Diane Dultmeier: How I became a Portrait Photographer
A while back, my niece put a post on her Facebook wall that said “Poorly explain what you do for a living.”
So I wrote “I capture people.” After I typed it, I thought “Ooh, that sounds a little creepy.”
I hadn’t put much thought into it and that’s just what came out. It went through my head that people who don’t know me could think I was a police officer, a bounty hunter, perhaps a soldier. I liked the intrigue it created and I thought it was cool to realize that the way I capture people is for good and for their legacy and involves no violence, since I’m a portrait photographer, not a mercenary.
I’ve been a photographer since my junior year of high school.
Our teacher held us to very high standards—and our yearbook, in my little Silver Lake, Kansas, town of 1,000 people, had won national awards. I developed my skills and in my senior year, I ended up going to the state photography competition and won first place!
My mom must have had a secret knack for choosing high school graduation gifts for her kids. She got my brother a suitcase and he ended up being a flight attendant. For me, she chose a 35mm camera.
I went on to major in photojournalism at the University of Kansas, where we journalism students staffed the daily newspaper. That experience prepared me well for the real world of newspaper photography.
For my first job, I was the only staff photographer for a small daily newspaper in South Dakota called the Press and Dakotan.
In my first week there, I covered a Friday night football game in a nearby town, and was heading back to process the film and make prints for the Saturday morning edition.
As I drove toward the town, I remember thinking, “Wow, For being such a small town, Yankton really has a bright golden glow from a distance!” Turns out a building two doors from the newspaper was on fire! It was a big fire that gutted the building, which was right in the middle of downtown.
Fire trucks filled the street and I jumped into action, photographing as much as I could before I needed to get to the darkroom to process the film and make prints in time for the deadline. It was an exciting start to the job!
This is the image that won the state award—I was so proud! Film of course, TMAX 3200 (for those in the know).
One of the images from that night ended up winning a state award, which was a real boost to my confidence. I became a star in that little town and got many compliments for my work, although the publisher didn’t appreciate me the way I thought he should in my 23-year-old mind.
My next job was at the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, about an hour away. It was here that I learned about office politics. There was back stabbing, jockeying for assignments and the mentality among the other photographers that your job should pretty much be your whole life.
Oh, I forgot to mention that I was the first female photographer they had ever hired.
Based on the hair, it’s pretty easy to know this photo was taken in the 1980’s. Haha! Since I was trying to prove myself and fit into the male-dominated world of newspaper photography, I assumed a serious and professional persona back then. I’m much more fun (and happy!) now.
I loved the feature stories and getting to know people. I hated the fatal car accidents, the murder trials, the drownings and covering the aftermath of tragedy.
During my time at this paper, I covered the crash of Flight 232 in Sioux City, Iowa, about an hour south of us. I rushed to the airport to get an aerial shot of the crash scene, in a cornfield, before the airspace was closed. In addition to being on the front page of the paper, that image was published in Newsweek. The crash was an amazing story because the pilots truly were heroes, saving many lives when they crash-landed in a cornfield. And there were many heroes on the ground who rushed in to help.
I ended up being fired from that job, told that I just wasn’t towing the line as a newspaper photographer by the chief photographer. When that happened, I moved to Honolulu, where my brother was based as a flight attendant.
Being fired hurt a lot and I did question whether I was meant to be a photographer. But, I kept on trying, even applying for a job at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, a major newspaper.
I didn’t get that job, but it led to a position at a weekly newspaper with five community editions. I traveled all around the island of Oahu covering local events and feature stories. I really enjoyed the job and learning all about the the culture of Hawaii.
After a couple of years, I moved to Florida’s Treasure Coast with a friend.
I went around with my portfolio to the newspapers and advertising agencies and began freelancing for the Palm Beach Post and the Stuart News, plus started picking up jobs from some of the local advertising agencies.
This pushed me into different types of photography I had never done before. I bought used equipment and taught myself how to use different types of cameras, even a 4x5 View Camera, the kind where you have to get up under a black cloth to focus. I turned my bathroom into a darkroom.
I photographed models, actors, musicians, events, products, model homes, and even aerials. My work appeared on billboards, in brochures, magazines, and all kinds of printed materials. I won many awards for my photography during these years.
As time went on, I noticed that what I really loved was to create images of people. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a magazine published by the Florida Professional Photographers Association. It was all about portrait and wedding photography. The convention in Orlando was coming up soon, so I decided to go.
I was amazed at the friendliness and helpfulness of the photographers at this convention. People weren’t standing around looking serious and introspective; they were laughing and having fun and enjoying each other. They didn’t have huge egos that took up the whole room.
I made friends with other photographers. I took classes and fell in love with the idea that I could be a photographer who creates images that bring joy and happiness to people. I could create images that families would cherish, and I could have clients who valued me.
That convention was 23 years ago. After that event, I took more portrait photography classes, even flying to California and Texas to study under well-known portrait photographers.
It’s been a fun and challenging journey and I can see that at times I made poor decisions but they did usually lead to growth. I am still always evolving as a photographer and as a business owner. I am proud to say my portraits hang on the walls of many Treasure Coast homes. To me, the best reward is the look on my clients’ faces when they see their finished portraits for the first time.
I also love that I get to see my families grow and change through the years. See the images below of Mark and Michelle Howe, plus their two daughters Aubrey and Julia. Such fun to see their changes and to see my growth as a photographer!
When I say that my job is to “capture people” I am glad to say it is in the most wonderful way. I really believe this is the purpose God has called me to—to capture great images of the people who are formed in His image.
This blog post started as a speech I gave to Talking Heads of Stuart, my local Toastmasters club.
As it says on our club website, “Toastmasters clubs help members improve their communication, public speaking, and leadership skills. At Talking Heads of Stuart, we provide a fun, laid-back, friendly environment where we can all learn and develop together.”
Check it out here on our club website and here on Facebook! It’s a super safe place to push yourself out of your comfort zone with public speaking.
For 20+ years as a family portrait specialist on Florida’s Treasure Coast, I have been known for relaxed portrait sessions at locations around Stuart, Palm City, Hutchinson Island, Hobe Sound, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach and all areas in between. I am not like most photographers these days because I believe your family deserves to be celebrated each day, as part of your home decor. When you work with me, we will collaborate in creating Fine Art Portraits of your family, which will live on your walls or in a custom-designed album or folio box and be remembered as one of the best investments you have ever made. In addition to creating portraits for families, I create headshots and personal branding images for business use. To learn more, go the the Dultmeier Photography homepage.