Today we’d like to introduce you to Davina Oh.
Hi Davina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
It started 8 years ago as a late-night idea with two of my closest friends. The three of us are servant-hearted people, and two of us shared a love for photography and storytelling. We wanted to build something together, just for fun – so we asked an acquaintance if we could shoot their wedding for free. That’s where the spark happened.
Life took my friends in different directions – one climbed the corporate ladder, the other is now homeschooling her kids – but for me, that hobby turned into my calling. Eight years later, I’m still amazed by how far I’ve come, both as a business and as an artist. My eye for storytelling keeps sharpening, and I fall more in love with the craft every year.
What’s stayed consistent is my love for people and my ability to stay calm and present through a 10-hour wedding day – to find the soul and beauty in the chaos of it. On the business side, there have been countless humbling lessons. But looking back at the systems I’ve built and the person I’ve become, I’m really proud of this journey!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s never been a totally smooth road – and I don’t think it can be, honestly, for any artist who turns their passion into a business. At the core, I just wanted to take photos. I wanted to make beautiful, emotive films – shoot the wedding, come home, edit, deliver. That’s it.
But around year two, inquiries started coming in more consistently, and suddenly I needed processes, contracts, questionnaires, scheduled meetings, financial systems. It was daunting. In terms of the craft itself, I knew where I wanted the work to be and what I wanted it to look like, but the gap between that vision and getting there was, at times, genuinely discouraging. The grind and drive was very real and I’m now grateful for the years of building and finding my style!
Another obstacle was building this with two friends who see the world very differently than I do. Everyone tells you not to start a business with friends, and honestly, there were moments we felt that advice in our bones. But we made a choice early on: friendship comes first, always. Managing and building something together was humbling and refining in equal measure. Looking back, I believe we did it right – we chose each other, every time, and that choice is exactly what made the business better.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a wedding photographer and videographer based in the DMV, with 140+ weddings and 8 years under my belt! My style lives in two worlds at once – documentary and editorial. I’m chasing real, unposed moments (a kiss stolen mid-song, laughter before anyone knew the camera was up), and I’m just as drawn to structured, composed portraits with intentional light and perspective. I never want to choose between the two – I think the best wedding stories need both to feel true.
What I’m known for, I think, is staying present in an insanely high pressure day and still finding the soul of it – the quiet exchange, the specific light, the thing that would’ve been missed. I care a lot about the craft side of things – but honestly, what I’m proudest of is that after all this time, my love for this and people has only grown. I still get emotional catching life unfold in front of me, I’m still willing to go above and beyond for every couple that chooses me to be their photographer(like I still give them my personal number to text me anytime lol). So basically, I am most proud of my ability to serve with a gratitude, enthusiasm and deliver photos and videos that my couples can not only look back on for the rest of their lives, but generations to come!
What sets me apart, I’d say, is that I’m not chasing trends or a single “look.” Whether a frame is still or in motion, I’m after the same thing every time: feeling. It’s what and how I feel that translates into the image I choose to capture and deliver and that is always -not only beautiful- but absolutely authentic to who the person or couple is in front of my camera!
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
If I had to name one thing, I’d say it’s grit paired with humility. This industry takes years of grinding, failing, and practicing relentlessly to get good – and staying humble through all of that matters as much as the skill itself.
But just as essential is a genuine love for people. I’m an extrovert at heart, and I try to treat every single person as special – whether it’s the couple, their families, or a stranger I’m passing in a hallway before the ceremony. At the end of the day, this is a service industry. Patience, flexibility, and a real love for both the work and the humans in front of me – that’s what makes it sustainable, and what makes the work good.
Pricing:
- -$8000 for a full wedding day photography service
- -$7000 for a full wedding day video service.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://davinaoh.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davinaohphotos
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lovepersecond2018
- Other: https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/davina-oh-photography/5bb7f45ba4f74398.html
