We’re looking forward to introducing you to Radhika McDiarmid. Check out our conversation below.
Radhika, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
The day kicks off at dawn with kid breakfast chaos and the school run. After drop-off, I grab my workout—Orange Theory if I want structure, a walk if I need space to think—then it’s work mode. From my desk I’m editing film, prepping galleries, and running the business while Ian is across the room deep in his own job. By late afternoon, I shift gears into quieter work: reading, meditating, maybe sneaking in a nap before the second round begins. Evenings are the “hyperzoom”: dinner, books, baths, bedtime, all overlapping like a live-action juggling act. It’s busy, layered, and never boring.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Radhika Deshmukh-McDiarmid, a film photographer based in Durham. My husband Ian and I started Radian Photography after our honeymoon in India, and over the past decade it’s grown into a studio known for mixing editorial artistry with candid, documentary moments. We work mostly on weddings and portraits, but what makes us different is the focus on connection—building trust with the people we photograph so the images feel timeless and true to them. Beyond photography, I’m also building a project called In Trusted Company, a retreat and networking experience for wedding professionals that’s all about rethinking how our industry connects and collaborates. At the heart of both projects is the same thing: art, people, and creating something that lasts.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents taught me the most about work. They immigrated to this country and built a life for us by taking on multiple jobs at once. For them, success wasn’t a choice on the table—it was something you worked toward every single day. I grew up watching that relentless commitment, and it shaped the way I approach my own work. Hard work wasn’t framed as extraordinary in our house, it was just the expectation. That lesson has stayed with me in everything I do.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I used to think failure was the end of the road, like falling off a cliff and hitting a dead stop. Over time I’ve learned that failure isn’t final, it’s just a redirection. It forces you to pause, shift, and sometimes pivot into something that feels more aligned and true to who you are. What looks like an ending in the moment often becomes the opening for the work you were meant to do next.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is a curated version of the real me. What we share online—photos, short posts, quick stories—are all true, but they’re only fragments. Fully knowing someone takes time, commitment, and love. It goes deeper than what you can take in at a glance.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
I’m investing in my family and my business. The small choices I make each day—how I show up for my kids, how I serve clients, how I shape the culture of our work—may not look like much in the moment, but over time they build into something lasting. In seven to ten years, those microchoices will have shaped the kind of family life and business I want to carry forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.radianphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radianphotography
