Offering Cancer Warriors a UNIQUE and EMPOWERING Portrait Experience

Celebrating their strength, beauty, and resilience through stunning imagery.

Learn About the Experience

JUST IMAGINE…

A ONE-OF-A-KIND experience dedicated to taking the POWER BACK after a cancer diagnosis. Recharge your SELF-CONFIDENCE and ACCEPTANCE of your new body CELEBRATING your individuality 100% personalized to YOUR VISION.

Portland Artistic Portrait Photography + Healing Experience

Reserve Your Spot

Warrior sessions are held once a month with up to four women in the studio. Select a day that works best for you and reserve your spot. Our easy-to-use online booking system can take your reservation and pay your $90 experience fee.

The $90 covers:

3-hour fun-filled experience
There are many makeup options in every color imaginable with application tools.
Hair styling and accessories.
Use of all wardrobe, jewelry, and props.
A fun photoshoot in which I’ll guide you through poses.
Each session includes one digital file of the model’s choosing (a composite image can not be used due to the extra creativity and time it takes).

The day of the session

I know life is busy so I work hard to create a tailored experience that supplies you with everything you need.

There are 3 exceptions:

I ask ladies to wear black leggings. Most images are taken above the waistline, and black leggings allow a distraction-free lower half.
For sanitary reasons, please bring your mascara. There is no need to bring any if you don’t usually wear it.
There are far too many color combinations to stock all foundation shades. If you’d like to wear a foundation base, please wear it to the studio or bring it with you.

Upon arrival we will go over your desired look. This is 100% custom to your vision, and any styling you’d like. While the sessions are done as a group of four, each lady will have individual looks.

Beverages and light snacks will be available. Spoiling the Warriors is my favorite part.

Hair & makeup

Getting to know each warrior is a huge part of what makes a great session. It puts everyone at ease and sets us up for success!

The hardest part is the first brush stroke of makeup. Even if you’re unfamiliar with makeup applications, I believe you. Fighting cancer is messy, so don’t focus on perfection. After that, the fun begins.

As you gain confidence, you’ll all start collaborating as the looks transform.

We have hairspray, gel, and accessories at your disposal.

The Photoshoot

Relax, have fun, and enjoy the process. This is the time to find your alter ego. You have full permission to laugh and have fun with it.

We’ll switch out furs, props, and weapons (if you so choose). I’ll guide you through poses that make you feel strong because you are!

Fun, energetic, and empowering music will play the whole time to get you in the right mindset.

Bring on the warrior faces and then prepare for laughter shortly after. Being silly is part of the experience.

Viewing and Ordering Appointment

Viewing your images for the first time! This is the best part! Once you’re at the studio, you’ll have drinks and snacks provided, and viewing your images projected on our large 9-foot screen is an experience in itself.

We work through all the images and fine-tune your selection to your must-haves.

You are not obligated to buy anything additional. You can select the one image included.

The complimentary image, unfortunately, can’t be any of the composited images due to editing time.

Design services

During this appointment, we will work together to design something beautiful for your home.

We will create the perfect artwork for your home, from framed art to a custom album to a simple display.

Artwork should flow seamlessly and complement the interior design of your home. Best placed in a location where you frequent.

It’s a reminder to you and your family that you can get through hard things, and she’s a warrior through and through.

Delivery of your Artwork

Enjoy the image(s) in your home. Your artwork will be ready in 4-5 weeks.

Seeing your warrior image in your home can help on those hard days. Reminding you of the strength within.

What’s even more magical is how your children may feel seeing it hung. Your little girl is validated to be strong, just like her mother. Their sons grow up knowing it’s okay for females like his mother to do powerful things.

All artwork is archive quality and will last for multiple generations to come.

Ready To Book Your Warrior Experience?

FAQs

There are so many reasons! First and foremost, I understand the cancer journey as will all the women in the room. We want you to have a wonderful, easy, and memorable experience where you feel powerful like the warrior you are. When we accomplish that, it results in a powerful image that reminds us of the strength we have. Here are some of the other reasons why you will love your experience with us.

