A smiling woman with dark hair and tattoos, wearing a black lace top, covers one eye with her hand adorned with turquoise and silver rings, and rests her other arm on a light-colored chair.

I tell stories in pixels, paper, and portraits—blending beauty with strategy to help creatives stand out, show up, and sell with soul.

You’re in the right place if you’ve been searching for a creative partner who gets it. Someone who understands how overwhelming it can be to bring all your big ideas to life—especially when you wear all the hats. Whether you need visual branding that actually feels like you, headshots that show your spark, or scroll-stopping design that converts—this is where the magic happens.

I work with multi-passionate creatives, business owners, and visionaries who are done playing small. Together, we make visuals that don’t just look good, but work hard—because strategy and beauty aren’t mutually exclusive.

Hi, I’m Mary Klaren—photographer, designer, and creative Swiss Army knife.

A woman with dark hair in a bun, wearing large black glasses and a black and white checkered blazer, stands pensively in front of a wall decorated with various colorful pictures, illustrations, and posters.

With over 15 years of professional experience and a background in journalism, film photography, and branding, I’ve helped hundreds of clients—from influencers to chefs, coaches to corporations—create visuals that are as functional as they are beautiful. I studied photography at Pratt Institute in NYC and currently work full-time in tech sales while running my own creative studio. I’ve photographed everything from castle weddings in Ireland to bold editorial campaigns, and I bring that same storytelling instinct into every project.

Why I offer Both Photo and Design

My journey started with a hand-me-down camera and a love for storytelling. I was a broke teenager shooting weddings on weekends, learning everything I could while designing pages for my high school newspaper. When it came time to build a website for my photography, I taught myself how to do that, too—and people noticed. Soon, others were asking who designed my site, and I started taking on small design jobs. Design became my winter side hustle for ten years, and when COVID hit and weddings came to a halt, it naturally became my full-time focus. But I quickly saw a pattern: my design clients didn’t have strong photos to match their brand. So I picked the camera back up—and the two worlds finally came together. Today, I use both design and photography to help creatives build cohesive brands from the inside out. I'm self-taught, deeply curious, and fueled by mentors like Jenna Kutcher, Marie Forleo, and my own real-world experience—plus a full-stack design bootcamp from Skillcrush to back it all up.

What it feels like to work with me

Working with me is a mix of collaborative creative direction, strategic clarity, and just enough structure to keep the magic flowing. I ask thoughtful questions, bring big ideas to life, and never force you into a formula. Expect moodboards, laughter, playlists, and a finished product that feels aligned, elevated, and effective.

My Process

Clients have described working with me as "empowering," "transformative," and "the first time I felt like my business actually looked like me." My work has been featured in regional publications and has helped my clients book dream collaborations and clients of their own.

01 Inquire

Fill out a quick form so I can learn about your needs.

02 Collaborate

We create a moodboard, plan the shoot or project, and nail down the details.

03 create

You get intentional, professional visuals designed to make your brand shine.

A woman with dark, pulled-back hair, tattoos on her arms, wearing a white blouse and black pants, holding a large brown handbag, standing on a patterned red rug against a plain white wall, smiling and looking sideways.

I’m not here to pretend I’ve got it all together.

I’ve negotiated six figure deals while bouncing a baby on my hip. I’ve photographed ballroom weddings with a baby on my back because the babysitter bailed. I wear black constantly because I’m clumsy and spill stuff on myself all day. I’ve made mistakes that make my imposter syndrome feel real. And I’ve cried happy tears with clients who finally saw themselves reflected in their brand for the first time.

I’m a single mom of three, and I’ve built this creative life in the margins—during nap times, late nights, and lunch breaks. If you’ve ever felt like an outsider orlike you had to do things the hard way, I want you to know there’s space for you here. That’s not a weakness. That’s your edge.

A young girl in a dress and headband stands in front of a woman taking her picture inside a home near a door with sunlight coming in. The girl is facing the woman who is kneeling and holding a camera.
Young woman with short dark hair smiling, wearing a striped apron and paint-splattered shirt, holding a paint roller, standing in a room under renovation, with buckets and tools around.
A woman with dark hair, wearing glasses and a checkered blazer, leaning over a table with papers and photographs, in a modern kitchen with a geometric patterned wall and a sink in the background.
A person sitting in a car at the passenger seat, working on a laptop, with an open notebook on their lap, and a landscape of fields and trees visible outside the window.

Let’s bring your vision to life.

Your story deserves to be told beautifully. Let’s create something unforgettable together.

Ready to level up your brand?

Need photos that feel like you?

Just want to say hi?