Meet Daniel Marinelli | Artist, Consultant and Nurse

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

Hi Daniel, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It’s not much of a thought process, really more of a gut response to what’s around me. I just have this intrinsic need to be making something that adds value, even if it’s just a small project with my kids. That’s why consulting came so naturally; I could see a client’s vision and feel how I could help.

These days, those two things are my prerequisites: I have to see the vision, and I have to feel like I can add value. If both aren’t there, I won’t get involved. And if the vision changes over time, or I stop feeling like I can contribute, I’ll step away.

My pet project, the Half Frame Club, is a perfect example. It was just about seeing a need to bring Half Frame photography…the artists, the cameras, all of it…into the bigger photography conversation. I really like finding little niches and trying to find a way to bring them a bit more recognition without completely blowing them up.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I work as a nurse 5 days a week, I also have a small consulting brand, and run Half Frame Club, so right away that’s an interesting mix. If you had to pin it down, I’d say my range of experience is what makes me different. I’ve tried and failed at just about everything under the sun. I’m only 45 and I’ve probably had 30-plus jobs, so I’ve seen a lot.

But it’s not all just bouncing around. I’ve also stuck with things. I’ve been a teacher in one way or another for over 25 years, and I’m hitting my 15th anniversary as a nurse this month. So there’s some depth in there, too.

Through all of it, I’ve found my real superpower is making complicated things simple. That’s the skill I’m most proud of, and it’s how I feel I can best help people. My take is that nothing good comes easy, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a grind. We need challenges. Life would be pretty boring without them.

So, I don’t know if my story is one the world needs. But if people hear it, I hope they get that this is all just a work in progress, and we’re supposed to be having fun with it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I was raised in North County and have lived in San Diego County for most of my life, aside from college and a few stints in Colorado, Hawaii and Indonesia. I know this place like the back of my hand. Because of that, I’ve also seen what happens when people move in and don’t respect the local culture, the ‘cultural terroir’ of the region. It’s made me a bit protective, so I tend to keep my favorite spots close to the chest. For me, San Diego is the best place to live in the country, bar none.

If I were showing some good friends around, the day would definitely start with a surf. I won’t name any spots, of course, but we’d check the tide, wind, and swell to find a winner. Afterwards, we’d grab coffee at Interim in Carlsbad. Ray runs the best little shop in North County. You should stop in and say hi. Then we’d hit Lola’s for a breakfast burrito. I’ve been going there since high school, and their Bean, Rice, and Egg is still the best.

The afternoon would be a bike ride to the beach, either for a nap or another surf if the waves were good. I’m not a big lunch guy, but if I were, I’d get the Bakon Cobb salad at Choice.

Since I’m a huge baseball fan and a Padres member, if they’re playing, we’re taking the train to Petco Park. It’s one of the best stadiums in baseball, maybe even the best, with killer food and drinks. And if we were still hungry after the Padres get the W, we’d go to Callie for the Mediterranean Feast. It can be tough to get a table, but it’s one of the best restaurants in town.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It’s hard to narrow down the cast of characters in the plot of my life, but a few have definitely played starring roles. My parents, sisters, and children have been foundational to any success I’ve had. I was also lucky to have incredible mentors early in life: Debbie Jones, Tom Sewell, and Rubak Vitarelli, who all challenged me to expand my belief system.

I also read a ton, and I consider authors to be important virtual mentors. So you’d have to add JB Jackson, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Lao Tzu, Barbara Kingsolver, Michael Crichton, and William Gibson to the list. I’ve read everything they’ve ever written, and their work has shaped my thinking immensely.

Website: https://www.halfframeclub.com

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

Image Credits
All photos by me, shot using a Kodak H35N or Oympus Pen EE2 Half Frame Camera with Fuji C200 film