We photograph warriors in groups of four. There is confidence in numbers. The women can relate to the cancer journey and the strength required to battle cancer. You never know; you might find your best friend.

Everything you need to transform into the warrior you see yourself as is provided: makeup, brushes, hair accessories, props, furs, jewelry. You name it, and we have it for you to use. We’ll discuss what areas you may not fully love, camouflage those areas, and embrace the ones you do. We’ll guide you through poses and provide creative lighting for the best outcome.

No two warriors are alike. From simplistic makeup to complex paint, you choose the props that make you feel the strongest and avoid the ones that don’t. While you are creating your looks in a group setting, the makeup looks and concepts are all yours.

This session is unlike any other portrait experience you may have seen. We don’t take ourselves seriously, so you can expect to laugh from the start to the finish. Empowering music streams through the studio to get your groove on while we play dress up!

I wish we could say yes, but we’re working with limited space, so we ask you to come alone. If you need that support, please contact us to receive prior authorization. The studio has limited space for extra people.

If chemo has taken your hair, it’s no problem. Let’s make you the badass you are. We can paint your head or just leave it bare. Many warriors are bald. Embrace it!
Short hair can be slicked back, left alone, or spiked up.
For longer hair, we generally put small braids around the face and add cuffs to the hair.

Even if you have no experience with makeup application, you can use this style. Cancer is messy and imperfect, so there’s no need to have it be perfect. We’ve got all the warrior makeup you’ll need and lots of ideas, even stencils. I can assist each of the ladies here and there. If you normally wear foundation and mascara, bring it with you. There is no need to buy anything if you don’t.

INVESTMENT

The experience fee covers the session and one complimentary digital file. The experience fee does NOT include prints or products. Digital files and printed artwork are ordered separately after your session at your preview appointment where we help you select your images.

** Our clients typically invest $500- $1500 on artwork.**

View Product Line

ABOUT DANYEL, THE CREATOR

WARRIOR

STORYTELLER

OVER SHARER

AND DOG OBSESSED

I began my photography career in 2008, capturing family and high school seniors. While I enjoyed connecting with the families, I noticed something was missing.

A decade later, I became fascinated with animal photography—mostly dogs but also exotics and other animals. I recruited my amazing husband, who became my dog handler, pack mule, and jack of all trades.

Using my love for animal imagery, we produced a successful calendar fundraiser and published 2 (soon to be 3) coffee table books.

Giving back to the community is a must in our eyes. We’ve raised $17K+ for non-profits and donated countless hours to covering events at no cost. We only wish there was enough time to give even more.

LET’S CONNECT

MY CANCER JOURNEY

July 26th 2022Diagnosed
Aug 30th 2022Mastectomy
Sept 28th 2022Chemo
Sept-Dec 2022Breast Infection
Dec 27th 2022Final Surgery
May 1st, 2023Warrior Women Create

Diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2022

As we came out of Covid lockdown, I was unsure when my last mammogram was. After making a call, it had been 2 years, so I got an appointment immediately.

The appointment was standard until I saw the technician’s face. She compared the last scan, and there was something there that wasn’t prior. At this point, I knew I had cancer (not official yet).

Ultrasound quickly moved to having a biopsy. Two days later, my pathology report hit My Chart.

Diagnosis: DCIS, Triple Negative (only 10% of women get), Stage 1, Grade 3

FUN FACT: We named my cancer “Toby,” and 24 hours before surgery, I served him an eviction letter.

Bilateral (double) Mastectomy (DMX)

I always knew if I got breast cancer, I’d have a double mastectomy with NO reconstruction (going flat). That’s exactly what I did. Triple-negative is hard to treat because you don’t know what’s “feeding” the tumor.

90% of women diagnosed with breast cancer know the tumor is being fed by hormones. Part of the treatment is hormone blockers to eliminate cancer “food.”

Since my DMX, I’ve become an advocate for Aesthetic Flat Closure (aka no reconstruction). It’s not offered to all women as an option. Some professionals/society believe women would always want to have breasts regardless of additional surgeries and possibly be rejected in the end.

