Mary Barella Photography

If you want portraits that feel natural, warm and true to who you are, Mary Barella is a portrait specialist based in Durham who specialises in creating professional headshots and personal portraits for individuals and businesses across the North East. Why choose Mary? Her approach is deliberately relaxed and informal — she understands that stepping in front of a camera can be daunting and her friendly, conversational style quickly puts people at ease. Mary’s background as a teacher means she’s practiced at guiding people of all ages and levels of confidence; the result is expressive, authentic images rather than stiff, posed pictures. She cares deeply about the little details and spends as much time editing an image as she does making it, so every final photograph is thoughtfully finished. What makes her approach special is the focus on storytelling and usefulness. For business clients she creates headshots and portraits that work across websites, LinkedIn, social media and print — images that reflect your brand values and make a human connection with your audience. For personal portraits Mary concentrates on capturing character and personality: gentle direction, natural light and locations that suit you help bring out real moments rather than forced smiles. She’ll liaise with you beforehand to plan the look and purpose of the shoot and can advise on styling, poses and practical details so you get images that actually do the job you need them to. How she works: every session begins with a pre-shoot consultation so Mary can understand your goals and make sure the shoot is tailored to you. On the day she creates a relaxed atmosphere where you can be yourself — whether you prefer something studio-neutral, outdoors in a favourite Durham spot, or in a workplace setting to show you in action. After the session Mary carefully edits and prepares images, delivering high-quality files cropped to the sizes you’ll need and ready to use. She is fully insured and committed to clear communication throughout the process. Mary’s passion for photography comes through in every portrait she makes: a gentle, attentive approach combined with professional craft. If you’re looking for professional, approachable portrait photography in Durham that highlights who you are — personally or for your business — Mary will work with you to create images you’ll be proud to use and share.