Dragon Forge Hill is a family homestead in Valles Mines, Mo. run by Nate and Danielle.
Nate runs a welding, fabrication, and off-roading shop here on our property. He also offers mobile welding services.
Danielle wrangles chickens while offering photography services on our picturesque property upstream from St. Francois State Park. She specializes in fantasy boudoir/dudoir photography.
For Metalwork questions and quotes, please call or text Nate at 636-484-1933 or email Metalwork@DragonForgeHill.com
For photography information, please email Danielle at Danielle@DragonForgeHill.com
Our Story
Nathan was born and raised in Franklin County Missouri where his parents still live on the land his great-grandfather farmed. After graduating high school, he went on to Pulaski Technical College where he studied diesel technology. After working as a mechanic, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he was trained as a welder. Nate spent 8 years as a Marine Corps welder, including three deployments. Then the Marine Corps sent Nate to Florida to serve as a Marine Corps recruiter. That is where he met Danielle. When he left his time on active duty, Nate went to work as a welder for one of the largest construction companies in the area. His primary focus while there was structural steel and heavy equipment repair. Nate then began his own mobile welding business in Florida, which he ran until he felt called to move back home to Missouri. He packed up his newly acquired family, purchased a small piece of property nestled in the Ozark Mountains with a house and shop, and began Dragon Forge Hill.
Danielle comes from a military family who are spread across the country. When she was four years old, her parents moved the family to Florida's Space Coast. That is where she grew up and calls "home." In high school Danielle was heavily involved with her school's theater program. Her primary focus was set design and scenic painting. After graduating from high school, Danielle enlisted in the United States Army as a photojournalist. She trained at the Defense Information School at Fort Meade, Md., and spent 7 years on active duty including two combat deployments with the 10th Mountain Division. After leaving active duty, Danielle moved to California where she offered traditional boudoir photography services. She then decided it was time to head home, and purchased a home next door to her sister in her hometown in Florida. While sitting on the porch of that house, she met Nate. Two years later, he convinced her to rent out her lagoon-side house in Florida and head for the mountains of Missouri to start Dragon Forge Hill. There she decided to combine her love of fantasy with her experience as a boudoir photographer, and the amazing natural beauty of their newly acquired property, to offer a magical boudoir photography experience.