Client Stories: Artist, Designer, Entrepreneur DAHLO
Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about what you do?
Dahlo is a multifaceted award-winning Artist, Designer, Illustrator, Entrepreneur, Musician and Reiki Practitioner born in Bogota, Colombia.
She grew up in Venezuela and acquired her BA in Graphic Design from the renown Newman School of Design in Venezuela, and continued her education in the United States in accredited institutions such as UCLA, UC Berkeley, among others. She also received her certification from Otis School of Design in Surface Design. She is a Fusing & Stain Glass aficionado, Loves Dancing, Nature and People.
Her bold, colorful and intricate artwork is the result of her curious nature, her child-like sense of wonder, and her love of artistic experimentation. Her background in traditional and digital media has provided her with an infinite palette of tools and vocabulary allowing her to unleash her creativity and communicate her ideas in many forms of expression.
She currently develops surface design and illustration for her own fashion and other consumer products which she will be offering to the public starting Q4 2024, as well as produces custom creative solutions for clients from concept to product.
A cancer survivor herself (22 years and going!, Dahlo volunteers as an Energy Healer for women with cancer in the nonprofit sector..
Her business is Dahlo Studios and her mantra: Live. Love. Be Creative.
What motivated you to get a new headshot? How old was your previous headshot?
I wanted to document my Fine Artist persona, as I've never done this before.
How did you feel about your old headshot, and what were you looking for in your new one?
I had an idea in my mind of what I wanted to do with this portrait. Having been in the corporate world for over 25 years, I wanted a photo which conveyed a side of me which is not well known by many people (outside those close to me).
As I transition into new life journeys which as more in alignment with this artistic side, I wanted to use the photo as a starting point for me.
I also wanted this photo to have meaning to me personally and for this reason I chose a jean jacket which I designed and sewn myself back when I was 14 years old and I palette with old and new oil paints I've had and used to make oil paintings as a 5 year-old kid.
This portrait represents my passions "Art and Design": It displays the times in my youth when I considered entering the world of fine art and fashion....and I'm making this happen 40 years later. It is never too late to fulfill a childhood dream!
In what ways do you think your new headshot has impacted your business, visibility or job search?
It'll support an important aspect of my journey moving forward, likely promotional materials applied to the products I'll offer in the marketplace.
Have you received any feedback on your new headshot?
Not yet, it is brand new.
How important do you think a professional headshot is for someone in your field?
It is very important, as it conveys your personal brand.
What advice would you give to someone considering getting a new headshot?
Think about the story you want people to say when they look at your photo. What do you want the target audience to see? How do you want to be seen?
Were you nervous or uncomfortable with the idea of having your photos taken and if so how was the experience in the end?
I wasn't nervous, I decided to take a chance on doing someone very outside my "corporate" professional box.
How did you prepare for your headshot session, and do you have any tips for others on how to get ready for theirs?
I looked for photos online of people doing things similar to what I was thinking...It helped and at the end I decided to plan my photo based on what was meaningful and made sense to me and for my current journey.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE OR THE IMPACT OF YOUR NEW HEADSHOT?
It gave me a great sense of pride, as I've been fortunate to have had an extraordinary career which has led me to many areas of the creative field I pursued. It all started since I was a kid... Who knew looking back that I'd have come this far! I am at the beginning of a new phase in my life, and I am beyond excited about it! Art and Design have infinite possibilities!
How was your experience working with S72 for your headshot session?
Although our session was quite brief, I enjoyed the fact that it was very focused. Looking back I wish I have had more time to try other poses and looks, however it wasn't within my budget at the time. Hopefully Jeff and I will be able to collaborate again in the near future. I love his aesthetic!
