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

A Moveable Feast

In the early nineties, I cut my teeth working for local weekly newspapers like the Defender, New City, and the Chicago Reader.

I loved seeing the interiors of cafes and restaurants in natural light, where the simplest things created artistic still lives, and photographed my meals before eating.

The food magazine Saveur was an inspiration to me, as for what could be done in capturing the zest of the real things happening in creating food,

and sometimes when I was lucky, I was able to photograph the people beginning the prep for the evening menu.

I got assignments from a SF startup called TurnHere and another called Seamless, photographing the dishes of local restaurants in their settings that would be included in their online advertisement.

My favorite assignment was shooting images for a book about local ‘greasy spoon’ diners, who found me by an image of the quirky scenes at Chicago’s famous White Castle.

Yes, their tiramisu tasted GREAT!

Moving into digital and past newspapers, I began to photograph for walks, special events, and expos, and photographed private events such as the Chicago WineFests in their various locations through the year.

Chicago Winefest – one of my favorite clients!

Past clients have included Sweet Thang Bakery, Letizia’s Bakery and Spacca Napoli, not to mention the restaurants captured for the start up companies.

I love watching the ‘zen’ movements of master chefs.

I’m a behind the scenes type of person, so I really enjoyed capturing the graceful rhythms of chefs within crowded rooms and the skill in creating the dishes for their customers.

The simplest things are beautiful to me.

I always pinch myself that I really do the thing I love every day. And I’d love to have the opportunity to work with you, too!

Fill out the Contact Page for photographic art of your event or experience soon!

All the best, Dorothy

Creativity · Dorothy Perry · Energy · Family Portrait · Perry Portrait Art · Photography · Practice · Vision

Seeing the Big Picture

Be seen.

Schedule a time at your home for a really good photo of your family –

and enjoy it every day afterwards.

Dorothy Perry creates purposeful portraits in beautiful daylight. Contact her here.

Dorothy Perry · Energy · Perry Portrait Art · Photography

Show of Hands

I photographed their parents elopement portrait

and their blending families,

and amongst the official moments

of this special day, of a new life,

they created a new portrait

especially for me to see.

I wish their big, brand new family

many moments of unity, amity, and love.


Perry Portrait Art captures real families and their good energy.

Complete the Contact Page to envision yours.

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

Generosity of Spirit

waving good luck cat maneki neko

There is a generosity of spirit I continually refer to in dealing with others.

The best way I can describe it is intent, creation, and maintenance of a state of mind

that is flexible, open eyed, and playfully creative.

It trains itself to see abundance in the environment,

experiences simple, present-moment emotions of happiness,

maintains a grounded, connection with internal wisdom (quickly when needed)

and surrounds itself with reminders

to look upward and inward for its answers.

Consciousness · Creativity · Photography · Practice · Vision

Head in the Clouds

A counter-intuitive inspiration for today:

Any energy you ‘fight’ you are actually feeding.

If you are pushing something away, you are actually inviting it to stay.

To get the wisdom of a lesson, practice allowing

emotionally charged or upsetting feelings to happen

and then continue to pass through you like clouds.

In time the feeling could be re-framed as your internal signal

to get into quiet or nature, or to pay attention to the part of yourself

calling to you for attention, compassion and healing.

Contact Dorothy for custom photography here.

Creativity · Photography · Vision

The Dance of Life

With all that changes, some things still remain the same:

A couple decides that their two will become one (and added little ones, too!)

And the energy of their precious private moment

becomes an artistic testament to their love.


Do the photographs in your home thrill you?

If they don’t, call me! I do my best to see you at your Best!

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


Contact her for portrait photography here.

Creativity · Photography · Vision

Good Vibrations

One positive thought produces millions of positive vibrations.

John Coltrane

Send out a little ‘good vibration’ wherever you go!

Thoughts of your relaxed state, enjoying a beautiful song, enjoying nature, enjoying a cafe au lait in Paris,

feeling the air, sensing smells and sound until your body connects with the vision.

The key is increasing gradually the amount of time you can sit in this uplifted memory energy. Believe me, it feels great!

Can’t think of something right away? Get them all together and ready in one spot to go from one memory to the next.

Buy a special journal just for writing your good memories down

so that you are able to access your playlist of incredible whenever you need it!

This is specifically for memories that elicit feelings of love and happiness for you.

Some of mine are: My cat on my lap

Seeing rainbows during thunderstorms

Walking on the freshest green grass

Seeing a cardinal in a tree nearby

Seeing videos of my tiny granddaughter singing, etc…

This book is for your list of good memories; do not record ones that have tearful, regretful, or sad feelings.

Practice seeing the moments in your ‘mind’s eye’ until your body responds.

Whether or not it influences your environment immediately, you will be more awake and attuned.

The effects will emerge in awareness, improved experiences and a different quality of conversation.

Cheering for your success, Dorothy.

Dorothy Perry is a Chicagoan creating personal photographic portraits at home or on location. Contact her here for commissioned work.

Creativity · Photography · Vision

Loving Cup


With good will and applause,

I introduce my signed, special edition ceramic mug,

It beams out an artistic image of energy

to hold dark roast or Darjeeling.

I make it in single, a set of two,

and a set of four in which all have different energy designs.

Coffee is life. And energy.

I love making both.

Email perryportraitart@gmail.com for price.

These are a limited edition of eleven each.

Thank you for supporting a local artist.

Consciousness · Photography · Practice · Vision

Keep it Fuzzy

A valuable skill in our sensitive, seeing world

is relaxing the eyes’ focus (letting the eyes ‘go fuzzy’)

when waiting or resting.

It rests more than your eye muscles:

it also gives the ever-spinning wheels of mind a rest, too,

and lets your intuition come through

to show you how to see something new.


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

 Contact her studio for commissioned work.

Creativity · Photography · Practice · Vision

On the Easel

Today on The Easel, I have a contemplative photograph with subtle and elemental symbols that show something different each time you look at it. This ballet of shape and pattern occurred during a moment teaching photography on a snowy day on the far side of Chicago:



In the photo above, it is the photograph behind my head.

Bird on A Roof is 20″ x 30″ and made from fine watercolor paper with a deckle (torn) edge. Choose my neutral frame here, a different size, or an unframed version.

If you are interested in purchasing my art images for yourself or others, contact me for details. I love to see my photos in other people’s homes.


Dorothy Perry photographs for the joy of it as well as her professional work.

 Contact her for artwork or commissioned work here.