We had the good fortune of connecting with Diana Merlos Spriggs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diana, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I come from immigrant parents, growing up I saw them go from working for someone else to starting their own businesses. I saw how hard they worked but also the reward of making their own schedule, being able to say no to jobs that didn’t feel right, and overall creating something they could call their own. That was inspiring.

I’m a photographer, so for me it was either I settled for keeping photography as a hobby or I could do what my parents did and made photography work for me. It took a few years to feel confident enough to start charging form my art, but I don’t regret it one bit.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Art is subjective, and it’s not for the masses. My art isn’t for everyone, but those who get it and who love it… deserve my very best. There are a lot of us in the photo industry and I can’t say that I’m SO different from everyone else. What I try to is really focus on my client experience from start to finish. I can say I’m proud of the systems I’ve created, from my booking process, to what’s included in my contracts, down to how I move throughout a wedding day. Through trial and error I’ve found the sweet spot of running an efficient and stress free business without taking the soul and personability out of the art itself.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My husband and I have only been in Colorado for 8 months, so we ourselves still feel like tourists. But having the privilege of living in a walkable neighborhood just outside of Downtown Denver, we definitely found a few g0-to’s! For a quick but hearty breakfast we’d go to Rise & Shine Biscuit Kitchen, for a more quaint patio brunch in the Summer definitely Bon Ami Bistro. El Five in LoHi is a total vibe for dinner, and their view is amazing. The drinkity drinks & the poutine (with the pastrami upgrade) at Au Feu Brasserie are AMAZING. Aside from eating… the DAM is nice to visit to get out of both the cold and the heat, Red Rocks has great short hikes not too far from the city, and walking the vintage stores on N. Broadway is a MUST for anyone who comes to visit me.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents for setting an entrepreneurial example to follow and my husband for believing that I can do anything.

      

Website: www.flordecampo.co

Instagram: flordecampo.co

Facebook: www.facebook.com/flordecampo.co

Image Credits
Flor De Campo Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.