Dear Meraki is the whole boutique-package
You may have noticed I’ve been offering more mini sessions held in studios. It has been fun to add various studios in the mix of my outdoor sessions and bring you the opportunity to capture your memories in a unique environment. So far, I have been to a good handful of studios but my experience at Dear Meraki was beyond my expectations - trust me, it’s the whole boutique package!
Why Dear Meraki?
Literally, it’s all-around beautiful. There’s natural light coming in from the eastern facing windows. There are multiple unique sets. Each one with stunning neutral boho vibes, tons of natural texture and endless opportunities to create. Google says the meaning of meraki is “doing something with soul, creativity, or love” and I can honestly say my experience of creating there was just that!
What to expect
While most studios send you a code to get in, at Dear Meraki you’ll be greeted by someone from the studio when you get there! As first to the studio, the attendant gave me a personal overview of each of the studio’s features including a small kitchen area with beverages, bluetooth speaker to set the mood, a powder room, and an introduction to each of the sets including what can and should not be moved within them.
The website boasts “vintage, rustic, bohemian.” I was certainly drawn to the rustic bohemian style but admittedly I didn’t really take into account the vintage part. While I LOVE vintage the idea of vintage can be sometimes synonymous with antique-like or delicate. In some ways it took me back in time to visiting my great grandmother’s house as a kid - I would be curious about all the knickknacks but my mom would whisper “that’s a pretty pretty” which meant it was for looking and not touching. Don’t get me wrong, things in the studio can definitely be touched (LOL) moved around and designed to our liking. I would just recommend this studio for the families and couples who aren’t in the chaos-wrangling phase of rearing kiddos. Think instead: couples, maternity, babies, and families with kiddos a little older.
But don't forget...
You can totally take this advice and shove it out the window if you want. Mad props and a huge shout out to my model family who, if you can’t tell already I recruited before coming up with the above advice and it still turned out BEAUTIFUL. Our 15 minute mini-session was just enough time to get in, snap some memories, and get out. The boys (and I) may have been a bit out of our element in this space but we were nonetheless able to capture what model Mom Alicia noted as “a perfect representation of us at this phase” - which is always my goal!
Getting there
Dear Meraki is located adjacent to downtown Dallas in the Cedars neighborhood at the Southside on Lamar building. For those unfamiliar with the Southside on Lamar it is a historic downtown building originally serving as a warehouse and distribution center that now boasts apartments on top and several businesses on the bottom floors - where you’ll find Dear Meraki! Free parking is available in the Southside on Lamar Retail Parking which is caddy-corner across the street, just a short walk from the building.
I highly recommend giving yourself a 20 minute buffer before your session appointment to give yourself time to park, check out Opening Bell Coffee, and meander along to the studio. After your quiche or coffee at Opening Bell, it is a decent walk (imagine walking from one department store to another in a shopping mall) along the ground floor to the other side of the building. If you want to ask for directions you’re looking for suite #101 but it’s hard to miss the studio!
Come create with me on April 15th - Hope to see you there!
