Meet Diana MacDougall | Boudoir and Sailboat Race Photographer

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

Hi Diana, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Hmmm…

For Boudoir Photography: My whole goal behind Boudoir Photography was to bring attention to “everyday” women as to the beauty and power of their bodies. I KNEW I could impact women’s self-image through photography. The process would include make-up and hair and a full high-end “pampering” of the “everyday” woman. I knew there was a need for making a difference in women’s lives. This experience has changed many women’s lives for the better. And the feedback I get from them is life-changing for me, too.

For Sailboat Racing Photography: Racers were asking for images of their vessels, and the opportunity lent itself to a market in this arena. It is exciting! And such an adventure to capture these gorgeous “sleds” on the water as they race against each other. I love the “chaos” of the race. The racers vying for the sweet spot at the start line and around the race pins. The chatter and yelling between racers on a boat and across boats; it is all so exciting!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Boudoir Photography: I think my clientele is definitely the “everyday” woman–not models, but the everyday working woman, mother, wife/partner. Most of them are REALLY nervous about getting in front of the camera. They are women (mostly) who are looking to “find their own beauty”, or who are looking to celebrate a milestone or gift some photos to that someone special. The focus has evolved into photographing women of marginalized populations, such as size differences, body art work to showcase, “older” women, and people within the LGBTQ communities. I have found it so rewarding to capture individuals transitioning genders or body sizes (bigger OR smaller), or coming out of abusive situations. These photo sessions (that I call “I Declare My Body Off Limits…”) are impactful and life changing to me, as well as the clients.
This is a hard field to get into. It is a “luxury item”; the average woman usually cannot afford such a luxury. Yet, there is such a need for something like this. That is why I usually keep my fees lower than many “glam” photographers out there. I truly do want to reach the “everyday” woman. BTW: Men have reached out to me, too. As with all my photography in this genre, I always make sure there is at least 1-2 other people present on set, so that everyone feels safe and comfortable, for me AND them.

With Sailboat Racing: This is a hard area to specialize in. It is physically challenging, adrenaline-inducing, and not for the faint of heart. I LOVE IT! One day, a friend of mine who knew I was a photographer, asked me if I would photograph their sailboat race in Marina Del Rey. I had no idea what I was getting into, but I was hooked pretty quickly. Capturing a boat into the image of a photo is not easy when the chase boat is moving one way and the sailboat of moving another, we are going up as they are going down, and I am looking through a tiny whole in the back of the camera while moving, often, backwards! (Motion sickness is not a new experience for me over the years, but I have learned to take a swig of water, put the camera back up to my eye, and keep clicking!) I have been privileged to photograph races from local to national to international levels, including the America’s Cup races. COVID put a pause on the international races for a while, and getting back into them has been difficult. (Everyone with a digital camera or cell phone is promoting themselves as a “photographer” these days.)

Speaking of which, during COVID, I decided to pursue my national professional photographer’s certification through the Professional Photographer’s of America. Even though I had worked as a skilled photographer for over 20 years at that point, this helps set me apart from the average person who picks up a digital camera and snaps images. The certification behind my name has elevated me in the industry as someone who has proven herself through hard study and rigorous testing. My images stand out above others who have not gone through the training and testing. And I am proud of that.

The lessons I have learned along the way is to stay current in technology, as our field is constantly changing with new advances in camera gear and lenses. Be willing to travel for an opportunity to photograph, and know how to connect with people! Bring in younger or novice interpreters to pass on your knowledge. Don’t be afraid of competition–it’s good for the creative juices and keeps the interest in our work! We can easily be replaced in a heartbeat, so stay humble and don’t be afraid to share the stage with others. Collaborate! It’s the best way to stay relevant and to “share the wealth”. That’s what I do with bigger races–bring in lots of photographers to share the stage, so to speak. We can’t be everywhere at once, so decide who will be where to capture various angles. At the end, upload all the photos in one place to showcase everyone’ work. The racers LOVE this, and the outcome is one big slideshow for everyone to see their work. It’s a WIN-WIN, hands down. Don’t be threatened by other eager photographers–bring them in to the studio as interns. Share your knowledge–don’t be stingy with it. Collaboration is a great diffuser of greed and negative competition. I’m a firm believer in this, because I practice this all the time.

As far as my branding: people need to feel you genuinely care and can trust you to have their best interests in mind, GENUINELY; disingenuous behavior is easy to detect. That connection is more important than any photographic skill, every time. Trust between photographer and client are key to amazing photographs and building a brand that is spread by word of mouth and on Social Media. Whether it is in the studio or on the water, I have learned the difference between taking a good photograph by accident and intentionally capturing an excellent photograph through trained skill. Always stay professional. Make sure your photographs are superb and not just a snapshot that anyone could take. Edits need to be high-end. Do not settle for “good enough”–I invest my time in editing, whether I do it myself (which I do about 98% of the time), or in choosing-and paying for-the best outsourced editors I can afford. The end result is that the clients feel like they can showcase the photos on a wall and feel proud of the products purchased.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is interesting…let’s see….

Our coastline is incredible. A drive along the coast–from Palos Verdes to Malibu–is a spectacular view. I love the Yellow Vase Cage in PV. The food is delicious and the view is incredible. Whales can often be spotted while eating there. Captain Kidds in Redondo Beach has the best fresh-caught seafood in the area, and a stop off for fresh crab legs, steamed clams and scallops with a cold brew are a must. Gladstones in Malibu would be on the itinerary, The appetizers and drinks are noteworthy, as is, again, the ocean view. Hermosa Beach has fantastic restaurants along and around Pier Ave. Ocean Diner comes to mind for a home cooked meal, as does Java Man, with their rich coffee drinks and their homemade baked goods. (Both are owned by the same man, so you can’t go wrong at either place. They are also local eateries.) There would have to be a couple of days on Catalina Island. I would take them over on my own boat, and we would stay a couple of days in the Avalon Harbor, spending time on in the harbor and on shore. Local eateries that are my favorites are Luau Larry’s, El Galleon, and NDMK Fish House. We’d hike around the island, and maybe even do some Zip lining! Finally, a cool place to hang out would be the “Distribution: Art of the South Bay” art gallery in Torrance. This is a local co-op of artists in the South Bay, and an interesting and fun place to meet really cool people, in my opinion,.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Kyla Wilkenfeld at heartsonginterpreting.com

Her whole heart is dedicated to providing qualified Performing Arts Interpreters for small to big venues, such as Coachella, Stagecoach, BeachLife and many other venues.

Website: https://bigdmacphotography.com

Instagram: bigdmac_photography

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigDMacPhotography

Image Credits
Anonymous Boudoir images; KHYC various races, 2024; Santa Barbara to King Harbor Race (SB2KH) 2024; SailGP race; Long Beach, 2025; America’s Cup 2017