I’m a part of a “flattie” group of women, and I’ve never found a more loving and accepting group of individuals.

Began Chemo Infusions

Originally, my oncologist wanted me to start with chemo and end with surgery. I felt very strongly about doing surgery first, and my team of doctors accepted that. In doing so, they found no signs of cancer in my lymph nodes and shifted my chemo plan.

The original plan was 8 rounds of chemo: 4 rounds of Adriamycin and Cytoxan . 4 rounds of Taxol ( also called the red devil). The day after the chemo infusions, I’d go in for a Neulasta steroid injection.

The revised plan was 4 rounds of chemo: 4 rounds of Cytoxan & Taxotere (a cousin to Taxol) every 3 weeks. The day after the chemo infusions, I’d go in for a Neulasta injection.

The Neulasta injections were worse than chemo, in my opinion. As it went through your system, I’d get shooting electricity like zaps fire through my spinal cord.

Infection

The downside to doing surgery before chemo. I ended up with a horrible breast infection. Chemo was killing good and bad cells, leaving my body no way to heal.

There were a few times the infection neared sepsis, but adding antibiotics to my medication list kept it at bay.

With that said, I had several open holes along my incision until my last surgery.

Infection is fairly common. It makes perfect sense if chemo is busy killing off good/bad cells.

Our spare bathroom became my wound care station, where I took all my showers for a few months. Man, did showers feel SO good.

Final Surgery

This marked the final step in my treatment journey.

The surgery plan was to remove my chemo port, revise what they call a dog ear on my left side, and completely reopen and close me on the infected side.

Come to find out, the side I had the infection on would have never healed without surgery. Opening completely up required me to have a drain once again. If you know anyone who has had drains, they will tell you they are the pits.

At this point, all that was left to do was heal from surgery & chemo.

This is the point when it all sets in. You just kicked cancers A$$. Ironically, this can be the hardest time for women. Most people see it as you being “done.” Mentally, this is when we need the most support.

Warrior Women Portraits Created

As a photographer, I wanted to give back to this community somehow. I didn’t want to do something already being done, so I put on my thinking cap.

What was important:

Women need to feel empowered and regain confidence in their new bodies.
The experience needed to be all-inclusive for the warriors. No need to worry about makeup, props, or accessories. They deserved to be pampered.
It needed to work regardless of where women were at in treatment.
I wanted it to be something they could lean on in those tough days.
Every person in the studio needed to understand the cancer journey.

I feel it in my soul that “Warrior Women Portraits” will be my life legacy!

See what others are saying

This was Magical & Healing

This was a magical and healing photography session for me as a breast cancer survivor. I loved the camaraderie, laughter, stories told, and joy we three women shared during our session. Danyel is warm and funny, a gifted photographer, and a fellow survivor. She understands so well what we’ve been through. I highly recommend that survivors reclaim their bodies and self-image after cancer.

Jennifer

Incredibly Powerful & Healing

Danyel does an exceptional job of creating a safe space, a sense of camaraderie among the participants, and incredibly powerful and stunning imagery! It was a healing and amazing experience that I thoroughly enjoyed! (And I usually loathe having my photo taken!) Danyel is awesome at making you feel strong, relaxed, and beautiful! I highly recommend it!

Christine

Such an Empowering Experience

Warrior Women Portraits is such an empowering experience. Danyel makes you feel safe, strong, beautiful, and confident. Her results are like no other. She is so talented. You walk away from the process feeling like you have overcome doubts about your warrior status and are ready to soar!

Kira

I needed this to reinvigorate my spirit

My Warrior Woman Portrait is THE BEST! After my two battles with breast cancer, I needed this to reinvigorate my spirit and remind me that I am 100% a warrior! Danyel provided a warm, inviting atmosphere and all the accouterments to make me look and feel like a strong, resilient woman who can take on anything! I highly recommend it to anyone who has gone through a cancer journey.

Michelle