We were lucky to catch up with Samantha Dittmann Struemph recently and have shared our conversation below.
Samantha , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
My mission is to show Women that they are amazing, strong and confident beings. Too much these days, we completely beat ourselves up over the smallest things. We want to be skinner, stronger, more confident, when in fact, it is already there inside of us. We want to celebrate each woman the way she is. We are all unique and we need to embrace it. Each day we go through struggles and come out the other side. We are amazing creatures! We work closely with each woman to capture her vision and make this a one of a kind experience. Our mission is to show each woman a glimpse of what is truly inside of her and give her photos she will treasure forever!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m Samantha (Sam) Dittmann Struemph, the proud business owner and lead photographer of Diamond Gal Photography. Along with being a wife and mother to two incredible kids, I have been a photographer for almost 15 years, starting my career at a full-service studio.
My journey into boudoir photography began with my own session. I was getting married and thought it would be the perfect surprise for my husband on our wedding night. Initially nervous and slightly terrified, something shifted midway through the session. I realized that this was my calling. I loved how confident and empowered I felt, and how the photographer captured me in a way that I had never seen myself before.
Shortly after, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, which took a toll on both my physical and mental health. But once we found the right medications, I became pregnant with our first child. When postpartum depression hit hard, I knew I needed to do something for myself. With the support of my family, I turned back to boudoir photography and started my own business.
As the years went by, my business grew and expanded. It became a source of therapy, allowing me to show my clients just how strong, confident, and amazing they are. It was incredible to watch women walk into the studio feeling nervous and leave feeling like they owned the world! Each session was customized to highlight the individuality and beauty of every woman, and my goal was to help them see themselves through my lens. Working with these incredible women each day is a true blessing.
At our studio, we aim to provide our clients with a luxurious experience from start to finish. Our team includes professional hair and makeup artist who will work their magic to ensure our clients look and feel their best. We also offer access to our studio wardrobe, along with complete posing guidance during the session, to help create stunning and flattering images.
To ensure our clients can cherish their experience forever, we offer high-end albums, wall art, and prints. We understand that this type of photography is a big investment, which is why we offer in-house payment plans to help make it more accessible. All of our sessions are custom planned, and we provide a complimentary style consult to ensure our clients feel confident and prepared.
At our studio, we want our clients to feel relaxed and pampered, with everything provided for them. We believe that this is the best way to capture their unique beauty and create stunning images that they can treasure for years to come. So come and join us for your dream session, and let us help you see how truly beautiful and worthy you are!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
When my daughter was born, I planned to be a stay-at-home mom. We had just moved to a new city and I wanted to be there for my children as much as possible. However, I soon realized that it wasn’t the right path for me. While I treasured the time with my daughter, being home all the time made me feel isolated and unhappy. I was dealing with postpartum depression, and without many friends in town, I knew I needed to go back to work and have something for myself.
After a lot of discussion, support, and finding the right childcare, I decided to start my own business. It was the perfect situation. Not only did it allow me to set my own hours and be there for my kids, but it also made me a better mom. I no longer missed important moments like soccer games or sick days, and I could confidently show my children that their mom could do anything.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
After graduating college with a degree in photography and a certificate in entrepreneurship, I thought I had all the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in running a business. However, upon starting my own business, I quickly realized how much I didn’t know and how much I needed to learn. Each day brought new challenges, forcing me to rethink my approach to my business. Initially, my main goal was to earn some money and have an outlet for my creativity, but I soon learned that this mindset wasn’t enough to sustain a successful business.
To run a thriving business, I had to change my way of thinking and consider factors such as cost of goods, payroll, and advertising. Additionally, I had to accept that I couldn’t do everything on my own and started to delegate tasks that I wasn’t proficient at, while seeking help for the things I wanted to excel in. This shift in my mindset and approach has allowed me to focus on what I do best and improve my weaker areas while seeing my business grow and thrive.
In the past, I used to get discouraged when things didn’t go as planned. However, I now understand that the ups and downs of business are natural, and I’ve learned to adapt and set my sights higher with each obstacle. By manifesting my goals and believing in myself and my business, I’ve been able to achieve success beyond my initial expectations.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.diamondgalphotography.com
- Instagram: @diamondgalphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diamondgalphoto1
- Other: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Diamondgalboudoir Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/samdgp