Capturing Essence with Imagery
Behind The Lens With Mary Dowdle
Mary Dowdle is the artistic talent behind Mary Dowdle Photography, her namesake. She is a renowned photographer who began her artistic journey in high school. Mary is one of 11 kids and as a child watched her mother develop a large photographic library of her family and siblings in action. Her love for portraits took hold immediately, and her passion blossomed into Mary Dowdle Photography, a portrait and lifestyle photography business.
When she first broke out on her own, she worked representing some of the world’s top photographers in fashion and sports at Stockland Martel in New York City. Initially, her job was supporting photographers and connecting them to projects at advertising agencies. The experience gave Mary foresight into the photographer/client relationship and motivated her to “get behind the lens.” Early on, she shadowed photographers and was willing to do anything she could to learn.
Mary took advantage of any opportunity to assist—including taking behind-the-scenes photos on set for commercial shoots and indie films. She also assisted wedding and portrait photographers. These early seeds ultimately grew her into a portrait and lifestyle photography specialist.
In addition to photographing families, Mary worked in film production and eventually fashion and clothing campaigns for TJX. In her film and fashion work, she carried through that same love for portraits and relationships. A key part of her journey was collaborating on a book about acting for kids titled “Break a Leg! The Kid's Guide to Acting by Workman Publishing”. On the heels of this project, Mary coauthored “Becoming A Ballerina: A Nutcracker Story" chronicling the experience of 12-year-old Clara from Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker.
“This collaboration taught me so much about the intense training of a young dancer. I was given access to auditions, rehearsals, costume fittings and performances, and backstage. I was blown away by the exceptional strength of this young dancer and enjoyed getting to know Fiona Wada Gill on her journey to Opening Night as Clara in The Nutcracker.”
- Mary
Mary’s experience shooting movement in a dark theater primed her for the photography and film work she now does at Scarlett Chase. As a freelance photographer, Mary takes on projects that “speak to her heart and let her collaborate creatively.” She describes working with Scarlett Chase as the “perfect opportunity to support such an amazing product made for women by women and honing in on the details and craftsmanship of the shoes”.
Her work at Scarlett Chase blends the movement of action shots with the glamour of high fashion, representing the hybrid nature of the product line. Mary’s vast experience in capturing sports enables her to capture our wearers dancing and running in Scarlett Chase. Her goal is to illustrate the amazing movement that can happen in these shoes. “They are shoes you can run in, jump in, dance in, and feel beautifully powerful in,” Mary explained. For Mary, her work is not just about capturing an image of a woman wearing these shoes. She asks herself, where is this woman going? What is her personal style? Who is this woman? Through her photos, she aims to “tell the story of the wearer being active and engaged in her life in Scarlett Chase shoes.”
The essence of her photography attempts to capture how Scarlett Chase shoes provide a beautifully streamlined look to your whole wardrobe while providing comfort and support to women on the move. This campaign for Scarlett Chase is intended to evoke beauty, comfort, and the freedom to move well in gorgeous shoes.
Learn more at marydowdle.com.
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