Antoine Didienne is an award-winning portrait, wedding, and documentary visual artist living in San Diego. After many years of bumbling and stumbling around in the corporate and marketing world, Antoine was sucker-punched by photography in his 30s, and it transformed his life forever. The last time that happened, he had met the woman he would marry. Being an ex-pat since his late teens, Antoine has always been an observer looking in. He loves people, languages, and culture and is interested in learning from all of them. He applies these same skills and a genuine, enthusiastic curiosity to all of his clients and his personal projects to create beautiful and authentic human stories with his camera.
About Antoine Didienne
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Antoine is a French/American expat and has been with his wife, Glenda, for over 20 years now. He has four children (including two human ones and two with paws). Antoine has been living in San Diego for 15 years.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
It took me a long time to get to the career I am in now. I worked in commercial real estate, in public relations, and co-founded an ecommerce company to finally become what I was meant to do: be a photographer.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Say yes to new experiences that put you out of your comfort zone. This is how you grow.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I see myself as the premier destination when looking for high-end unique wedding photographers.
Antoine Didienne & Our Community
Q: What are a few of your favorite restaurants in our community?
One of my favorite places to go to is Tamarind Thai Restaurant, as well as The Farmer’s Table, right here in La Mesa.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I have lived in La Mesa for about eight years
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I love that La Mesa is truly the jewel of East County. La Mesa Village feels like a cute and active small town center, while the hills behind feel like the luxury of La Jolla. We have everything we need while being 20 minutes away from the beach.
Q: If you could choose anyone who is alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I miss Anthony Bourdain every day. I miss his writing and his honest love of food and people. He was the first celebrity I actually shed a tear for when he died. I would take him to Swami’s to have something simple and sit on the terrace over a sandwich and a beer where we could just talk about food, traveling, his French family, and anything else he’d be interested in sharing with me.
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Young Frankenstein is and always will be my favorite movie to watch over and over again.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I was a nationally ranked-downhill skier in France when I was 11 years old.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
SoCal.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My wife, my kids, Stefan Vanfleteren (my favorite photographer), and Anthony Bourdain.
Q: What community organizations and/or local nonprofits do you admire/support?
I have been an avid supporter and collaborator of Project Concern International. They’re the biggest deal you’ve never heard of. Founded in San Diego by a Coronado doctor in the 60s.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Travel. Learn new languages. Go live abroad.
Q: What Neighborhood do you live in?
I’m not sure we belong to a known neighborhood, but I live in the area of La Mesa that exists between El Cajon Blvd, Univeristy Ave, and Baltimore.
What I love about my Neighborhood:
I live close to everything while still living in a smaller neighborhood.
Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend:
Mountain biking in the hills and trails of La Mesa early in the morning, beach in the afternoon, and dinner out on the town in the evening.
Q: Finally, what three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
My dogs, my family, and my photography studio.
