Creator Feature - Daneel Blake

Daneel is a creator based in Toronto, Canada. She has been able to perfect her content creation skills for any style of content. From brilliant editing, strong storytelling, and delivering on trends Daneel is an all-star for any brand no matter the industry. Daneel takes us through her daily content routine, how to keep authenticity in your content, and her enjoyment of learning new video techniques. Get to know Daneel more:

Introduce yourself!

Hey! I’m Daneel! I'm a content creator based in Toronto. I have been creating for over 2 years for myself and brands.

When I'm not creating, you can either find me traveling, seeking a new brunch spot, or at the cottage with my partner Paul - who has made plenty of viral cameos in my content. I have always been passionate about environmental matters, which is what led me to pursue a career in Sustainability in addition to content creation.

Why did you become a creator?

I never really intended on having ‘creator’ as one of my job titles. I always loved editing videos and social media, but never thought of combining the two. Working in a corporate space, I rarely flex my creative side. So, when TikTok got popular, I started using it as a creative outlet – mainly for funny trends and fashion. I really loved finding new ways to relate to viewers and enjoyed how fast-paced the storytelling was with video content.

With UGC, I soon learned that I didn’t have to worry about my own feed, following, and niche. This has allowed me to expand my creator skills to help a variety of brands connect more authentically with their communities.

What is your favourite part about being a creator

My favourite part is the constant state of learning. Social media, trends, communities, brands, and content consumption are always evolving and changing. I enjoy being able to learn from pivots, test out new techniques, and lean into the changes to discover new things. Content creation is multifaceted - I wear many hats so learning is key.

I also really love connecting with other creators - especially other black creators. Content Creation is not a very common job, let alone within the black community, so being able to find like-minded individuals is extremely motivating and refreshing. 

What does a typical content day look like for you?

I do have a full-time job, so my evenings during the week are spent sourcing trends, concepting, and editing. I utilize much of my weekend to capture content. On content capture days, I start in the morning by organizing the products, props, supplies, and revising the concepts. Then it’s straight into filming while the lighting is optimal, followed by editing in the afternoon. 

Where it works, I try to form some concept surrounding everyday life, so that I can incorporate filming into real-life activities and events for authenticity. It can be a bit hectic, so using the right content planning tools like Brkaway definitely makes it easier and more efficient. 

Do you have any advice/pointers for new creators?

No matter what your motivations are for creating, it’s important to hold on to the authenticity in the content you are creating. There are more creators than ever, all replicating the same content and trends. Staying true to your authentic style of capturing content and storytelling will help you carve a path for yourself and ensure you genuinely like the content you're producing. It’s supposed to be fun! 😊 

Lastly, showcase different content styles! A lot of creators focus on product aesthetic content or trends, however, being able to talk to the camera with personality in a genuine way is huge. I think being a creator who is versatile shows how adaptable you are and only adds value to your work.

Interested in working with Daneel? Get in touch with her through her portfolio: Daneel Blake

• If you're a Creator, Brkaway makes it easy for you to manage your content business and collaborate efficiently with your clients. Nobody likes sharing Google links, to get feedback via Emails, while updating to-do lists on Notion, to then get paid via PayPal... Manage your entire content business using one tool, not ten!
• If you're a Brand, Brkaway makes it easy for you to manage your entire content pipeline and creator roster. It's finally time to say goodbye to long email threads and Google links! On Brkaway you can invite creators, schedule Collabs, share files, and approve deliverables in just a few clicks.