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CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
When you hear the name “Wonder Woman,” in pop culture or used loosely, a picture of a strong, capable, intelligent, hard-working and selfless person comes to mind.
Weimar has its very own Wonder Woman.
No, Gal Gadot or Lynda Carter didn’t move to the German town and in fact, all women can be considered wonder women in their own regard, but Weimar Police Department Administrator and photography business owner Lauren Dahse is someone quite special.
If you’re a resident of Weimar, you probably recognize Dahse from her work at the Weimar P.D., having been hired on as an Administrative Assistant in November 2023.
Before her time at the P.D., Dahse spent a decade working at two manufacturing facilities in Schulenburg. Wanting to be closer to her children and looking for a position that allowed flexibility to participate in their extracurricular activities, she began searching for opportunities in Weimar.
“When I saw the Administrative Assistant position at WPD become available, I knew it was the perfect fit and applied right away,” said Dahse.
Another major reason why Dahse needed a position that allowed some flexibility was the availability to run a full-time photography business and sister company: Lasting Details and The LD Collective. The venture, which is now her primary source of income, all started for Dahse as a passion she first picked as a young girl, fell in love with furthermore in high school and took off from hobby to business after taking pictures of friends and family.
“My passion for photography began when I was a young girl,” said Dahse. “In high school, I took a photography class and fell in love with developing film in the darkroom. Fast forward to 2019, when I decided to invest in a quality camera to capture photos of my daughter, who was modeling for multiple baby clothing shops. That passion quickly grew as I began photographing friends and their children, eventually leading me to turn my hobby into a legitimate business. It has taken off in the most incredible way, and just last year (2024), I launched a sister company, The LD Collective, where I now have four associates working alongside me. I’m still in awe that what started as a small side hustle has become my primary source of income, and I feel truly blessed to do what I love every day.”
Juggling two full-time positions that require a lot of attention to detail can be quite taxing, with Dahse not beating around the bush and admitting that the work “is a lot.” Regardless of the toll, she says she wouldn’t want to have it “any other way.” If she’s not busy with the P.D., she’s busy with her business, and vice versa.”
“Most of my lunch hour (at the Weimar P.D.) is spent responding to emails, answering inquiries, or hosting phone consultations with brides. Late nights are the norm. I’m often up until midnight, or later, editing wedding galleries and preparing client contracts. Thankfully, my assistant helps with care packages and wedding gift boxes, which is a huge relief. When I’m not hauling my kids to rodeos, my weekends are packed; shooting weddings on Saturdays and multiple sessions on Sundays. It’s a nonstop whirlwind, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
While having not faced any challenges as female business owner in photography, citing that her line of work is predominantly women and that she works with “talented females,” Dahse notes that there have been instances at the Weimar P.D. where her information may not have been held in the same regard by residents as it would be if it came directly from an officer.
“One challenge I occasionally face is that some concerned citizens prefer to receive information directly from an officer rather than from me,” said Dahse. “Even though I provide them with the same accurate details, they may perceive it as more legitimate or “official” when it comes from an officer.”
Regardless of those instances, she loves her position at the P.D. and is grateful for the ability to connect with her community, especially having admired law enforcement all her life. She credits her family for being such huge supporters of her work, citing how the balance of working two fulltime positions wouldn’t be possible without them.
“Working full-time while running a business is not for the faint of heart, and I’m incredibly grateful for my family’s support in helping with the kids so I can work hard to provide for them in ways I never imagined,” said Dahse. “I also feel fortunate to have a full-time job that allows me to connect with our community. I think it’s refreshing for locals to know exactly who they’re speaking with when they call the police department. I’ve always admired law enforcement and the sacrifices they make, and now, after a year and a half in public service, I have an even deeper appreciation and respect for the work they do.”
There was plenty of self-doubt when Dahse launched her business, “questioning her abilities” and what “direction” she was heading in. Nevertheless, she stuck to what she believed in, introducing innovation to her field that allowed her to create opportunities for herself and encourages women and anyone with a passion and vision to do one thing: “to go for it.”
“I always remind myself that success often comes from thinking differently. I introduced unique mini sessions to our area, which helped me gain traction by offering something new,” said Dahse. It’s okay to think outside the box and embrace creativity. One quote I repeat to my daughter almost daily comes from one of my favorite movies, The Help: ‘you is kind, you is smart, you is important.’ I hope my words inspire at least one woman to chase her dreams and make a big impact. You can be a wife, a mother, and a boss babe; it is possible to juggle it all. The key is patience and giving yourself a little grace along the way. Keep pushing forward, you’ve got this, sis.”
