How Holli with an i Photography works:
We work collaboratively - you share your vision and needs, and I help make it happen! We create plans to achieve the photographs that you need and want.
To start the process, we pick a date for your session that will fit your timeline, and have a consultation to plan out all the details. Through Video Conferencing, we talk through the ideas and needs you have - the why and how you will use your photos. This helps with your package selection, and then a booking deposit is invoiced, paid and you're ready to roll!
It's as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4 steps to having your photos ready:
1 - Consultation
The first step to amazing photographs is a consultation meeting!
You talk about your plans for the photos - what message or campaign are they supporting? This video conference meeting helps determine how to work with you and create the possible images for you.
2 - Portrait Session
This is the time to shine, and I provide direction while paying attention to the details to provide a fun, timely photo session from a Mini Headshot Portrait to a full Branding campaign!
3 - Selection
Within 3 business days, you get an online Proof album to preview and select the BEST photos that support your vision and package using a heart button. Then you share your retouching requests.
4 - Delivery
Your images are fully retouched based on your preferences, and optimized for your needs within 5 business days. Then, they are delivered through the digital album service as a ZIP file all together or individually as JPG files.
my business story:
When Holli with an i was first launched, I was focused on sharing and selling fine art nature photography at the West Seattle Art Walks and craft fairs back in 2012.
As my work evolved, I branched out to focus on branding and business photography work at Native Light Photo and after 9 years, I chose to bring them together as a new iteration of Holli with an i Photography
I am happy to work with clients both in studio and outside, even going on-site outside of West Seattle. I've traveled as far south as San Diego, California and as far north as Anchorage, Alaska.
ABOUT HOLLI...
Holli with an i is the creative way I grew up introducing myself!
Born and raised in West Seattle, I have always found inspiration in both nature and art from museum galleries to street art to the fine art my mother or other relatives have created.
I love history and our family stories. I remember being mesmerized by family stories shared by my Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents. Part of my role in my extended family has been the archivist of very old family photographs. This is on my Native American - Eastern Shawnee family side. I also have Norwegian and Croatian as well as other European ancestors.
It's through seeing my ancestors in photography, especially of my Great-Grandfather, an Eastern Shawnee citizen, that I see just how much a photograph adds to our histories. My Grandpa Nichols was a photographer himself, and it is his camera, one of them, that I used started my journey using 35mm film. I still have it and sometimes use it for special projects. It feels like an honor to be able to use it.
I believe photographs can help us connect. They help us connect with our loved ones, our history, our story. In business, photographs can help us connect to our ideal clients.
My vision is to support your journey and create space for you to have a photography experience that's pain-free and fun! It's my mission to help you shine.
Self-portrait celebrating part of my heritage as an Eastern Shawnee Tribal Member of Oklahoma.
my background
The most common question I get is, "When did you become a photographer?" I smile and usually ask, what counts?
As a child, I was fascinated with photography. My Mom has a story of finding me with her camera in my hands, and I took my first photo of her at age 2. Then, she would occasionally let me use her camera to take a photo of her or my little brother. In fact, I won my first award when I was 6-years-old at the Puyallup Fair (before it became known as the Washington State Fair). It was this portrait of her at the right.
Then for my 10th birthday, my Dad bought me my first camera, a Polaroid! It loved taking photos of my family, and even posed my stuffed animals and toys to create scenes for portraits.
My love for photography grew when I attended Peninsula College and took my first photojournalism class. I experienced the magic of the darkroom and wrote for the school newspaper. What I learned was that I couldn't take photos of everything. I covered a breaking story where I photographed a traffic accident and felt awful for days afterward.
Instead, I took my photojournalism skill set and focused on Wedding photography for a time. Then, motherhood and life found me photography natural beauty in nature and people.
Today, I continue to learn and love helping people through photography that celebrates and supports their life.
And, I've discovered I love teaching too! Photography is one of the most accessible forms of art out there, especially with digital technology advances and SmartPhone cameras. While I started through our local college's Continuing Education program, I now host classes for individuals and small groups for people of all ages. It's pure magic to witness someone discovering all of the tools and exploring the world of photography!
Portrait of my Mom when I was 6-years-old.
my Why
Family and the legacy that photographs provide are foundation to why I continue to create.
My family helps support my passion by dreaming big with me, and being willing to jump into an array of ideas I envision like this Pandemic family portrait, a composite image.
This was created with each portrait put together in Photoshop. It really took the whole family to get each cat to look the right way toward the light!
Pandemic family portrait by Holli Margell. Yes, it's a composite made from individual portraits.
Awards
The Portrait Masters '24
This Senior Portrait is of my son playing the Tenor Saxophone. A huge honor to have this more artful recognized by The Portrait Masters International Portrait Competition.
The Portrait Masters '22
When our youngest decided to cut off 5-years worth of hair growth, it was time to celebrate the milestone with an art portrait. Delighted this won a Bronze award!
The Portrait Masters '21
Such a fun and amazing time photographing these two sisters! I loved creating a portrait that showcases their unique talents. To have it recognized as a Bronze with Distinction by the Portrait Masters International Portrait Competition is a huge honor.
Professional Associations
Member since 2014
I'm grateful to be among the thousands of Professional Photographers of America who strive to be a supportive and elevating community.
Member since 2015
My local chapter of Business Networking International is a wonderful community of small, local business owners. I'm grateful to be a part of the chapter.
Member since 2023
The Northwest Native Chamber is a wonderful resource for Native tribes, Native owned businesses, and Native Non-profits organizations. It's a wonderful resource for membesr, and those who want to support them.
Career Spotlight Podcast
My husband Casey and I started this Podcast in February 2022 - we host conversations with people from a variety of career backgrounds. We find we really enjoy talking to people about how they chose their path and where their lives took them along the way. Learn more at careerspotlightpodcast.com
