Daily Inspiration: Meet Diana Mahecha

Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana Mahecha.

Diana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin? 
Photography is a beautiful art form that allows us to capture and preserve memories, emotions, and the beauty of the world around us. My love for photography started when I was really young; I was fascinated with how old photographs, especially black and white ones, can evoke a sense of nostalgia and a connection to the past. They carry a timeless and artistic quality that captures the essence of the subjects and the moments frozen in time. It’s like stepping into history and experiencing the world through the eyes of those who came before us. In middle school, I had a film camera and would take pictures of everyone and everything around me and then spend hours making scrapbooks with my pictures. When I made it to high school, I was very blessed that they offered photography classes that covered shooting in manual mode, black-and-white film development, lighting, and composition. The darkroom became my sanctuary in high school; it was a deeply meditative and immersive experience. I did win a few rewards in high school for my work and had some photographs hung in the Charlotte Douglas airport. When it was time to go to college, I didn’t really know what I wanted to study, but I did know I wanted to continue to take photography classes. I got into UNCC and went directly to the photography teacher and showed her my work, and told her I would like to take some classes. She let me in, even though I wasn’t part of the art program at that time. I think my idea was that I will take all basic classes in college before I would decide what my major was going to be. I never had it in my mind to be an art major. Time passed, and I took almost all the photography classes they offered within the first two years. Finally, I was approached, and I was told that if I wanted to be an art major, I would have to apply to the program and take all the other art classes, so I did. I graduated in 2008 from UNCC with a double major in Photography and Graphic Design. Still in my mind, I never thought I could make a living off of photography. In 2008 the economy crashed, and there wasn’t many jobs available. I was born and raised in Charlotte, but my family is from Colombia, South America. I decided to go to Bogota and live with my family there. I stayed there for two years. During my time there, I worked with a band and traveled with them doing all of their photography and graphic design work. I also worked with a photography company that did photographs for catalogs; I learned so much about lighting during this time. Finally came back to the States for about a year where I met my now husband. We ended backpacking for 13 months in South America. After I graduated and during my travels is when digital cameras really came into play. Honestly, I wasn’t ready to make the switch over to digital, but it was getting harder and harder to get film developed at reasonable price, and I didn’t have a darkroom anymore. Around 2015 my husband gifted me my first full-frame professional digital camera. I would photograph fashion, bands, and landscape before my son was born. Once I had a son, I immersed myself into learning everything there was about newborn and family photography. Little by little people asked me to do take their photos. At this time, I still had a part-time job at Apple, I was a yoga instructor at corporate companies and yoga studios, and I was working at the hospitals doing newborn photography. I still didn’t think I could make a living off of just photography, but I wanted to. Finally in 2020 right before my daughter was born (and before the pandemic) I took a leap of faith and quit all my other jobs and dedicated myself to only photography. I wanted to have the flexibility to spend more time with my littles ones. It was a long journey to get to where I am today, but I love what I do. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My biggest struggles currently is finding balance with being a mom and running a business. Both being a parent and running a business require time, energy, and dedication, and trying to do both simultaneously can feel overwhelming. When my babies were newborns, there were many sleepless night and editing until 2 AM. I had to remind myself that these challenging period were not going to last forever as my children grow and my business stabilizes. In the meantime, I appreciate the special moments with my family and the progress I have made in my business. The journey might be bumpy, but it can also is incredibly fulfilling and rewarding. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in family, maternity, and newborn photography. My lens becomes a portal to preserve the most delicate and intimate instants, freezing them in time for you to hold close forever. With an unwavering commitment to artistry and professionalism, I aim to create a seamless and delightful experience for each family I have the honor of working with. Beyond just photographs, I seek to create a visual narrative of love and connection that spans generations. From the tiny fingers of a newborn wrapped around a parent’s hand to the laughter shared between siblings, each image tells a unique story that weaves together the tapestry of a family’s journey. 

What sets me apart as a photographer is not just my technical expertise and artistic vision but also my genuine passion for celebrating the uniqueness of every family. I believe that photography is not just about capturing pretty pictures but about immortalizing the emotions, connections, and personalities that make your family truly one-of-a-kind. Safety and comfort are paramount during newborn sessions, and I pride myself on creating a warm, nurturing environment where both baby and parents feel at ease. I handle every newborn with the utmost care, ensuring that each pose is gentle and secure, capturing those fleeting moments of serene innocence with authenticity and tenderness. 

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters to me most in my business is that my clients are happy with the whole experience from beginning to end. From the day they reach out to me with their request until the day they see their final images. I want to be sure to understand their vision and deliver photographs that exceed their expectations. 

Pricing:

• Family Session $375
• Mini Session $250
• Newborn Session packages start at $400
• Custom Smash & Splash Session packages start at $375
• Maternity Session is $375

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bhumiphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhumiphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bhumiphotographystudio/

Image Credits
Diana Mahecha