Today we’d like to introduce you to Daina Catlin.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Yes, I when I was turning 50, I was asked what advice I would give my younger self. My immediate instinct was to find that 20-something woman and scream, “You are gorgeous! Enjoy it! Stop being so hard on yourself!” In that exact moment, a deeper realization hit me: at 70, I will undoubtedly look back and want to say the exact same thing to the woman I am today. I had been living at war with my own reflection. I nurtured self doubt and ignored my deepest passions in order to satisfy external expectations.
Recognizing this pattern changed everything. I chose to walk away from a stable, 20-year career in school counseling to take a radical leap into fine art. Today, my self-portraits celebrate my transition from fear to freedom. They mark my evolution from living a “practical” life to boldly showing up to be seen. By serving as my own subject, photographer, and digital artist, I reclaim absolute control over my narrative which is so huge. This work is a direct testament to the magic that unfolds when people can release inherited anxieties and step into their full power!
And truly, beyond the art lies a call to action to those who view it: show up, be seen, and tap into the vibrant energy within. I offer my intimate portraits as a permission slip to quiet inner critic, lean into your desires, and reconnect with the beauty that makes you feel most alive. I want my work to serve as a permission slip for others to stop waiting and start doing whatever makes their soul sing.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Creating art has been the most remarkable experience of my life, altering how I move through the world. Yet, transitioning from creator to seller introduced an entirely new landscape of vulnerability. The struggles of this process have truly been a masterclass in grit.
Looking back though, I realized I was terrified. I felt this intense weight to explain my art, and I actually went out of my way to market it far away from home. I preferred the judgment of complete strangers over the people who actually knew me.
Today, the business is officially live! I’ve launched my website and secured several gallery shows. It is a slow, steady build, but I’ve been lucky to have the support of fellow founders who have reminded me that this is exactly how lasting momentum takes root.
While I am wanting this to produce fast results, I am respecting the process. True momentum builds organically. The deeper I ground myself as both artist and entrepreneur, the more naturally the business expands.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work is driven by an incredibly personal exploration of vulnerability, intimacy, and the raw beauty of the human form with my nude self portraits. Working primarily in black and white photography, I purposefully strip away the noise of fashion and trends to isolate what is genuine and timeless. I also celebrate my opportunity to create images of the feminine body through a feminine gaze—reclaiming our self-image in a world where the masculine lens has long dictated how we see ourselves.
My work is rooted in self-portraiture, but has expanded to intimate portrait sessions with others. I am known for building deep, rapid trust with my subjects, transforming the camera from a barrier into a bridge. I don’t just take portraits—I hold space for a shared connection where people can safely show their unfiltered selves.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was a vibrant, silly kid always ready for an adventure, and the stage was my ultimate zone. While I loved all the arts, I convinced myself early on that I couldn’t be a “real” artist just because I lacked a talent for drawing and painting. Instead, I poured my creative energy into the performing arts—becoming a total band geek, dancing, and auditioning for every play. That passion followed me into college through acting, art classes, and band, but once graduation hit, a wave of practicality took over. I abandoned those pursuits, writing them off as frivolous hobbies because I didn’t feel qualified to call myself an actor, artist, or musician. In the name of logic and adult responsibility, I traded my stage shoes for a stable life where I could pay my bills and take care of myself—and looking back now, I have to smile at how deeply sad that trade truly was.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.justdaina.com
- Instagram: sensualselfportrait
