Meet Daniel Wakefield

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniel Wakefield and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniel, what do you attribute your success to?
I have really gone “all in” on providing more than just a good product to my clients. In addition to that, I focus on using my product to solve their specific problems as well as providing a top-tier experience.

Part of this has come down to something simple but impactful: building lasting relationships with my clients. It’s not a transactional, in-and-out experience. It’s a relationship where we stay connected long after their session and I do whatever I can to add value to that relationship. It may be as simple as giving them a shoutout to my network on LinkedIn. It also may involve sending them business, helping them think through a business problem, or giving them some advice on their online strategy and the best ways to use their images from me.
This is all part of the Hype Tornado strategy that I wrote about in my book, Accelerate. It’s essentially a way to create FOMO in your business so that people are afraid of NOT working with you.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I started my business with the desire to simply give people the best headshot they’ve ever had. But as my business has grown, I began to realize a couple of things. The first is that I underestimated the impact these headshots would have on my clients. I’ve seen multitudes of people transform in front of my camera. The Expression Coaching I to with all my work helps people look so confident, they feel like they can go out and take on the world. It’s about taking people from a “school picture day” vibe to a “cover of Forbes” vibe. The 14,000+ followers on my LinkedIn is a testament to how powerful this is.

Building the business certainly wasn’t easy. My first month in business, I only brought in $60. It was definitely a wake up call. I needed to do more than have a website and wait for calls. I needed to learn everything I could about networking, marketing, sales, and more. And I needed to get out and act on what I was learning. I couldn’t think of myself as just a creative. I was a business owner and needed to act like it. Within 4 months of starting, I was starting to gain some real traction. And about a year after that first $60 month, I had my first $50,000 month as a solopreneur. It was life changing for my family.

I want beginning business owners to realize what’s possible when you have a killer product, unforgettable client experience, and a social presence that adds value to your network. The sky is the limit!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a wildlife photographer, I would certainly take a friend to Everglades National Park or Big Cypress National Preserve to see the natural wonders there. I would definitely stop at Robert Is Here for a Key Lime Milkshake as well!

I would take them for a burger at Tucker Duke’s in Deerfield Beach, a nice dinner at “Pasta And…” in Margate, and lunch or happy hour at American Social on Las Olas.

As a movie lover, I would take them to a screening of a new release at the Imax theater in the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale.

I would also take them to an Inter Miami soccer game to watch the G.O.A.T. Lionel Messi in action.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate this article to Nicole Mastrangelo and Romi Wallach, cofounders of The Daily Drip. Ever since we met, they have been an unceasing source of support, encouragement, advice, and so much more. They embody the “relationship first” mentality of business and it shows in everything they do!

Website: https://www.toptierheadshots.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toptier_headshots/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toptierheadshots/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@toptierheadshots

Other: https://www.amazon.com/Accelerate-Creative-Business-Figures-Months-ebook/dp/B0F79Z763B/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

https://www.danielwakefield.co