New Photography Studio Opens in Little Falls

By Tina Pappas

Anew professional photography studio just opened in the Township. Dina Drew Duva Photography was welcomed with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the studio’s grand opening on April 1. Located at 85 Main Street, owner Dina Drew Duva is thrilled to have her studio open in Little Falls.

Dina, who is a professional actor, hails from Fairfield. She used to appear in national commercials during her acting career.

“I still work on television shows,” she said, adding that her husband Rich is also a professional actor. “Around eight years ago, things were getting slow with commercials and I wasn’t getting as many. They were also giving less money because they were moving to the internet. This was when I told Rich that I needed to do something else.”

According to Dina, it was at that time she received a DSLR camera as a Christmas present from Rich. Not knowing how to use it initially, she decided to take a class at Unique Photo in Fairfield to get acclimated with it.

“I started to practice with it for the class and started doing headshots for my friends,” she added. “Rich took a look at my work and thought it was actually pretty good so he encouraged me to start my own website.”

After launching her website, a friend needed a hot chocolate stand for her Christmas pictures.

“Rich built for me a hot chocolate stand and that’s when I took my friend’s pictures to put them on Facebook. I asked if anyone would like them and it just blew up,” she explained. “I worked that entire Christmas in my backyard hot chocolate stand pictures.”

For the next few years, Dina worked out of her house and taught herself everything, many times watching howto videos on YouTube.

“I call it YouTube University,” she quipped. “If I didn’t know how to do something, I figured it out with a YouTube video by looking it all up. Whatever I needed to learn I taught myself.”

Over time she took more classes and year-after-year kept getting busier as her sets kept getting bigger. She then realized that she needed a bigger space, and after taking a small sublet for a couple of months in another section of town she decided it was time to get a place of her own.

“Debbie, my landlord is amazing and I love Little Falls! The Mayor and council members have been so welcoming and are so supportive, so I’d like to thank them,” she added. On-hand for the ribbon-cutting was Mayor James Damiano and the Township Council. Damiano commended the opening of the photography studio.

“I’m very happy to have a new type of business in town and this is going to be a great addition to our downtown area,” he said. I wish you nothing but the best and we’re very excited to have you here in town. I hope to see you thrive right here in Little Falls.”

Dina also thanked her family and friends for all their support and everyone for coming to the event.

“I could not have done this without you,” she added. “I’m so grateful to be in Little Falls and I’m so blessed to be here.”

Dina Drew Duva Photography is located at 85 Main Street. For more information, visit dinadrewduvaphotography.com.

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