Marissa Birdi is the Principle Stylist of Marissa Birdi Styling Group - a Dallas-based personal styling and clothing curating firm that specializes in womenswear for “the ambitious, the creative, the thoughtful and the dynamic.”
This past summer, I helped her launch her website. And more recently, we did a photo shoot for her brand in our home city of Dayton, Ohio. We had a blast.
Click in to see three of her effortless and stunning looks from our time together.
Read MoreIcon Modern is a Chicago-based custom contract furniture and architectural elements manufacturer, with a focus on sustainable materials. They were looking for some company portraits, product shots, and behind-the-scenes captures of their wood shop, and they reached out to me. This conversation started in a Lyft ride two years, prior. Click through to read the story and see their amazing work.
Read MoreOne of my dear friends Devin Marie Sutter hired me for two things:
Of course I was honored. Here’s a look at the inspiration, process, and final pieces we came up with for Devin Marie Sutter - a colorist, a stylist, and a creative.
Read MoreChelcie Wudtke of Elytra Textiles (pronounced el-uh-truh) is a Chicago-based textile designer specializing in small batch and custom hand-woven fabrics. I stumbled upon her work through Instagram and was immediately drawn to her color palette and unique designs. Fascinated by her process, I reached out to Chelcie to capture her in her element and to hear more about her story.
Read MoreMoth’s collection is curated by owner Catherine Becker, and inspired by her family’s connection to Nordic culture and a love of all things Japanese. Through her extensive travels in the Nordic countries and Japan, Catherine came to understand that there is a direct relationship between the two cultures and design sensibilities. Both have a high respect for craftsmanship, simplicity and nature.
Catherine commissioned me to photograph some of her winter collection homewares. Their timelessness, functionality, and beauty are among the most unique I’ve seen in Chicago. Click through to see more of her lifestyle products and home accessories.
Read MoreThis past February, I had the honor of photographing a modern and bright home in the Roscoe Village neighborhood of Chicago. The owner Ruth Blatt commissioned designer Mika Wegner Avni to bring her vision to life, and their collaboration result is incredible. Utilizing pop art, color, scale, and whimsy, this home is unlike any other.
Read MoreIn January (during Chicago’s Polar Vortex), I had the privilege of photographing work by Interior Designer Kaylan Kane of Olive Juice Interiors.
Read MoreMy church family is Missio Dei Wrigleyville. They have multiple congregations throughout the city, but Wrigleyville hosted its 10-year celebration October 12, 2018 called the All-Family Gathering.
A dear friend and mentor of mine Melissa Pillman asked me to design some floral arrangements for it, and I was thrilled. I loved this color palette, the texture, and shape of these pieces. It was a ton a fun, and such a honor to decorate a place that has become so integral to my own life and relationships.
Read MoreOn September 30, 2018, Chicago’s non-profit arts organization AOKI hosted it’s inaugural fundraiser event SEEN / UNSEEN at The Frances Chicago.
AOKI’s Founder and Executive Director Aiyana Taylor invited me and my friend Alicia to be among the artists showcasing their work. There were painters, a textile artist, a ceramicist, a musician, a spoken word artist a chef, a baker, a dancer, and we were asked to create a “botanical installation.”
Carrie and Dan’s September wedding was for the books. Not only did I photograph this wedding, I also did their floral design, and my husband Andrew did their videography.
From Carrie’s shimmering champagne gown #1 (she had an evening one, too!) to their Pampas Grass installations, their family’s backyard wedding was uniquely theirs.
Read MoreMeredith and Tony’s venue Prairie Production was an incredible space to work in. With it’s historic charm, natural light, high ceilings, and white canvas, the flowers, greenery, and details were able to speak for themselves. All in all, Meredith and Tony’s wedding was a wonderful experience for me – as their floral designer and their friend. Without further adieu, here are gorgeous photos from Meredith and Tony’s special day captured by the wonderful Louie Abellera and Tony’s sister Meghan Bradley.
Read MoreA couple months ago, Jamie Tubbs – owner of sustainable textile artwork biz Prophet Gypsy Robot – invited me to capture some branding photos for her. I was thrilled because I've been a fan of her work since I first encountered it about a year ago.
Previous to meeting Jamie, I'd suspected her mission and values aligned with what I love to share on this blog. And when we met and began talking about her experiences in entrepreneurship, motherhood, faith, and living in Chicago, I was quickly affirmed in that. Jamie's journey, perspective, and wisdom are the very things I aim to feature and dialogue about with you here.
Read MoreIn mid-November, I was given the opportunity to photograph a few new gowns from wedding dress designer Sarah Seven. You'll find modern lines, sexy silhouettes, and layered lace. My vision for the shoot was to keep it simple and let the gowns, light, and space do the talking.
Read MoreIn September of 2017, the briskness of fall was fast-approaching, and I really wanted to make the most of our outdoor time. So my friend Devin Sutter and I decided to call some of our favorite people and see if they'd like to attend a small last-minute gathering. As luck would have it, they were all available.
One of my and Devin's favorite things to do is to create a beautiful experience for people – we prioritize community and ambiance. And that almost always involves flowers, food, and most likely, a libation. For this one, we went with an autumnal-inspired warm Apple Cider Old Fashioned.
Read MoreIn collaboration with fellow photographer Chloé Sheldon, we present an elegant, urban bridal shoot. You'll find minimalist gowns with modern silhouette; leafy-creamy florals; sophisticated styled dos, mouth-watering vanilla cake with earl-grey frosting and strawberry filling, and a Chicago loft space as the backdrop.
Read MoreAlexandra (Allie) Sundet and I met at least six years ago at small group. Our paths have criss-crossed as acquaintances for over six years now, and I've always admired her journey from afar through church and social media. I finally got a chance to interview Allie about her faith journey, her work, and where they intersect.
She's a natural beauty with fantastic style and sense of humor. But more than those things, her heart for equality, ethical business, and tuning into her gifts to serve others is why she radiates.
Read MoreI met Elissa and Ian at their abode on a perfectly warm summer Saturday afternoon. And I had a blast capturing a bit of their love as we wandered the neighborhood with their quirky cute French Bulldog Waffles Benedict.
Read MoreThis styled shoot was in collaboration with Nimble Well, Altissima Cake, Field and Florist, BBJ Linen, and Devin Sutter at Blue Plate Chicago's gorgeous new space. You'll find a masterful take on a monochromatic color palette with velvety mauve linens, burgundy ranunculus galore, and edible roses. You, too, may swoon over the brassy gold details, the creamy lace, and the very best light.
Read MoreToday I'm sharing my interview with 27-year-old floral designer Brie Pflederer of Splendor of Eden. I discovered Brie's textural and garden-inspired florals through the Rising Tide Society. With my own adoration of flowers, I was drawn to her organic and varied arrangements. From peonies to poppies, jasmine to scabiosa, and our favorite: ranunculus, I've been so inspired (hello heart eyes emoji!) by Brie's work.
On a gorgeous April afternoon, she invited me down to her Pilsen abode to document her design and prepare for a wedding.
Read More
