My name is Daniel Rad—Danial in Persian—and I’m a photographer based in Washington, DC.
My journey with photography began from a simple curiosity. I was just 10 years old when I first experienced the thrill of holding an analog camera—wide-eyed, curious, and eager to capture the world as I saw it. A few months later, I got my hands on a Russian Zenit camera, and that’s when things got serious. By the age of 15, I had built a makeshift darkroom where I developed and printed my first black-and-white photographs. Watching an image emerge from a blank sheet in the dim red light was pure magic—an experience that etched itself into my memory and sparked a lifelong passion.
Before becoming a full-time photographer, I spent eight years working as a cultural correspondent in Iran. That chapter of my life sharpened my ability to observe, listen, and tell stories with depth and nuance. Journalism taught me to look beyond the surface—to find meaning in quiet moments and truth in unexpected places.
In 2010, while living in Istanbul, I made the leap into photography full-time. Since then, this craft has become more than a profession—it’s a calling. I’m driven by curiosity and a deep respect for authenticity. I don’t chase perfection; I chase honesty. Whether I’m photographing people, events, editorial stories, or commercial work, I approach each frame with intention, intuition, and technical precision.
People often tell me I have an eye for moments others might miss. Maybe that’s true. What I know for certain is that I still feel the same excitement I did at 15—standing in that darkroom, watching a story slowly come to life.
To me, photography is not just about capturing what’s visible. It’s about preserving emotion, honoring truth, and seeing the world with a sense of wonder.
I’m no longer that 10-year-old boy discovering photography for the first time—but I’m still just as curious. And I believe that curiosity is enough to keep learning, evolving, and pushing my craft forward.
