Meet Darragh Goeckel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Darragh Goeckel. 

Hi Darragh, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
A few months before my younger sister’s first birthday, she was diagnosed with autism, tuberous sclerosis, and epilepsy. I do not know where or who I would be without my sister in my life. She has taught me compassion, patience, and so much more. But, I would say the thing she has taught me that has led me down the path I am now on is to be grateful for what you have and to never take anything for granted.

The impact she has had on my family’s life has been substantial. When I was in late elementary school, my parents purchased their first apartment building. Their hope with this purchase was that someday, my sister could possibly be somewhat independent and live there. Today they are the owners of 5 apartment buildings. Without my sister in our lives, they may have never gone down the path of real estate or even introduced a more entrepreneurial mindset and lifestyle into my life.

My first business was selling slime on the playground in 5th grade with my best friend at the time. That only lasted a few months, but for a 5th grader, it was great money! Two years later, my photography journey began. After taking many flower pictures on my iPod touch, my parents bought me a Canon Rebel T5 for Christmas. I was ecstatic. I used my camera often throughout middle school taking pictures for fun of friends and family. It wasn’t until I took my boyfriend’s senior pictures- who was a year ahead of me in high school- that I decided I really did want to pursue photography as more than just a hobby. I enjoyed directing the poses and composing the images.

My junior year, I took a total of 3 senior photos and photos for family friends. My senior year, I had a similar workload only with 3 extra seniors totaling to 6 seniors. When the pandemic began, I decided I was really going to focus on marketing my business. Being fresh out of high school definitely helped me as I was friends with many of my 2021 seniors prior to them booking with me. As my portfolio grew, the availability on my schedule shrank. I was able to fully book my August, September, and October calendars and fill all of the slots in my first Christmas mini session date. Although I now only offer family sessions on mini session dates, I was able to learn so much about my camera settings, lighting, composition, directing, and client service from my 2020 sessions which helped lead to a successful 2021.

Moving into 2021, I raised my rates which is a very nerve-racking thing to do. But, I knew I wanted 2021 to be a year of growth and success and I knew I could count on myself along with the support of my family, friends, and faith to reach each goal I made. In January, I made a list of goals for the year which I posted on my Instagram page to hold myself accountable.

My goals were to:

-Book at least 5 weddings/elopements of my own

-Purchase and pay off my first car

-Purchase my first apartment building (Fun Real Estate investing stuff!!)

-Book 50 seniors

-Travel to 3 new places

-Read at least 10 books that will help me grow

-Grow my faith

-Focus on living for myself and to not let others opinions keep me from being 100% myself or just from being happy

-Be a better version of myself each day

I have been slacking on the reading, but besides the reading I have exceeded my goals in photography and achieved almost every other goal on my list. My parents have taught me to always work hard for what I want and that I am the only person who can ever hold myself back from reaching my goals which I believe is such amazing advice. Creating goals outside of your comfort zone is never a bad thing. Whether you fail or succeed, you learn something as you grow. My next big goal is to book a full-day elopement out of state. To reach that goal, I am scheduling a session (whether that is with a model couple or friends) in each state I travel to. I believe setting and breaking down large goals to more tangible goals makes breaking out your comfort zone at least a little less overwhelming.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Good things can sometimes come without challenges, but I feel as if amazing, life-changing things do not come without struggles. I never planned on being a photographer or a real estate investor/landlord as my career life path. I had always thought I would be a therapist, so my growth as a photographer and the start of my real estate journey have been life-changing. Not only in physical or material terms, but also mentally in terms of my mindset towards many things in my life. I am only 19, but I have had to give up some things that a 19-year-old would normally enjoy and look forward to. I spend the majority of my time shooting, editing, and organizing sessions while also scaling my business on top of being a full-time university student. Now that I have an apartment building, I have two businesses to focus on and must make sure both are running smoothly financially and in general. With all of that said, I have really had to focus on time management and what I do and don’t spend my money on as real estate is a larger investment. I have had to give up going out with friends because I have too much work to do as I work 70+ hours a week. May through October and even November and December is a blur with lack of personal time as that is the busy time for senior and wedding photographers. Overall, running a business and being the only employee of that business can be lonely and isolating. I am very thankful that the photography community is filled with so many welcoming creatives and that the real estate community is filled with so many welcoming investors. I think finding the positives within the negatives is the best way to get over the bumps in the road. Yes, I put in 70+ hours of work each week right now, but my hard work now will lead to financial freedom 10 years from now and early retirement. I do still recommend finding a balance, however. This year has been crazy with 5-9 sessions each week and next year I will only be doing 3-4 sessions per week in order to create a better client experience and more time for my friends and family. This year pushed to and past my limits at some points, but now I have gained a better sense of balance in my life because of it.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a photographer who specializes in Seniors, Engagements, Weddings, and Elopements. I would say I am most well-known for my senior and portrait photography, but I would love to be a travel elopement photographer within the next few years! I am most proud of my growth this past year. I have altered my editing style slightly since I first began and now have a full and complete understanding of my camera which was not so in 2020. I believe my education has shown through in my work and because of my work, I have been able to take 50+ seniors’ photos from all over Michigan and will have shot and organized 5 of my own weddings and second shot for 5 weddings by the end of the year. I think what sets me apart from others would be drive in general and in the photography community my age, editing style, and personality. Most photographers are 24+ while I am only 19. If I had to describe my editing style for seniors it would be natural, bright, and happy! My editing style for engagement sessions still has more natural tones, but with more of a vintage, film-like vibe. When it comes to my shooting style, I love to keep posing natural with more movement. I love storytelling with my couples and I love to make my seniors feel unique and beautiful- like they are actual models (which they are!!!).

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I think the timing of the pandemic was lucky. I graduated in 2020 and was given the time to start my business right out of high school because of the pandemic which helped me fill my time and grow as a person. Besides the timing and growing up with an amazing sister and amazing parents along with my very supportive boyfriend of almost 4 years, I believe luck is created not given by chance. My successes have come from me telling everyone I can about my goals and what I do whether that be in photography or real estate overall helping to create accountability. It’s cheesy, but hard work, drive, and believing/knowing you will succeed is what will lead to success. You are the only one who has a direct effect on your life and you are in charge of your own failures and successes. There may be contributing factors, but you have the biggest influence on what your life is and what it can become whether that be in life or business.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://darraghgoeckelphotography.mypixieset.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darraghgphotos/ | https://www.instagram.com/darraghgphotos.seniors/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarraghGoeckelPhotography/