The best rewards come from the harder path

GJ’s Casey Dittmer is the Embodiment of a Self-Made Hustler

By Aja Monique Salinas-The Spotlight Editor

Determined to create a diversified, boundary pushing, and empowered high end photography business, Casey Dittmer has pushed herself as a business woman first, and an artist second, to become one of the most sought after photographers world-wide.

Born and raised in Grand Junction, Colo., and working for a local photographer as a young woman, Dittmer fell in love and learned more about what would later become her craft. Being the driven woman she is, Dittmer was determined by her motivation to support her family and create a sustainable business. Her game plan: to do her own thing. In July of 2006, Dittmer formed her own photography business, where her success has been the result of creating new boundaries and then pushing them.

Dittmer’s business, Casey-Portrait Artist, has become a staple in the world of art and photography, encouraging others and showing them what it is to defy what is normal.

 “Falling into an ease of copycat, an ease of complacency is dangerous because then you become mediocre. If you want to be extraordinary, you have to push. You’re going to have bigger failures, you’re going to fall harder” Dittmer said, “but then you’re going to rise further because you pushed harder.” 

As the pioneer of modern and unique photography, Dittmer has created a stable and strong company line by carving a specific path from the beginning and sticking to it. 

“Sometimes the harder path makes you waver a little bit, but you have to remember that the best rewards usually come from the harder path” Dittmer said. “ In life, in business, in art, whatever it is, don’t question yourself, don’t compare yourself to other people.” she went on to say “We’re very much not the norm here [in Grand Junction] or in the industry, but that’s what’s made us great.” 

Her business has allowed her the opportunities to do more with her talent. She created an online workshop where she offers courses mentoring aspiring photographers and future business men and women. Known for her infamous gowns, she is also in the works of creating her fashion line and gown company, “Mahoney James.”

If there is anything Dittmer embodies, it is hard work and success. Her hope for others is to hustle, especially women who are often portrayed negatively compared to men who own businesses. 

“It’s okay for it to be war when you’re trying to make your business,” She said. 

Dittmer will do anything it takes to thrive in anything she does. Her main message through her photography is changing the mantra of what it means to be an artist with a business. 

“Our rallying cry for the last several years in the community and on an industry level is that it’s okay to want more, to want success, to make money in a business. Just because you’re an artist doesn’t mean that you should work for exposure, that you shouldn’t be compensated for your time and your talent and product. It is not okay to be used and abused because you are an artist.”

Pushing boundaries that have made an impact on the industry and people’s lives is what has made Casey’s art so unique to the Grand Valley. There is nothing like what she has to offer the community and those following her work internationally. Her approach has always been to show her clients their own power and strength, especially during life changing and transitional times. 

“We premise a lot of our stuff on showing people how truly powerful and beautiful they are.” She said. “They come to me to be the professional, they’re here because they need someone to make them look good, to let them have a good time, and to create amazing images.”

Dittmer is someone who will push her clients out of their comfort zones and push them a little further to create portraits that are unique to them and inspiring to others. Being able to adapt in many genres of photography has helped her maintain sustainability and give her clients quality. Though maternity has become what Casey is known for, she has mastered photography on a level limitless to her capabilities. Her work has led her to be able to work with high profile clients like Ryan Ashley and her husband, local tattoo artist, Arlo, and also being sought out by NFL star, Patrick Mahomes.

More than being a business woman, she is also a wife and mother to three children. 

“I am insanely fortunate with my husband who has been with me since highschool, we’ve built this together and he understands the give and the take.” She said. “There are times when you’re sacrificing family time because success and a business take dedication.” 

Her family has supported her from the ground up. Her business and her persistence, has led her to opportunities she feels she would never have gotten otherwise. Being able to travel all around the world, being so honored to have such an impact in her clients lives, and using her business to inspire others to work hard have all been just part of what makes Dittmer unique to Grand Junction. Dittmer represents chasing a dream, kicking down doors, working hard, and getting what she wants business wise or artistically. 

“It’s more than taking pictures at this point, it’s us affecting lives… that’s powerful, when you start affecting people’s lives in that way, it’s amazing that we can do that.”