Meet Diane Bentley Raymond | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Diane Bentley Raymond and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diane, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
For many years I was a marketing consultant. I loved telling stories about my clients’ products. I worked with photographers and the media and had a “lightbulb” moment one day. Just as I was discussing with the photographer what angles and just how things should best be captured to tell the story that was the MOMENT! I knew without a doubt I wanted to be behind the camera telling stories.
Next question was whether I was willing to change course and jump off the cliff into a new career late in life. Without hesitation, the answer was YES.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When I think about my life, I realize that I have always loved telling stories, even as a kid. When I started my journey as a photographer it was about me wanting to share the stories I saw out in the world through my lens. I always see exactly what I want to share long before I click a shutter button. I am proud that today as a full-time photographer I am true to my vision.

I love seeing the world from different angles, and that definitely played a part in me moving forward as an architectural and travel photographer. There is nothing that excites me more than going out before sunrise to watch the world unfold and chase the light around a city. There is something magical about catching light shining off a building, catching reflections, watching the world come to life. The only thing more exciting is that I get to share it with you. It’s like stealing a precious moment that only you see and then being able to share that moment with someone else.

The main lessons I learned along the way were to never give up, to just keep going. Hard work and willingness go a long way to getting to the good part – which is doing what you love.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love being a tourist in my own city. I have a love affair with San Francisco. There are endless places to see, Coit Tower, Palace of Fine Arts, Fisherman’s Wharf, Battery Spenser, Kirby Cove – I sound like a tour guide, but these locations are fabulous and definitely worth spending time there. Whenever friends visit, I love to grab a coffee and head across the GoldenGate Bridge to watch the sun rise over the city. The Marin Headlands have so many great viewing spots.
It is said that you could eat at a different restaurant 365 days out of the year and never run out of places to eat.
One of my favorite areas is North Beach – love, love love Italian food, Tony’s, Original Joe’s, The Stinking Rose are all great.
I also love how San Francisco has so many different districts, each having their own personality. China Town, Outer Sunset, Nob Hill, Telegraph Hill and on and on.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Partner Frank Winkler gets full credit for believing in me, helping me start my business and always reminding me that “I could indeed do this”. He also gave me my first camera. A little Sony that was the start.

Website: https://www.DianeBentleyRaymond.com

Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Dianebentleyaraymond

Facebook: Diane Bentley Raymond Photography/Videography

Image Credits
Diane Bentley Raymond