Daniel Temesgen, the eye behind stills by daniel, is a Naarm (Melbourne) based portrait photographer, whose work has grown through photographing the people and moments closest to him. To a practice that has become intentional, shaped by perspective and purpose.
Originally from Ethiopia, Daniel moves between identity, memory, and storytelling. That sense of movement between cultures carries through everything he creates. You can feel it in the way he captures people and space. Blending fashion photography with documentary-style portrait, his images centre community, connection, and cultural expression, often drawing from everyday moments and the people around him. The result is work that feels both cinematic and personal, offering a thoughtful look at identity and belonging.
We initially commissioned Daniel to shoot our Confidence in Style campaign because his work felt so closely aligned with what we wanted to achieve. But as things began taking shape, we quickly realised his work wasn’t just aligned with the story, it was part of it. What became of this was a series of beautifully shot self portraits offering a closer look at the person behind stillsbydaniel. Honest, considered, and entirely him. Featuring our NEW Slate Colour Collection.
We spent some time with Daniel in his home, a beautifully curated sharehouse in the heart of St Kilda, learning more about his everyday rituals,his approach to style and what confidence looks like in his world.
On daily morning rituals, Daniels’ are unapologetically uncomplicated. “What’s my morning ritual? Hmm, I wake up, I wash my face. I might make a matcha. Usually it goes like that.”
That same sense of ease carries into how he approaches style. There’s no strict formula, gravitating towards comfort, interesting shapes, and pieces that feel like an extension of himself and his culture. For Daniel, style and confidence aren’t about following trends. It’s about making considered choices. Choosing pieces you connect with, rather than accumulating more.
When asked what style means to him, he explained
“Style to me is just expression of self and also showing who you are to the rest of the world. It's also expressing my culture through the clothes I'm wearing, the jewelleries, or accessories I'll be having on the day. but it’s more than that. It’s a deeper thing where I actually express myself through it.”
To see more of Daniel Temesgen’s work, follow stillsbydaniel on Instagram. Or through our Confidence in Style Campaign
Listen to Daniel's Confidence in Style playlist HERE
