About the studio

The person
behind the lens.

I'm Myrtle Roy — a commercial photographer creating images that connect people to brands, places, and stories. Based in Northern Virginia. Working internationally.

Black-and-white portrait of a smiling woman with folded arms against a textured backdrop 
The story
MRoyPhoto studio lounge in Woodbridge, VA, with blue built-in bookshelves, velvet chairs and studio lighting

My path into commercial work started where most careers don't: in the headshot chair. Thousands of sessions taught me about lighting that no diagram can — how to make a person comfortable enough to look like themselves in front of a camera. That skill travels. It's why an executive relaxes in my studio, why talent opens up on an editorial set, and why event candid shots feel like moments instead of surveillance.

Every assignment gets the same two promises: a distinct point of view, and a production that runs exactly as planned.

From there the work grew — magazine shoots for regional publications, brand campaigns, corporate events. Today MROYPHOTO partners with editors, art directors, and marketing teams on editorial, commercial, and event productions, from single-portrait commissions to multi-day campaigns.

When I'm not on assignment, I'm shooting personal work — self-directed studies in portraiture and form that keep the eye sharp and the ideas fresh. Some of it ends up as prints. All of it ends up in the commissioned work, one way or another.

How every assignment runs

01 Prepared, not precious

Treatments, shot lists, and contingency plans before the shoot — so the day itself stays loose, fast, and creative.

02 People first

Subjects who feel at ease make honest images. Direction is calm, specific, and respectful of everyone's time.

03 Built for the buyer

Images are made for where they'll run — the spread, the campaign, the recap deck — with licensing spelled out plainly.

A home base in Woodbridge. A passport that gets used.

Studio & on location

The studio sits in Woodbridge, Virginia — minutes from the I-95 corridor and within easy reach of Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Baltimore. For everything else, production travels.

Eclectic living room with vintage portraits, studio spotlight, upholstered chairs, sofas, houseplant, and antique trunk
Studio
Full lighting grid, shooting bays, client lounge
Primary market
DC metro — DMV region
Travel
Available nationwide & worldwide
Turnaround
Proof galleries same week; events, next-day selects
Open camera bag containing a Canon camera, lens, leather camera strap, and photography accessories
Open camera bag containing a Canon camera, lens, leather camera strap, and photography accessories
Portrait studio set up on location inside a Gothic church, with stained glass, lighting and a green backdrop

Selected clients & publications

  • McLean Community Center logo
  • Mather logo
  • Closet Factory logo
  • McLean Living Lifestyle Magazine logo
  • Great Falls Living logo
  • Next Chapter logo
“Working with Myrtle took our event from standard to extraordinary. We developed a plan to capture professional photos throughout the evening and quickly share them afterward, encouraging attendees to post about their experience on social media. Our goal was to create excitement, and Myrtle was a true collaborative partner. Not only did Myrtle help capture the flair, excellence, and creativity of the event, but also delivered the photos quickly enough that attendees were still excited to share their experience. Working with Myrtle felt like having a thought partner who could take an idea and vision and turn it into action.”
— Rachel M., Community Relations LiaisonMcLean Community Center

Let's make something worth keeping.

Booking editorial, commercial, and event productions for 2027.