Meet the face and heart behind Moments by Danielle Nicole Photography and Videography.
a luxury wedding photographer
Meet Danielle
Photography was just a way to make a little extra income to support my family and become debt free until I had to choose between my fulltime job and hardly seeing my family or quitting and trusting God would provide for whatever season He was calling me towards. Just 6 months into going fulltime with my business, I booked my entire 9-5 fulltime year's salary in a single month. It still blows me away.
Outside of being a mama and cattleman's wifey, I spend my free time dreaming up our future farmhouse build with a real fireplace and big porch swing, expanding my garden every year, trying out new recipes in the kitchen, stomping in mud puddles with my toddler, and designing luxury websites for my "other" side-gig, Danielle Nicole Designs, Co.
Meet Danielle
the biggest dreamer you'll ever meet
who loves enjoying God's creation, hiking mountains, planting gardens, and soaking in the little moments.
weddings photographed or filmed each year
15
images DELIVERED PER WEDDING
900+
mbdn couples we love since 2021
65+
sessions photographed since 2021
250+
For every thing, there is a season. We will all experience seasons of laughter and also heartbreak. Through my own journey of facing many obstacles, I know one thing will remain true--God has a plan and purpose for it all.
After several close loses in my life, I know what it feels like to cling to a photo hoping to keep their memory alive. I've experienced the heart-wrenching reality of losing a baby, family, a close friend, and fur babies I held dear to my heart. In the aftermath of grief, all that remained were memories encapsulated in photographs—frozen moments that became a source of comfort and connection to the soul I had lost.
This experience has driven me to emphasize the critical role of updated photos in the lives of each person. Our lives are constantly evolving, filled with new chapters, celebrations, and the beauty of growth. As a photographer, I am not merely here to document events; I am committed to weaving a visual narrative that captures your unique stories.
my business is rooted in the gentle reminder of ecclesiastes 3
Above Everything
and trusting God to help us face challenges that equipt us with understanding and empathy to help carry others through their own similar journies
MBDN replaced my full-time job income by 150% so I took the step of faith to quit my "safe" job and go full-time to stay home with my kiddo. I also expanded the team with interns to assist with wedding days.
full-time & expansion
I relocated to eastern South Dakota from the Twin Cities and travelled all over that fall for weddings in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Started offering a studio space as well!
relocating to the hills
Became my University's football team game photographer, captured a ton of fun senior and portrait sessions, and shot my very first wedding in Hudson, Wisconsin!
first wedding!
Started taking lots of senior photos of my friends and family!! Originally, my business name was "Picture My Heart Photography".
the beginning
Bought my very first digital camera from Walmart for $80 with my birthday money and followed my family everywhere recording them on my Barbie VHS camcorder.
falling in love
timeline
the story of mbdn
This year, I am finally in a place to elevate my services. This means, better client guides, professional hair and makeup add-on services, a luxury website, and more streamlined workflows that allow for automatic emails to ensure a higher quality client experience.
elevaating services
Though 200+ guest weddings are filled with loved ones, so many couples feel overwhelmed by the expense. Due to the desire for more intimate/elopement style weddings, I now offer custom wedding collections built to accommodate couple's visions and budget plans.
custom intimate weddings
"To live will be an awfully big fairytale" -Peter Pan
i believe in the saying:
My wedding day was a fairytale
That's right, kitty was a temporary name turned permanent. She enjoys being outside and wrestling with Liam.
kitty
Our baby is a toddler now. You can find him outside, always begging to help cook, and chasing the chickens around. He loves watching the cows that live right next to us.
liam
My husband puts up with all my crazy home and landscape remodels, all while taking cate of his cattle, helping out on our family's farm, and working as an custom applicator.
hubby
meet the family
I had no idea when I started "Picture My Heart Photography" back in 2016, it would turn into a full-time job. After 12 years of working in the medical, event planning, customer service fields, I feel so blessed by how this business allows me to work from home and raise kiddos in a healthy, endless opportunity, and God-honoring environment.
