Today we’d like to introduce you to Mallory Bertrand.
Hi Mallory , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m Mallory Bertrand I am an artist, photographer, and unapologetic creative spirit. Growing up as a military brat meant constantly moving, but one thing that always stayed with me was my love for art. Whether it was painting, drawing, crafting, or just observing the world through an imaginative lens, creativity has always been my way of connecting, coping, and expressing myself.
Eventually, I found myself rooted in East Tennessee, where I built not only a life but a purpose. I’ve been a photographer for several years now, focusing on alternative, spooky, and emotionally powerful themes that celebrate individuality and authenticity. My camera is my tool for storytelling capturing people in ways that make them feel seen, empowered, and celebrated.
Over the past year, I’ve started to dive back into creating art beyond photography designing sets, painting, crafting, and exploring new forms of expression that bring together all the weird and wonderful things I love. My work is deeply influenced by my passion for horror, Halloween, queer culture, and community.
At home, I’m lucky to share life with my amazing husband, our two wild and wonderful kids, and a small crew of pets who always keep things interesting.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all, the road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been incredibly meaningful. Building a creative business, especially one rooted in alternative, spooky, and horror-inspired art, comes with a unique set of challenges. I’ve had to carve out space in an industry that often favors trends over individuality. My work doesn’t always appeal to the mainstream, and that can make visibility and consistency tough at times.
There have definitely been moments of doubt, slow seasons, financial strain, and the balancing act of running a business, working a day job and while raising a family. And with the economy being unpredictable, there’s added pressure to make it all work. But despite the struggles, I have made it work Passion has carried me through, and even though this path hasn’t been easy, it’s mine!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At Mallory Bertrand Photography, I specialize in alternative, spooky-inspired, and emotionally charged photography that celebrates individuality, self-expression, and empowerment. I’m especially drawn to people and stories that fall outside the “norm” the misfits, the weirdos, the ones who’ve been told they’re too much, too loud, or too different. My work is for them.
I’m best known for creating immersive, one-of-a-kind photo experiences. I design and build my own sets, often with a horror or fantasy twist, so each session feels like stepping into another world. Whether it’s a dark fairytale boudoir shoot, a haunted self-love session, or a themed portrait dripping in mood and magic, my goal is to make people feel powerful, seen, and celebrated in their own skin.
I embrace the strange, the raw, and the bold. My work is unapologetically niche, and I think that’s what makes it impactful. I create safe, judgment-free spaces for people to show up exactly as they are, whether that’s spooky, sensual, emotional, or just plain weird. I want every person I photograph to walk away feeling like a work of art.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I get asked sometimes about my favorite childhood memory, and honestly, it’s hard to pinpoint one. Growing up as a military brat meant constant change, new places, new schools, new faces. It didn’t leave much room for consistency, or those deep-rooted childhood moments people often talk about. But if I had to choose, living in Belgium stands out as a bright spot. The beauty, the culture, the art, it was the first place I truly felt inspired by the world around me. It sparked something creative in me that’s never gone away.
Even though most of my childhood felt like a blur of movement and transition, Belgium gave me my first real taste of how powerful art and environment could be. That experience helped shape who I am as an artist today. I may not have had a typical childhood full of warm and fuzzy memories, but I learned early how to find beauty in the in-between and that’s something I carry into everything I create now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mallorybertrandphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mallorybertrandphotos
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MalloryBertrandStudios
