Diary

Posts tagged portrait photography chicago
Portraits of Eleanor McQueeny

The past few years have been an absolute fever dream, and while I managed some wins in my career, I definitely felt like my creative work had to be put on hold with the pandemic. Thankfully I had the chance to meet Eleanor McQueeny during this time, the sister of a dear friend of mine, who I found to be absolutely inspiring. She’s a recent graduate from RISD and creates not only her own stop motion films, but puppets, clothing, and illustrations—she’s truly gifted across many mediums. Together we managed to begin breaking out of our Covid comfort zones and enjoyed a day of photographing some of her favorite creations. Eleanor’s work is strange and unusual yet surprising endearing, I’m excited to see where she goes next.

Photography, Art Direction & Styling by CASSIE SCOTT Fashion ARTISTS OWN

Eleanor with her puppets “Beau”, “Residual Shame” & “Hung”

 
 
Portraits of Marsden Kelly
kenleyheadshots2018-231.jpeg
kenleyheadshots2018-409.jpeg
kenleyheadshots2018-323.jpeg
kenleyheadshots2018-268.jpeg

I met Marsden after attending a friends improv show at Second City in Chicago a while back. She's also a part of the comedy improv group Thicc & Emotional, and a stand up and writer in her own right. When she asked me to take her portrait I jumped at the opportunity. I love shooting creative people from all walks of life, especially ones that do things I find very hard, like writing and getting on stage. Before we shot, she expressed a desire for her queerness to show through in the photos, as a femme lesbian sometimes visibility is an issue since you don't have the "usual" lesbian markers associated with more masculine presenting women. How to go about this was a unique challenge I welcomed, and I ultimately settled on borrowing from an age old advertising troupe; disembodied women's hands symbolizing sex appeal, only this time it's women only. Said hands are yours truly.