The Photo Essay that started my career as a professional photographer - forever grateful
As a seasoned photographer of weddings and families, based in Nashville for over two decades. I rarely talk about the four years I lived in New York City and the impact it had on my career.
After getting a degree in Journalism and Cinema Studies in Mexico City (where I was born and raised), living in New York City was exhilarating for a creative person like me. I was an enthusiastic photographer in “the city that never sleeps” taking courses at New York University and the School of Visual Arts, while also working as a nanny, which I truly enjoyed.
I made a photo essay in the spring of 1998 for a class at the School of Visual Arts about Margaret, a two year old girl from upper west Manhattan. As her nanny, I used to take her to many early stimulation classes involving music, dance and art. The pictures show Margaret in some of the classes she took (Kindermusik, Gymagination, Art in Manhattan Children's Museum, Hi-Art at the Museum of Modern Art), as well as her daily routine with her parents.
By making this work, I tried to show how early stimulation was a strong foundation to Margaret's motor and communication skills, enhancing her creativity, and self confidence.
To Margaret, her classes were one of the most exciting things she did during the week, and besides looking for funny faces in Picasso's paintings, dancing, learning rhythm and tonal patterns, or taking pictures with her own camera, she looked forward to seeing her teachers and friends. A lot of activity also helped her to take good naps!
Please note that these images were all taken in 35 mm film and scanned from 8x10 prints with my super old flatbed scanner. These low res scans do not make the prints justice.
One of these photos ended up as a winning image in the prestigious M.I.L.K. Collection a world-wide photographic exhibition, which opened in Vanderbilt Hall, Grand Central Terminal, New York, July, 2001 and The Science Museum in London, England in October 2001, from there went on to Viaduct Harbour, Aucklan, New Zealand in November, 2002, and at the Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia in February, 2003.
M.I.L.K. stands for Moments of Intimacy, Laughter, and Kinship. The project was conceived by publisher Geoff Blackwell to find photographs that capture the "essence of humanity" in all its geographic and cultural diversity. The ambitious global photography competition, with over 40,000 entries, launched around the turn of the millennium aiming to celebrate humanity through images of everyday life, with Elliott Erwitt as the chief judge.
The legendary Magnum photographer known for his humor and ability to capture poignant, fleeting moments, selected 300 winning images to be the heart of an exhibition and used to create the three original M.I.L.K. series of photographic books ‘Family’, ‘Friendship’ and ‘Love’.
To have the honor of being selected among so many images, was a catalyst for me. I took the images in 1998, as a nanny and a student, entered the contest when I was pregnant the following year. Moved to Nashville late 2000, and got the award which included a 10 year licensing and royalties for the winning image the same year. I traveled back to NYC for the exhibition opening the summer of 2001, with my daughter already a toddler, which was a bit surreal. Ever since then, I have never stopped photographing people, always aiming to portrait true spontaneous moments of connection, intimacy, laughter and love. With my photography I celebrate what it is to be part of a family, to have friends and to be loved.
Margaret was my first muse; but Sam (my daughter) was there from the beginning too, and she’s still my muse. This year I will be photographing the wedding of one of Sam’s best friends. Time flies, photography is a gift, and a legacy. I approach every portrait project or wedding with the same curiosity to find the essence of a person, and/or relationship. My main tool is light, and my best ally is trust, patient observation and anticipation. I know that the photos I deliver to my clients are part of their visual legacy, a tangible proof of their experience on this earth. I do not take that responsibility lightly.
"Dancing partners, 1998" | M.I.L.K. Collection winning image | as two-year-old toddlers Harry and Margaret take to the floor in New York, USA, they can't resist giving each other a hug.
Minolta Maxxum 7000 AF, 50mm Kodak T-max 400
Meet Darien
Bilingual in Spanish<>English. She was born and raised in Mexico City. Her work is inspired by classic beauty, effortless elegance, art, people of different cultures, architecture, and travel. Her photography style is classic, refined, and natural, evoking the look of film on her digital files, and occasionally using 35mm and 120mm film in the mix. Darien specializes in combining documentary photography with natural and editorial portraits. Capturing the love connection and joyful moments of everyday life, milestones and celebrations. Her timeless and heartfelt imagery is to be enjoyed today and cherished forever.
To inquire about portrait work, photo essay or wedding commissions, contact me HERE or email darien@darienphotography.com to tell me about your project.
Please do not call (if you find my number somewhere) as I do not pick up unless you are already in my contacts. Thank you!
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Fall Mini Sessions at Historic Cedarwood with Darien Photography - Nashville, TN
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