We were lucky to catch up with Diana Benson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Diana, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

Early on in my childhood, I could always be seen running around with my family’s giant, old-school VHS recorder, filming everything I could—scenery, people, and whatever else caught my eye on our adventures.

My mother played a huge role in nurturing that passion for me. She would take me to local skateparks and seek out skateparks in every city we traveled to. I’d spend hours there, making friends with the young skaters and asking if I could film and photograph them, enthralled by their energy and immersed in capturing the shapes and shadows of their movement. There was nothing like the rush of getting what I saw as the “perfect” shot—it gave me a ‘photographer’s high,’ and is a feeling that still fuels my passion and pursuit of photography to this day.

My parents never shut down any of my wild ideas, and instead, they helped fuel them. They gave me access to as many VHS tapes as I wanted and eventually invested in better camera equipment for me, giving me the tools I needed to explore my creativity freely. Looking back, it’s crazy how much that early passion still drives me today. Filmmaking and photographing people—especially in action—has never stopped being one of my passions. And now, with my small company, Mutt Magg, I’m finally turning that lifelong love into something bigger than a hobby.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF & YOUR JOURNEY INTO YOUR CRAFT. HOW DID MUTT BEGIN?
Mutt and Me: The Early Beginnings:

My name is Diana Benson, and I am the founder and creative director of Mutt: a photography brand dedicated to capturing the authentic beauty of the world as I see it and the people in it. Through portraits, street, and action photography, Mutt is a space where my vision and unique take on the people I capture can be shared and expressed.

My journey into photography was never linear; it was a winding road of following instincts, taking leaps of faith, and saying “yes” even when I wasn’t sure where I would land. I was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but I’ve been fortunate that my life and creative pursuits have taken me across the world.

From an early age, creativity was my compass. In my twenties, I lived in cities like New York, New Orleans, and Charleston, with stints in Martha’s Vineyard, San Francisco, and even Spain and Morocco, where I spent several months. I’ve always been a “yes” person, chasing new experiences and trusting the winding road of my intuition, even when it didn’t make sense at the time. Now, looking back, I realize that my path, full of uncertainty and detours, was one of the bravest and most defining choices of my life. I see now that it was the very thing that shaped Mutt.

In my early adolescence, I dedicated myself to music, studying classical guitar throughout middle and high school, fully believing I would pursue a career in it. But over time, my creative identity felt fractured. Music was only one part of me, and my love for photography and documentaries was equally integral to how I saw and experienced the world.
When I was a junior, I made the radical decision to drop out of high school, choosing to follow my instincts rather than a predetermined path. It was terrifying, isolating, and went against all expectations. But luckily, I can now say that this difficult decision eventually opened up a world of possibilities I might not have otherwise had.

What followed were years of self-discovery. I traveled, lived in different cities, and immersed myself in new environments, absorbing inspiration from the people I met along the way. During this time, Mutt first began to take shape; a fusion of my love for documentary storytelling and striking, editorial-style portraits. The name Mutt came to me almost instantly during a period of stasis as a high school dropout. It represented everything I wanted to capture: people from all walks of life-their passions, their struggles, and their realities. Like a mutt dog, my work embraces the mixed, the unconventional, and the underdogs of the world.

Mutt Takes Sail:
Life eventually led me to New York, where I found my first major break in the film industry—not in a creative role, but in the Accounting Department as an Accounting Clerk. It was a far cry from what I had imagined, but it opened doors to a career in film production, a field I continue to work in to this day.

Before moving to New York, however, I lived in New Orleans and later spent many months volunteering in Spain and Morocco. I was so inspired by the creativity that surrounded me during my time in these places, and is where I really first began to dive into the development of Mutt in its earliest form. It was during this time that I created a profile on a boat crew-matching website, pitching myself as a documentary filmmaker that was looking to tell the story of a sailors journey at sea (albeit I had very little experience with making documentaries). The idea felt wild, but I put it out into the world anyway. To my surprise, I started receiving offers.

Fast forward months later to living in New York, and after wrapping my first big film job, I was once again at a crossroads, struggling with rent and unsure of what my next step should be. I logged back into the crew-finding sight after forgetting its existence for months, and rediscovered a message from a Vancouver-based sailing crew that was interested in having me onboard to document their voyage. With nothing to lose, I took a risk, packed my bags, and flew to Canada with no return date in sight.

For a period of time, I lived on a boat off of Vancouver Island, filming and documenting the journey of a sailor and his crew as they prepared to sail from Mexico to Tahiti. I was immersed in the unpredictability of life at sea; capturing the strength in their community and the ever-shifting relationship between people and the sea. That experience, one of many where I took a leap into the unknown, reinforced my belief that some of the best stories exist where others may not be looking.

Mutt takes PBS:
After my stint of life on a boat, friends, life and love eventually led me to San Francisco, where, unlike in New York, I struggled to find steady work in film. Desperate to stay afloat, I worked at a pub around the corner and taught private music lessons to kids and adults across the city. On a whim, I also applied for a job to collaborate on a PBS documentary called American Portrait, which sought out filmmakers in major cities in across the US to find and interview 25 individuals from diverse communities and backgrounds. With this, I finally felt I’d found the purpose I was looking for, and in a city where I otherwise struggled to find my footing.

For 6 months, I balanced working at the pub and teaching music, with roaming the streets of San Francisco in search of people to interview for American Portrait. Although I didn’t know it then, and the project barely covered a fraction of my cost of living, American Portrait became one of the most defining experiences of my life. I spent countless hours pitching the project to the interesting people I came across, speaking with anyone who was willing to share their story with me.

