Our September client of the month is gorgeous pinup model and influencer Cherry D'Lish! Cherry is a longtime friend, client, and collaborator of Marilee's, logging dozens of shoots together over the years!
Here, she shares some of her experiences working with Marilee Caruso Photography...
Cherry's favorite experiences with Marilee:
It's kind of hard to narrow down what a favorite experience would be simply because they are all so different and fun. We've shot on location, with planes, with cars, at her studio, in a park, at a mansion, and by a bridge. And that's just to name a few of our experiences of working together. I think a lingering top contender shoot would be the black and white set we did early on. It was a one look set that took us over 8 hours to complete because we were laughing and playing dress up and not at all paying attention to the clock. Some other favorites have been shoots we did on location for clothing brands. The shoot at the Tower Bridge in Sacramento for Tatyana Clothing was great because we had to really work quickly together while navigating the crowds. I also loved the experience of shooting at the Leland Stanford Mansion in Sacramento for Vintage Vandalism simply because the location was incredible and it was the perfect backdrop for the clothes. Another favorite was our Christmas set we did a few years back with the peek-a-boo butt onesie. We laughed so hard during that shoot I cried because what could be funnier then trying to take cute pictures while mooning your friend/photographer??
On some of their most meaningful publications:
Marilee and I have so many publications at this point it's hard to keep track! One that always sticks out in my mind is the Bombshell Magazine cover we got a few years ago with our pink flower wall set. I really hold that publication in high regard so it meant a lot to be published in it. I also have a soft spot for the Anti-Valentine's Day cover with Retro Lovely Magazine. Retro Lovely was the first magazine I was ever published in so getting a cover felt like a full circle moment. I have also been in or on the cover of several of Marilee's publication or calendar. I'm really excited and honored for Marilee's 2024 calendar as I am on the cover!
Cherry's favorite images by Marilee:
Am I allowed to say that they are all my favorite images? This question always gets me because the minute I think I have picked a favorite I suddenly think to myself, "Oh what about...?" And the mental debate starts again. I will say I absolutely love the images we took of me in a tiger print dress at a local park. I look at those and they make me feel like a Disney Princess. Another favorite image is the one from our Vintage Vandalism shoot in a burgundy dress with the fall colored trees in the background. I love the fully body black and white shot from many years ago and literally all of the images we shot at Madonna Inn. The list goes on and on.
On why they work well together, and why Cherry trusts Marilee:
I think that Marilee and I work so well together for one simple reason. We have become friends. At this point we have been working together for 11 years and have done 30 shoots together. There is a certain level of comfort that you reach after working with someone so much and an understanding of how that person works. I will also add that from shoot one Marilee showed me that I could trust her. I trust that I am always going to look my best after working with Marilee and that I will have beautiful images to show for it. When you find a photographer to work with who you can trust to that level and feel instantly comfortable with it's almost inevitable that you become friends. She is the best, both professionally and personally and I am equally grateful for her talent as I am for her friendship.
Why Cherry chooses to work with Marilee:
I choose to work with Marilee because she never lets me down when it comes to our end result. I get to hang out and feel pretty with someone that I adore AND I get beautiful, high quality images as a result? You really can't ask for more from a prospective photographer. When you book with Marilee you know for a fact that when you are done you will have more of your favorite images to add to your portfolio.
