Mary Rafferty Photography

I’m honored to share a recent milestone from one of my longtime clients, 

The at Williams Bay, nearing the completion of construction on the shores of Geneva Lake, is a powerful vision in progress. Designed by Jeanne Gang and the team, the Center will serve as a dedicated space for accomplished women to gather, collaborate, and shape new approaches to complex challenges.

Last summer I joined a group of community leaders and partners toured the site, documenting the first look at what will soon be a place where meaningful conversations and future impact will unfold.

Grateful to the teams at Lincoln Road, Studio Gang, and all collaborators involved in bringing this important space to life.

Portrait of .alao for the of Management’s Evening & Weekend MBA program 💜👩🏾‍🎓

We followed several students balancing full-time careers and graduate studies, Victoria stood out as both a regulatory professional and a dedicated travel influencer. Nigerian-born and always on the move, she embodies the spirit of flexibility and ambition that defines Kellogg’s part-time program.

My photography project Do You See Me? explores the personal histories, strengths, and points of view of African-American women in Chicago. Through the intimate process of both collecting and sharing these personal stories, my work captures moments that document women’s experience in contemporary, social and political times. Their handwritten responses are digitally overlaid on the portraits, which furthers the intimacy of the project. As a white female photojournalist, I feel compelled to bring greater equity to the images of women in our culture, and I am inspired by the stories of the women I have met through this project. Together, we create the collaborative pieces that ask - Do you see me?

Executive Vice President of Programs for the  ,  , for  Leadership Stories. Not only was Tina generous with her time but she also brought the positive vibes. Grace and I had fun as always and got some BTS with Obama, of course! We wrapped with a Near North Montessori alumni pic of Tina,  and me - Tina and I were both parents at Near North Montessori School and Grace is a proud graduate. Great minds think alike 😉

Portrait of Kerry Buchar, an alumni of the of Business, commissioned by Tory Brecht for of Ledger Magazine.

Kerry is the managing director at Protiviti, and we photographed her along the Chicago River on a hazy July day when Canadian wildfire smoke turned the skyline into a painterly backdrop. 🌆

Women in STEM are so amazing! Angie Mercurio’s journey from engineering student to nLab CEO showcases the power of matching your passion to an area in desperate need of innovation. Through participation in Kellogg Zell Fellows Program, she’s scaling a solution that makes electrical engineering accessible and exciting for everyone. This was an assignment for Kellogg Magazine at the Garage at Northwestern.

I really enjoyed this latest cover story assignment for the fall edition of Indie Stylist Magazine. The assignment was a story and photo spread for the 2025  Hairstylist of the Year, Twylla Jane, owner of  in Naperville, IL.  ‘s story is one of resilience, hard work, and all with high highs and low lows. She was generous with her time, organized and came prepared. What a dream! ✨

Amy Klein, Creative Director for Indie Stylist, created a mood board of what she was looking for but also gave me the freedom to introduce my ideas and expertise. So fun to be creative together.

We also had great extras with Twylla’s 2 Sphynx cats keeping us company and posing for us for 2-3 seconds at a time. 😻

Charlie Branda, founder and director of , was the winner of the silent auction branding session with me 🌟 We chose the block that inspires Art on Sedgwick’s mission, connecting the homeowners along Sedgwick with the residents of the Marshall Field Garden Apartments through creativity and community. 📸

Toy maker and game designer Mike Lichodziejewski, a University of Illinois alum, is the mind behind beloved games and toys for Hasbro and Tomy International, including Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out and Zootopia characters, Operation, and the gross-out family favorite, Gooey Louie.

We set up an assortment of Mike’s toys in his Chicago studio to accompany an article by writer Jamie Malanowski. This assignment for The Illini News spotlighted how Mike’s inventive spirit fuels his business and enriches playtime for families everywhere. Thanks to Claire Plump for the assist 👯‍♀️

Chicago is looking good! Love a polished portrait with city vibes 👏