Today we’re getting up close and personal with two of the most amazing girls inside and out that I know here in Chicago! Meet Heather Mowatt and Mary Graves! I originally met them both through work, but we quickly all became much closer friends and realized we shared a passion for photography and have been able to bond over hilarious outtakes and style snapping sessions.

This blog wouldn’t be the same without them and I know I’m very thankful to have them both in my life. We’ve had such a blast learning more about photography together, but I wanted everyone to know more about them! Mary and Heather dished on where they’re from, their favorite spots in Chicago and their personal go-to’s for photography and style.

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M A R Y

Originally from  //  Tuscon, AZ

Favorite hometown shop  //  W Boutique. Tucson doesn’t even have Nordstrom, little boutiques are the place to shop!

Best hometown restaurant  //  Vivace, hands down best Italian. Family favorite and tradition for every visit home. 

Most recent getaway & where you stayed  //  San Diego to ring in 2014. Stayed with my bestie from home and her fiancé at their cute apartment in Cardiff, CA.

Camera and lens  //  Canon Rebel T3i, and a 50 mm f/1.8 lens

Favorite Photography Tip  //  Don’t hesitate! Hesitating can mean the difference between catching or missing the perfect emotion, lighting or background. On that same note: After learning the hard way, I always keep my camera on Continuous Shooting.

O N   C H I C A G O

Moved to Chicago  // A little over 9 years ago! (Holy Smokes!)

Lives In  // Wicker Park

Describe Chicago in 3 words  //  Exciting, deep rooted, thriving

Favorite restaurant  //  Hot Chocolate, my local brunch and weeknight dinner spot. Sometimes pop in for their hot chocolate to go.

Favorite bar  //  The Charleston. Three words: Cozy, Whiskey, Photo Booth 

Your best kept secret about the city  //  Zebra Piano Bar
 

O N   S T Y L E

 Define your style in a few words  //  Classically feminine with a punch of boho or sport at times.

 Favorite place to shop  //  Bloomie’s for the big brands like my favorite Joie, and for the best selection of denim. For Vintage gems, Very Best Vintage

Personal best color combination  //  Black or Grey with Black skinny jeans.

 Style Icon  //  Olsen Twins, I’ve loved them & their style since the 90’s. ‘Elizabeth & James‘ just solidifies their fashion vision

Item you can’t live without  //  My Prada Saffiano tote. Black, durable and versatile, I take it everywhere

Best beauty product  //  YSL‘s blue mascara. Makes your eyes pop!

If you could have lunch with a designer who would it be?  //  The Rodarte sisters, Kate and Laura. One of my besties from home works for them in LA. I have been following them for years & love everything they create. It’s inspiring to see two young, passionate women move up so quickly in the fashion world.

H E A T H E R

Originally From  //  Zionsville, IN 

Favorite hometown shop  //  Pitaya! All the girls shopped there in high school.

Favorite hometown restaurant  //  This restaurant called Big Dave’s had the most amazing cinnamon rolls and cinnamon/sugar bagels that we used to eat all the time before school. Also, if you’re ever visiting Indianapolis you have to go to St. Elmo’s Steakhouse– a classic.

Most recent getaway & where you stayed  //  Colorado- we travelled all over the state but my favorite spot by far was Vail, CO. We stayed at The Sebastian, which was amazing. I would highly recommend Vail in the winter and the summer, it’s beautiful.

Camera and lens  //  Nikon D3100– I have two lenses in addition to the lens that came with the camera. A fixed zoom 50mm f/1.8 and a telephoto 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6.

Favorite Photography Tip  //  Aperture, aperture, aperture! I personally think aperture can change the way a picture looks more than anything. The aperture changes the depth of field in the photo. Typically for portrait photography using a low f stop gives the photo a really cool appearance and makes it look professional. I usually shoot f/1.8 – f/3.0 when I take Christine’s pictures. 

O N   C H I C A G O

Moved to Chicago  //  4.5 years ago

Lives In //  Lakeview

Describe Chicago in 3 words  //  Fabulous, festive, fun

Favorite restaurant  //  There are so many good restaurants in Chicago that it’s hard to pick! I love Quartino, GT Fish and Oyster, and Girl and the Goat. But, there’s this Thai restaurant on Halsted called Noodles in the Pot and it might be my favorite- their food is so ridiculously good that I could eat it everyday. It’s a hidden gem.

Favorite bar  //  I like Stout, Old Town Pour House, and American Junkie. Old Town is my favorite area to go out in.

Your best kept secret about the city  //  A few good spots for photos are the North Avenue Bridge, Lower Wacker on the Chicago River, Diversey Harbor, and the top of any parking garage with a skyline view (such a clear view of the city). They make for great landscape/ architecture photos and great backdrops for portraits.

O N   S T Y L E

Define your style in a few words  //  Feminine, simple, comfortable, fun, classic

Favorite place to shop  //  I am really bad at picking a favorite, but I think Gap, Old Navy, Express, and Zara are great for day to day outfits and they’re all reasonably priced!

Your personal best color combination  //  I love coral and turquoise in the summer. I think brown and white looks very chic for winter especially if accessorized well.

Your style icon  //  Olivia Palermo– she can pull anything off! I’m super jealous of how good she always looks. She could walk outside in a brown paper bag and look put together.

Item you can’t live without  //  The Urban Outfitters Aztec Sweater I’m wearing in this post- you can wear it to make any outfit look stylish, and I always get a ton of compliments when I have it on

Best beauty product  //  Urban Decay Naked Palette – I’ve heard two and three are also amazing but the original is my personal fave

If you could have lunch with a designer who would it be  //  Tory Burch. Not only does she have so many beautiful pieces, but she has risen to success so quickly and carries herself with class. But most importantly, I want to lunch with her because she is technically my sister- we were both members of the (best) sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, in college.

To follow Mary and Heather, you can check them out on Instagram: @maryegraves and @heathermowatt. You’ll definitely be seeing and hearing more from these ladies in the future!

xo,