Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Ditmer.
Hi Samantha, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hi! I’m Samantha—a 32-year-old wife, mom to three little ones under 7, and a full-time wedding and elopement photographer. My husband and I are high school sweethearts, and we’ll be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary this year. Before photography, I earned a degree in Mathematics and spent five years teaching high school math in a low-income district near Cincinnati. In 2020, I made the decision to step away from teaching to become a stay-at-home mom.
After we moved back to our small hometown in Ohio, I felt a strong and persistent pull from God to pursue photography. I resisted at first, unsure and a little scared—but in October 2021, I finally took the leap and hosted my first Christmas Mini Sessions a month later. The response blew me away. I reinvested that initial income into professional gear and spent 2022 fully immersing myself in education—learning my equipment, mastering client posing and direction, managing social media, and even shadowing weddings—all while very pregnant with baby number three!
In 2023, my business took off faster than I could have imagined. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to travel across the country—from Texas and Utah to California, North Carolina, and Florida—capturing love stories through weddings and elopements. I’ve continued growing creatively and professionally by attending (and now hosting) photography workshops, pushing myself to improve while building a strong and meaningful client experience.
It’s a true blessing to do what I love while staying home to raise my children. From engagements to weddings, newborns to family sessions, I love walking with my clients through every chapter of life. This business has been an incredible gift to me and my family—and I’m forever grateful to God for the way He’s guided and grown it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road—pursuing photography full-time, especially in such a competitive and emotionally-charged field like weddings and elopements, comes with its share of challenges. In the beginning, I struggled with the unpredictability of income, learning how to market myself, and building a consistent client base. There were times I questioned whether I had made the right choice, especially when bookings were slow or when I faced burnout from back-to-back weddings with little rest.
One of the biggest hurdles was learning how to balance the creative side of photography with the business side—things like contracts, taxes, editing timelines, and client communication. I also had to learn to value my time and work, which meant setting boundaries and raising my prices as my skills and demand grew.
But every challenge has helped shape the business I run today. I’ve become more confident, resilient, and in tune with what kind of work truly lights me up. The reward of capturing couples on one of the most meaningful days of their lives far outweighs the obstacles—and I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a full-time wedding and elopement photographer based in Ohio, and my heart is in documenting love stories in a way that feels intentional, emotive, and true to each couple. I specialize in intimate weddings and adventurous elopements—those moments where the couple’s connection takes center stage, whether it’s on a mountain at sunrise or in a quiet backyard ceremony with just a few loved ones nearby.
What I’m most proud of is the experience I give my clients. I’m not just showing up with a camera—I’m helping them feel comfortable, seen, and celebrated. I guide couples through their day with a calm, grounded energy and an eye for both the big, joyful moments and the quiet, in-between ones that often get overlooked. I want the photos to feel like them—not staged, not trendy—just beautifully, authentically them.
What sets me apart is the way I connect with people. I deeply value storytelling, and I think that comes through in my work. My editing style is warm and natural, and I focus on capturing emotion and movement over perfection. Clients often tell me that I made them feel at ease and that their photos brought them to tears—in the best way. That, to me, means everything.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Without a doubt, my husband has been my biggest advocate throughout this journey. From the very beginning, he believed in me—sometimes even more than I believed in myself. While I was building this business from the ground up, he was right there, supporting me emotionally, helping with the kids, and encouraging me to keep going when things got tough.
Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship hasn’t always been easy, especially with three little ones in the mix. But he’s been my steady anchor, always stepping in without hesitation—whether that meant wrangling bedtime solo while I edited late into the night, or cheering me on before a big shoot. His belief in my work and our shared commitment to raising our family has allowed me to grow this business in a sustainable, wholehearted way.
Behind every gallery I deliver, every milestone I reach, there’s a lot of unseen support—and he’s been a huge part of that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://samanthaditmerphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthaditmerphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samanthaditmerphotography
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/samanthaditmerphotography/