Some of the most memorable interviews I did for American Portrait included my interview with a homeless man who had once lived a lavish lifestyle and worked as a writer for The San Francisco Chronicles. But after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, he struggled to hold down a job, and now writes and sells his own weekly paper on the streets in order to survive. Another memorable interview was with a local working “lady of the night,” who shared words on adversity and enduring tough times. And lastly, an interview with a drag queen and the people in their circle, who shared with me the importance of staying true to who you are, touching on drag performance and the impact it has on the LGBTQ+ community.

Over the many hours and weeks I spent with each interviewee, I was welcomed into their worlds, their work, and their homes. I listened, documented, and photographed people who trusted me enough to share a glimpse of their lives, shining a light on the struggles, the truths, and the stories that deserved to be heard.

At the time, I didn’t fully realize it, but this was the work I was meant to do. That project was an eye-opening glimpse into the kind of storytelling that fuels me and is one of the earliest iterations of what Mutt would eventually become.

Conclusion:
From this, Mutt was born from this relentless curiosity and infatuation with people: their stories, their complexities, and their hidden magic. Every portrait I take is more than just an image, but is a glimpse into a person’s essence, their passions and their past. To me, Mutt is more than just photography; it is a celebration of individuality in all of its forms, and is a space where glimpses of the beauty we don’t always get to see in people can have new meaning.

Although Mutt has only recently taken its shape into the tangible form it is now, it has been forming since I was a confused high school dropout and has been kept alive over the years by my dream and vision. I am incredibly proud to have taken the steps, however small, to make Mutt a reality and follow a dream. Yet again, not knowing where it will land or where it will lead me.

WHAT SERVICES & CREATIVE WORKS DO YOU PROVIDE?
Mutt is an evolving project, but at its core, it is about people. I aim to highlight subcultures, street art, and untold stories through both digital and print formats.

Mutt’s mission spans:

– Editorial Photography that specializes in cinematic and abstract portraits, capturing people in their most expressive forms,

– Street & Lifestyle Photography with a focus on skate culture and scenes, moments on the streets, and energy in motion,

– Experimental & Abstract Photography with an emphasis on blurred movement and distorted perspectives.

WHAT PROBLEMS DO YOU SOLVE FOR YOUR CLIENTS? WHAT SETS YOU APART?
My work is for those who want something authentic and deeply personal. Whether it’s an individual looking for an unconventional portrait, a brand seeking a grittier aesthetic, or a publication wanting to tell a story through my perspective in a way that feels real, I bring a unique visual interpretation that breaks away from polished perfection and embraces unique authenticity.

What sets me apart is my approach and my vision. I don’t just take photos—I immerse myself in the world of the people I photograph. I want to know their stories, their struggles, and their joys. That connection translates into imagery that feels alive, capturing not just a face but an essence of someone.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
I’m most proud of the risks I’ve taken to carve out a lesser-known path, trusting my instincts to lead me to a life that I am now beginning to truly love.

Choosing an untraditional route, with no guarantees and no clear milestones, has been challenging; but every step has brought me closer to the work I was meant to do. Mutt now exists not just as a company, but as a testament to the power of instinct, passion and storytelling. Seeing my work resonate and connect with people, truly means everything to me.

WHAT DO YOU WANT POTENTIAL CLIENTS & FOLLOWERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU AND MUTT?
Mutt is an open space for expression, but to me, it’s more than just photography. It’s a passion project-one that I hope will lead to a fulfilling career in photography and documentary work. Since Mutt is still in its early stages, much of my website features photographs I’ve taken over the years. But as it evolves, I hope to see it grow into a body of work that truly reflects Mutt’s mission, capturing the people and stories that shape who we are.

If you are drawn to bold photography with a focus on people and movement, Mutt is for you. If you want to collaborate on something that showcases authenticity, I’d love to hear from you.

At the end of the day, I’m just here to document the world as I see it—one moment and one mutt at a time.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Absolutely. I’ve often felt misunderstood by non-creatives, especially when it comes to the risks I’ve taken and the unconventional choices I’ve made. Especially when I’ve often found myself in Accounting or other similar non creative roles where the ways I think are largely not shared. To someone who values stability and clear-cut paths, my willingness to step into uncertainty—without any guarantee of success—might seem reckless. But in reality, those very choices, those unusual “yes” moments, have been the defining forces in my journey as an artist and photographer.

Creativity isn’t about playing it safe. It’s about embracing the unknown, pushing boundaries, and putting yourself in places and situations that others might shy away from. It’s in those moments of uncertainty that the most unexpected opportunities arise—the ones that shape not just your work, but who you are as an artist.

For non-creatives, the path we take might not always make sense. But for us, it’s the only way forward.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is in the ability to capture and convey an emotion and truth through my work. It’s the moment when a photograph resonates deeply with someone and truly evokes a feeling that words can’t express—when it strikes an emotional response or sparks a thought. As a creative, you’re constantly trying to push boundaries, challenge perceptions, and express things that can’t always be put into words.

The power to connect with people on a visual level, to provoke, inspire, or make people feel seen—is the ultimate reward and goal for me. It’s about leaving a piece of yourself in every shot with your unique vision with every creation, knowing that it has the potential to inspire or make someone view the world a little differently.

Ultimately, the process of creating is its own reward. It’s in the struggle, the risk-taking, and the vulnerability that come with being an artist. Every project, every new idea is a step forward, and that journey is incredibly fulfilling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.muttmagg.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mutt__magg/?hl=en

Image Credits

All photography credit goes to myself, Diana Benson.