Changing careers at any point in your life can be scary and difficult, especially when you’re pivoting to an entirely new profession unrelated to what you were doing before. It’s even more butterfly inducing when you’re building your own business from the ground up! But for Dana Malczyk that pivot to becoming a Food & Product Photographer opened up a whole new world of excitement, self-fulfilment and happiness.

“Flexibility is the key to my happiness. I’m not a 9-5 type of gal that can be chained to a desk all day. Been there done that. It’s painful!”

In a few short years Dana has completely switched careers, started her own business from her imagination, and celebrated huge success. You can too! If you’re interested in being a Food and Product Photographer read on.

“I’m late to the game but it’s not something like rock climbing or something very physical that I can’t do until the day I die” says Dana. It’s never too late to do or try something new, and Dana’s success over just the last two years speaks volumes to that.

She describes the transition as a little nerve wracking “You go out there with your birthday suit on, vulnerable to the world.”

Pivoting Careers Is Possible & Worth It

Dana took her love for photography and passion for creativity and built Three Wolves Studios Photography. She specializes in food and product photography for small businesses to use in their print and digital advertising and their social media platforms. She’s not just a photographer though, she’s “the whole package because I can style my whole session – I am a stylist. I style my own photos”.

A lot of thought and work goes into each shot. “How do you twirl pasta, how do you serve it. I choose the sauce, the plates, the lighting.”  explains Dana. It’s an art, and one that companies pay big money for in the corporate world.

I asked Dana what made her want to pivot into a new career in photography and working for herself and she said “Photography was really my dream after high school but there were only so many slots at Ryerson University. Unfortunately I didn’t make the cut so the next best avenue was a business admin diploma and majoring in marketing”.

That served her well in the business world leading to 20 successful years working in the Financial Industry, even owning her own lucrative book keeping business. It’s also where she met her husband and with whom she has three kind and equally amazing children. But “after the kids grew up my heart was still calling to try again for a career in photography – so here I go!”

Start With What You Have

Dana didn’t start with expensive gear. She started with the camera she already had, an amateur level Nikon D5500 and props she found at antique shops and thrift stores. You don’t need to put out a ton of money on all the best gear right away in order to build a successful photography business.

“As time goes on and you gain the knowledge and experience you understand what equipment is lacking.  I have invested in high quality lenses, custom backdrops, soft boxes (these diffuse and direct your light source), light stands, flashes and strobe lights.”

You don’t need to rent a studio either in order to start. Dana turned the upstairs guest room in her home into her home studio. “Although I would love my own space with a small kitchen, this setup works. I have enough space for all my props and equipment and computer” she says.

Start with the space you have right now and build on it as you go. Use your living room, kitchen, dining room and get creative with props and set ups. You can expand in the future when your business grows. With Danas business exploding so fast a new private studio kitchen is already in the plans for the future.

Never Stop Learning

Like any profession if you want to succeed you need to be constantly learning and expanding your skillset. Dana takes courses online, collaborates with other photographers, food stylists and listens to podcasts like Unf*ck Your Brain.

“I had the opportunity to fly to The Everything Food Conference in Utah which gave me the opportunity to take a Foodie Bootcamp and network with likeminded individuals” says Dana. She learned a lot at the conference and continues to network and collaborate with people she met there.

Things have changed quite a bit from when Dana first studied photography, and it was a bit of a learning curve to get back into it. “I learned old school, on film. Processing my own film, mixing chemicals and enlarging. It was fun but now DSLR’s and software do it all for you.” she explains. So she’s taken the time to learn about new technology, shooting in digital on DSLRs and the complex world of photo editing software.

Danas Advice To New Photographers

Now It’s Your Turn

If you have always dreamed of starting your own photography business what are you waiting for? If Dana can completely switch gears after 20 successful years in a completely different field and build a booming business from the ground up then you can too.

Hi, I’m Erin!

I am a Storyteller, Entrepreneur and World Traveller in pursuit of her dreams. I share practical advice to take action on your dreams through my own experiences travelling the world and inspirational stories of people just like you. Join me and I’ll help you go after yours.