Creativity · Dorothy Perry · Photography · Vision

Dance Circle

At the scene called Sunday Service,

I’m so delighted I’ve got a spot

I can ‘put my hand on my hip and let my backbone slip.’

An additional pleasure is seeing photographs at every turn.

This child’s face of concentration lights the center

of a passionate crowd of dancing grownups.

Dorothy Perry is a Chicago artist photographing lifestyle portraits in intimacy and reality.

Fill out the Contact Page towards capturing your life in beautiful, life affirming art.

A Certain Way · Consciousness · Creativity · Perry Portrait Art · Practice · Vision

Ideas Of The Future

Over the years I have lived as a photographer, I have realized that being a creative artist has, over time, has enabled me to be a creative ‘see-er’, too!

I treasure and cultivate my ability to see things differently by actively listening, day-dreaming, and using counterintuitive ideas to access an ability to look at your questions in a fresh new way.

This discernment allows me to:
‘connect the dots’,
find new ideas / markets for your niche,
see new directions,
enhance and improve offerings,
and refine messages to reflect more accuracy.

It’s a great feeling when I hear:
“That’s a very good idea!”
“I haven’t thought about it but that’s a good idea!”
“I love this!!! I’m totally going to share it with my group tomorrow!”

Reach out here or via my website Contact Page, and I am happy to ‘take a look’ at a topic of interest for your business – or for you.

I feel that this way of envisioning will bring you an original idea or concept you have never heard before. And it’s my desire that it will benefit your life immensely!

Message me to reserve a consultation today!✨

Creativity · Energy · Perry Portrait Art · Photography · Vision

Conga Line

I love the conga line!

My cameras do, too!

It’s a dance the shy can do,

and the bolder ones can do with flair!

Group dancing is great for social skills practice

and positive social experiences,

a dance at a time!

Enjoy your events: Let me take the photos!

Contact Dorothy here.

Consciousness · Creativity · Energy · Perry Portrait Art · Photography · Vision

Stay

In birthdays past,

I have posted lists of things

I wish to accomplish,

or something I hope

may be of interest to you as well.

This birthday, I simply ask to

stay grounded in reality.

My skill is capturing photos of family and connection in beauty

that will stay fresh and vital for years to come.

Contact Perry Portrait Art today!

Consciousness · Creativity · Family Portrait · Perry Portrait Art · Photography · Vision

This is Why


To witness the moment in photographs.

To record the beautiful grace of infancy.

To remember the elders, travelling to see their new young one.

To document time, place, and reality for the future.

To make good energy visible for the home.

To celebrate the two, becoming three.

To honor the spirit of family.

This is why.

If I can help record your family legacy with fine lifestyle portraits, I welcome your inquiry at http://www.dorothyperry.com/contact/.


Creativity · Energy · Perry Portrait Art · Photography · Vision

Group Photo


His dad asked for an updated image.

But rather than take a new one,

I sought an expression with staying power,

containing the potential

to stand in lieu of contact for months,

and soothe the pangs

of conscience and distance

until they met again.


To create a new or renewed image of a loved one in your family, let’s talk. Reach out through the Contact Page.

Creativity · Photography · Practice · Vision

Set the Tone


A local young bride’s wedding photographs are now ready for her home.

I was extremely pleased to have two heirloom frames to work with: these images look amazing in antique settings!

Another pleasure was in working with a younger person’s style of communication and relating.

So lovely to meet another who values images that hold an vibrant personal energy for her home. I whole-heartedly agree.


Dorothy Perry is a Chicago portrait photographer specializing in custom family portraits, modern headshots, & personal branding for women and executives.

 Contact her for commissioned work here. Thank you.

Consciousness · Creativity · Energy · Photography · Practice · Vision

Words From Friends

Sometimes, someone captures a beautiful,

evocative idea

to inspire the week ahead.

This quote by Epicurus

on a friends’ Instagram post

‘speaks’ to me today.


Do not spoil

what you have

by desiring what you have not.

Remember that

what you now have

was once among

the things

you only hoped for.


After years of chasing this dream

through the ups and downs of life,

I feel blessed and grateful

every time I look through the lens

at someone who trusts me

to capture a beautiful, personal moment

of their private lives.

If I can be of service to you or yours,

I appreciate meeting and working with you.


Dorothy Perry specializes in personal portraits imbued with deep feeling.

Contact her here.

Creativity · Energy · Perry Portrait Art · Photography · Vision

Original Face

Cease practice based

on intellectual understanding,

pursuing words and

following after speech.

Learn the backward step

that turns your light inward

to illuminate within.

Body and mind of themselves

will drop away,

and your original face

will be manifest. — Dogen


This ancient poem

holds the energy

of what I choose to see

in the world around me –

and what I seek to create.

Contact Dorothy here to commission portraits

that stand the test of time.


A Certain Way · Creativity · Energy · Photography · Practice · Vision

Notice What You Notice

I have always had an affinity for quirky, unconventional heroes in cartoons, books and movies.

It has taken me years to understand why these heroes attract me so.  The skill of using this type of attention and focus is the result of a system called reticular activation.

Imagine thinking of a special color, then slowly but surely starting to see that special color around you, and in many things you see throughout the day. The reticular activator filters and curates the pictures, patterns, and connections you are subconsciously thinking about.

Now I know that ‘as within, so without’, I use it now to help me notice what I am noticing – as a way to confirm if I am indeed moving towards the goals I seek.

My interest in cartoons and paladin-type heroes are that they embody a creative mindset, a never-give-up attitude, and ability to adjust with zen immediacy to whatever comes their way, all the while maintaining their autonomy and personal inner values.

My ‘mentors’ walk out on clouds without falling, stretch like rubber, find clothes and wigs wherever they are needed, and never give up, even if at first they seem to lose!

The reticular activator is also the visible language of the inner spirit. I enclose an inspirational piece from another mentor, Napoleon Hill. 

A most beneficial use of time is silent meditation, while searching for guidance from within.

We all experience rare moments when a blinding revelation comes to us, when we suddenly see things differently than ever before. Usually, however, we learn the truth about ourselves gradually, over long periods of time, from quiet introspection.

We are all spiritual, but some of us have learned to tap more effectively into the great strength that resides in the spiritual portion of ourselves.

The spirit is not boisterous and noisy. Getting in touch with your spiritual self demands tranquility and solitude.

Make sure you dedicate a portion of every day to thought and study, to think and reflect upon your life. Choose a time and place that best allow you to relax your mind and devote your thoughts to reflection.

It is my hope that these thoughts and methods will help assist you in your search for purpose in your life.

All the best,