As a type two on the enneagram, you already know I love serving people. This pairs perfectly with photography, maybe even a little too dangerously. Is over-serving a thing? Anyways, just like God talks about in Ecclesiastes 3, photography is my calling--my God-given work, for "such a time as this" in my life.
photography changed me
when i became a mom
Mount Storm King
Probably the scariest hike I've taken at the very top--HUGE dropoff. The last stretch of the hike you have to climb up with ropes, which was fun.
The Badlands
Ever stand off what feels like a thousand foot drop off on the side of a clip in the badlands at sunset? Highly recommend!
The Beach
I lived a whole summer 100 feet off the beach in South Carolina back in 2018, for a Christian missionary and discipleship training, It was a crazy summer!
Mount Rainier
My favorite mountain ever: Mount Rainier in Washington State. We had a snowball fight up there and it was epic.
Some of my favorite adventures
I personally was not a fan of vegas, but i tried In-N-Out and was extremely disappointed I didn't know there was a Raising Canes down the street--my fav!
Las Vegas Burgers
I love sitting down and just enjoying nature. Plus there's wildflowers and bears walking around, so even better.
Glacier Park
The most epic, stretching hike ever.
Glacier Park
My all-time favorite beach ever.
Cannon Beach
A 16-mile, 9 hour hike straight up a glacier. My biggest mistake was packing a couple cans of soup we were too busy to eat. I couldn't walk for 3 days after this hike, lol!
Glacier on Highland Trail
Another epic hike! Almost fell off, don't tell my mom. :)
Angel's Landing Hike
Seaside Beach, Oregon
I've always wanted to ride a bike down the west coast. I'm so excited that our cute little hotel had these bikes to use for free!
Spent the night in a yurt. Unfortunately, it got down to 30 degrees (felt colder) and our tiny propane heater froze up, that was fun.
Montana Yurt
I grew up skiing and snowboarding every week in the winter with my siblings and dad. Grandma and grandpa were always waiting in the chalet with banana bread and snacks!
Skiing / Snowboarding
Okay, I am NOT a desert girl, but horseshoe bend was stunning. It would've been much nicer if we hadn't been pelted by a huge sand storm that was sweeping us away.
Horseshoe Bend
I'm still really disappointed we never saw any bears on this hike!
Grinnell Lake Trail
In college, I was a double-collegiate athlete on the U of M Equestrian Team and also I threw shotput/discus for track. At that time in life, I LOVED lifting.
Lifting & Sports
close this
"Danielle reached out to me after having a very horrible experience with our origional wedding photographer, she offered us everything we could have ever wanted and more. She kept in touch with us throughout the months approaching and always had an answer for everything. She was unable to attend our event herself, but assured us that she had backups to her backups, and she did! They were incredible, we have only been able to see someof our day so far, but even that was 200+ photos (DELIVERED 4 DAYS AFTER WEDDING) that were absolutely breathtaking. We can't wait to see the rest, and 10/10 recommend."
09
bruce & larissa
I fell in love with photography thanks to my grandma. I remember from my earliest days, she'd always have a Kodak disposable camera waiting for us kids whenever we visited their lake house.. We treasured them. I can still picture those fun times when she'd take us to Walmart to drop off the film, our excitement bouncing off the store walls as we eagerly waited for the prints. Grandma's passion for photography rubbed off on me big time, becoming a major part of how I see the world. Now, every time I click my camera, it's a testimony to the love for photography she passed down to me.
Photography love runs in the family
If I could travel back in time to any era, I would hands down transport myself to the biggest southern ball in the south in the 1800's before the Civil War. I'm sure I would have been a woman protesting for rights, but I wouldn't pass up getting in a stunning ballgown and dancing the night away at a large plantation late into the night too.
1800's Lover
I've travelled to 30 sates in the USA! With relatives and friends all over the US, I've had so much fun traveling! Growing up, my family traveled a lot and camped all summer long.
traveler
In high school, I loved competing on the swim team, in horse shows, and in track and field. I went onto competing in track and field in college at UNW. Freshman year I ended up double fracturing both lower legs and switched from running to throwing discus and shotput. I loved track with all my heart and my last college meet actually took place at the same school I had my very first high-school meet--such a cool full circle moment. Back then, weight lifting was my pastime.
athlete
I grew up on a Minnesota crop farm showing livestock in 4-H. Because of my farm girl upbringing, we live a simple life on a couple acres saving every penny to one day buy some rolling hills to build our forever home and homestead on. At home, I am usually in the kitchen baking or enjoying the outdoors.
