About Us
It's funny how a business works. I started this studio, and in all actuality, it was like my first child. I have helped it grow, I have witnessed the changes it has made as it has developed, I am fiercely defensive of it, I am always wondering if I have done the right things and made the right choices, and then I hope that people accept it and love it as much as I do.
Photography is an interesting business. I can photograph an image that I am absolutely sure is the BOMB.COM, and is the best thing I have ever photographed.... and then I hop on my instagram account and instantly see 10 images that are way more amazing. This business can be so frustrating, and yet so rewarding. And I LOVE it. I crave those creative sessions that I can pour my brain into. I love the challenges that our clients present me with. And when that perfect image is created, there is no better feeling than seeing the look on our clients' faces when we show them!
This is why I love what I do. I am so blessed to have such a supportive family to help my business be successful. I am so lucky to work with our team here at the studio. I have managed to find the BEST girls who have the same vision as I do. And I am so grateful for the clients we have, the people I get to meet, and the relationships I have formed along the way.
This photo biz thing is pretty cool.
All the feels.....
Living the Dream
Abby B.
My family and I have been using Diekemper Photography for years. We have had family photos, newborn sessions, senior pictures, and many more sessions. Megan and her staff greet you with kindness and professionalism all the while making you feel like they have known your family forever! Megan always listens to all our ideas and is always investigating and continuing her education as a photographer to get the most amazing shots! Life isn't scripted or staged and yet from the minute Megan looks through her camera she is able to see all the dreams and ideas that I want to capture and they become real right there on canvas to treasure forever.
Adores all kids • junkfood addict • deal finder
If you hear a laugh ringing throughout our studio, chances are it's Kari. I met Kari when she worked at a local salon. I photographed her first daughter for our Watch Me Grow collection, and we got to know each other more over that year. In 2016, I was looking for a studio manager, and Kari was perfect for the job! She has been a fabulous addition to our team. She is so genuine, and kind, you will love her the moment you meet her.
Kari will be the one to help with your sales session. She keeps everything organized here at the studio, and she keeps me in line.
Kari helps with a majority of our sessions, and the kids always love her.
She has a family of four, with two gorgeous little girls.
Studio Manager
Kari Martin
researcher • perfectionist • hippie • Creative mastermind
Amber and I hit it off when I photographed her engagement session a few years back. Basically, I had offered her a job before we finished up with her session. The rest is history! She has been with me for almost 7 years! She is my 'left hand man', literally. She is my creative sidekick who I can bounce ideas off of, and she can craft almost anything.
Amber sees color and light the way I do...so it's very fitting that she does our proofing, designs a majority of our books and helps with any of the day to day computer work here at the studio.
Amber and her husband have a beautiful little girl!
Digital Artist
Amber
Declerck
photo taker • ski drinker • Boy mom • Dog Lover
While studying at SIUC and working on countless fine art photographs... I knew that my heart wanted to photograph portraits. After receiving my Bachelor of Arts in cinema and photography, and being newly engaged, I found out we were moving to Vandalia. I had only been to Vandalia a handful of times, and we knew NO ONE there. It was now or never. I opened Diekemper Photography in October 2008. A small storefront in the historic downtown. I LOVED the downtown, the new places to photograph, and it opened up the opportunity for me to meet so many new people! Fast forward 10 years.... and here we are! We built a fantastic studio in 2013 and moved outside of town, but it was a great business decision and I love our location...even though google maps has such a hard time remembering we have moved (reference our info section for directions)
I am constantly asked what are my favorite sessions to photograph, and honestly I love different things about each. I love those newborns. They have such a special place in my heart, and their sessions I look forward to from the moment I find out their mommas are pregnant. The senior sessions allow me to really use my creativity, and test my abilities. I love seeing the families all together, and how excited the dads always are to come for picture day! lol . And the children's sessions. You never know what to expect! They have the best expressions and I always seem to be laughing at some point during their sessions!
A little about me personally.... I have the best hubs who has helped me to build this business from day one. And I am the momma of two wild boys that I love to the moon. My family is something I always dreamed of, but I never could have imagined how amazing this life could be!
Megan Diekemper
