Photographer Diana DeFatta discussed in a recent interview in the Nashville Voyager how her father’s FTD journey inspired her to turn her long-time interest in photography into a new career.

“My dad was diagnosed in 2015 with…[FTD], a type of dementia that is not well known and still can take years just for the initial diagnosis,” Defatta shared in the Nov. 19 article. “Realizing…I would only have photos and videos of my dad to look back on after he was gone made me realize there was something special about being the person to capture memories for those to look back on… even long after their loved one is gone.”

DeFatta, who owns Diana Marie Photography, told the Voyager that the loss of her corporate job, coupled with the severity of her father’s FTD diagnosis, led to her becoming a fulltime photographer. Her father, Michael DeFatta, died in February at the age of 63; DeFatta noted how her father’s death impacted her photography style.

“After he passed, it’s like the passion I had for capturing and freezing those moments in time grew rapidly and I began to look at wedding days (and photo sessions in general) in a different light,” said DeFatta.

The photographer emphasized how her imaging style sets her apart from others in her industry because of her ability “to hold those emotional moments in time” for her clients.

“I want you to feel the way you did on the day of when you look back at your photos,” Defatta said. “There is something amazing about capturing those raw moments that are not only seen but can be also felt with the heart.”

Read the full Nashville Voyager article here.