ended up with an array of gear and lenses to capture all kinds of subjects—interesting people on the street, small insects on plants, and birds in flight.

Photography has become a true passion of mine. It has enhanced my perception of the beauty in the world around us. I love walking through a park or a busy main street and noticing details in the environment that I haven’t seen before. I love the process of picking out the “keepers” from my camera and getting creative with post-processing. I take pleasure in sharing my pictures with the world through social media and a website I recently started developing. There is a lot of negativity in the world today; I enjoy capturing the moments that bring people together—or simply sharing photos that help people appreciate the inconspicuous beauty that often goes unnoticed.

Lately, I have been toying with the idea of turning my passion for photography into a small side business. I recently joined the Huron Valley Chamber of Commerce to connect with local small business owners and entrepreneurs and to learn from their experiences. I’ve also volunteered my time to photograph a few small events in an effort to gain some experience with event photography. I have started to assemble an official portfolio and build my brand, Dakro Photo. Eventually, I would like to begin offering individual photoshoots like headshots, promotional photography for local businesses, and event photography for small personal and company events.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As I have not yet officially turned my photography into a business, the road so far has been relatively smooth. I am doing something that I love, so even when I photograph an event, I am having a good time. That said, the main struggle I have encountered so far has been getting noticed.

As someone who has never been a prolific user of social media, I have found it difficult to get off the ground and build a following on platforms like Instagram and Flickr. Photography is a very saturated market—it takes a lot to stand out enough to earn a follow.

I have also found that, even when offering services for free, it is difficult to get a response from people through electronic means of communication. I have sent many emails and messages that have gone unnoticed or ignored. Fortunately, I am as passionate about communicating and building relationships as I am about photography, so I prefer to meet and talk face-to-face when possible.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I enjoy various forms of photography. I love capturing wildlife, whether that means shooting birds in flight with a super-telephoto lens or small insects with a macro lens. Street photography is also an interest of mine, as I enjoy taking candid shots of everyday moments—authentic smiles as opposed to “say cheese” smiles. I keep my camera at my side whenever possible, as the best moments are spontaneous.

A proud moment for me was when I first began to consider starting a photography business. A friend told me about the local Chamber of Commerce and the various events they hold. One of the upcoming events was a cooking class at a local restaurant. I walked into the Chamber of Commerce office, business card in hand, and asked if they would like pictures taken at the event, free of charge. They would benefit from the pictures, and I would benefit from the experience. In short, I ended up photographing the event, and the pictures have been used by both the Chamber and the restaurant. This also led me to become a member of the Huron Valley Chamber of Commerce, where I hope to learn more about the process of starting a business.

I have a strong set of social skills and a drive to connect with people that set me apart. I enjoy approaching strangers and asking if I can take their picture. It’s a fantastic icebreaker to get to know someone’s story, and it often makes a positive difference in someone’s day to simply be noticed.

I also have a passion for trying new things and learning as many skills as possible, which allows me to be versatile. I don’t dedicate myself to one specific flavor of photography and I am constantly switching things up in my shots and post-processing. This has allowed me to blend skills and techniques I have learned when shooting one subject—such as birds in flight—and apply them to other types of photography, like events.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I see a resurgence in professional photography on the horizon. Some people may be concerned about the impact of AI: if I want to update my headshot today but I don’t want to pay for a photographer (or a suit, for that matter), I can upload a selfie to an AI tool and ask it to generate a professional headshot. I could have several options to choose from, for free, in seconds.

While many people worry that AI will be the end of artists, I think it will actually lead to a boom. The free, easy accessibility of “commissioned art” has created a renewed appetite for such content. Meanwhile, a push against AI-generated artwork is gaining momentum. I think this may eventually lead more people to seek out commissioned artwork and photography from small, local artists.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dakropho.to/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dakrophoto/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dakotarosell/