Homesteader
Before becoming a mama, I LOVED traveling and hiking mountains every spring and fall. Mount Rainier is my favorite. Free wedding photos or film to anyone who pays for my travel there!
Mountain Climber
My favorite time of year is when I finally get to plant my garden. It's huge and keeps growing every year. I LOVE my wildflower beds and eating produce from our garden.
Gardener
fun facts about danielle
bet you didn't know...
Chloe is the biggest sweetheart you will ever meet! She serves our couples with the most enthusiastic, servant attitude I have ever met. She joyfully helps assist with fluffing dresses, roll-calling family members during portrait time, and grabbing anything we may need. She's a big hugger and you can always count on seeing a great big smile on her face.
She learned so much during our 2022 wedding season as an assistant and second shooter that she will promote to associate shooter for intimate weddings in 2024!
chloe
Danielle owns and wears all the hats when it comes to operating MBDN. You can find her late at night catching up on accounting and designing more efficient and beneficial programs and workflows for clients. While capturing all engagement and motherhood/family sessions, her number one goal is to make you feel loved and give you an experience that creates memories.
Danielle handles all communication from the time you inquire to the time you receive your prints to ensure you receive a luxury experience.
danielle nicole
mbdn photo + film team
Meet the
second shooter
owner + lead
"Danielle reached out to me after having a very horrible experience with our original wedding photographer, she offered us everything we could have ever wanted and more. She kept in touch with us throughout the months approaching and always had an answer for everything. She was unable to attend our event herself, but assured us that she had backups to her backups, and she did! They were incredible, we have only been able to see some of our day so far, but even that was 200+ photos (DELIVERED 4 DAYS AFTER WEDDING) that were absolutely breathtaking. We can't wait to see the rest, and 10/10 recommend."
"She always had an answer for everything"
Bruce & Larissa
"Danielle reached out to me after having a very horrible experience with our original wedding photographer, she offered us everything we could have ever wanted and more. She kept in touch with us throughout the months approaching and always had an answer for everything..."
"Danielle has such a kind heart! She is patient, easy going, flexible, and makes any session fun! I appreciate Danielle going above and beyond for her clients by providing so many items to prep for your engagement session and wedding!"
"provides so many items to prep for your engagement session and wedding"
Scott & Lindsey
"Danielle was incredible to work with. Open to suggestions, but still gives clear directions and is so fun to work with. She really made my big day feel so special and she captured it all so well. She was so amazing to work with before and during the photoshoot (engagement). She had tons of good ideas and was willing to try any ideas we had. She was very kind, energetic, and happy the whole time. I would definitely recommend her."
"open to suggestions, but still gives clear directions and is so fun to work with"
Grant & Alexis
We hired Danielle for our wedding after our original photo/video team cancelled on us 6 months out. As stressful as it was, I’m so glad that happened because Danielle is AMAZING. She is truly one of the sweetest people I have ever met and her light and airy photos are stunning. She is very professional and organized. She loves what she does and it shows through her work. We all know posing for pictures is awkward sometimes, but Danielle made us and our bridal party feel comfortable on the wedding day and it shows in the photos just how much fun we had with her."
"She is one of the sweetest people I have ever met"
Jacob & Rachel
"...She is truly one of the sweetest people I have ever met and her light and airy photos are stunning. She is very professional and organized. She loves what she does and it shows through her work. We all know posing for pictures is awkward sometimes, but Danielle made us and our bridal party feel comfortable on the wedding day and it shows in the photos just how much fun we had with her."
motherhood & family experience
the wedding experience
Choose us for your photography needs because we believe your motherhood and marriage stories are priceless. We specialize in capturing not just moments but the profound emotions that define these chapters, ensuring your memories are frozen in time with authenticity and warmth. Let us document these precious moments so you can relive the beauty of your story whenever you want.
How can we serve you?
marriage & Mortherhood is our Passion and our Expertise
