Diana graduated from the New York School of Interior Design in 1979. She has spent her entire career in the design field and visual communications. She started out as Design Director with Charles Hix Studios in Hickory, NC. She worked as a set designer and Design Manager for other studios until hired to become Advertising Director for Broyhill Furniture. Later in her career, Thomasville Furniture hired her to spearhead their national Marketing and Photography efforts. After leaving Thomasville in 2006, always wanting her own studio, she initiated the opening of Diana Parrish Design & Photography in January 2007. “I am a people person and enjoy being with family and my furry son, Bo.”

Melissa brings over twenty years of office management experience, specializing in data management and client relations. The photo studio business is new to her, but she has quickly applied her organizational and multi-tasking skills to this role. An unexpected surprise, when joining DPDP in Nov of 2020, was that she would fall in love with Photoshop! She quickly began taking classes on the side and learning the art of Photoshop, out of pure fascination. Sadly, she’s too busy as Production Manager to be able to do Photoshop as a profession, – but who knows what the future holds?! Melissa lives in the country and enjoys raising chickens as a hobby with her husband Gabe. (By the way, those are the nicest chicken houses any of us have ever seen!)

Charles received his BFA in Photography from East Tennessee State University in 1997 and came to North Carolina that same year. Charles has a great eye and extreme attention to detail. He works hard at not being too much of a perfectionist, but it comes in handy in this business. Charles has been with Diana for the last 12 years. He is avid runner and a bit of a health nut.

Alex graduated from Randolph Community College in 2003 with an Associate Degree in Photography, and has been shooting professionally ever since. He first fell in love with photography shooting black and white film, when he did all his own developing and printing back in the mid-’90s. “I have been working with Diana and the DP team for over 10 years now, where I really feel like I’m part of the family.”

Graham has been “behind the lens” since high school and pursued his passion for photography by earning a degree from Randolph Community College. Graham has been working as a freelance commercial photographer and video editor for many years. He and his wife live on a farm with their 3 children.

Evan earned his Associate’s Degree in Interior Design with Honors from Randolph Community College in 1998. He has over 20 years experience in the field of interior design to include studio, showroom and location projects. He always strives to challenge himself creatively and to provide his clients with an unparalleled final product. Evan is honored to be working with such a talented and dynamic team.

Rachel attended Appalachian State University and obtained a BS degree in Interior Design. She works freelance with most of her time here at DP. Her favorite thing to do is just being with her husband, and her two sweet daughters Darby & Libby, in the sun and, on the water.

Sharon has been working in the design field for over 30 years and has worked with DP for over 11 years. She worked with several studios before joining Viewpoint as their first Design Director where she remained until moving to Nashville, TN, and turned freelance. Sharon’s interests outside of design are cooking and taking cross-country motorcycle trips with her husband.

Jessica has a discerning touch with softgoods and an eye for great design drives it. Her experience in on-set styling makes her a most valuable member of the team. For the past fifteen years she has been perfecting her craft and is an expert seamstress of draperies, bedding, pillows, etc. So needless to say, Jessica enhances every shot she is involved with at DPDP! Jessica is someone who livens up every set and the entire building, upon entering! Her positive attitude and gorgeous smile is all anyone needs to make work enjoyable and energetic. Outside of work, Jessica is a wonderful Mother to her nearly-grown children, and loves hairstyling and fashion. (Oh, and she’s gorgeous!)

Adam found a passion for the furniture industry while working for Lexington Furniture and Thomasville Furniture. While at Thomasville, he worked with Diana on many projects and proved his loyalty by joining DP in 2016. In his spare time, Adam is very active with his children and the children in his community. 

Tim worked in the furniture industry for 25 years as an expert upholsterer and well-rounded “jack of all trades,” beginning his career in a large commercial photography studio. Coming on board in 2007, Tim always arrives 30 minutes early to get things started each day. His outside life? “I love to fish and spend time with my grandkids.”

Ritchie began his career at Norling Studio in 1984, just like his twin brother, Robbie. He has 30 years of studio carpentry experience and learned from the best in the business. He was hired when Diana formed the company in January 2007. Ritchie is innovative and has a problem-solving mind and always keeps a positive, upbeat attitude. “When I am not working on carpentry projects in my hundred year old home, I enjoy doing volunteer work in my community and at my church.”

Eric has been working with the DPDP team for over seven years, but worked with Diana for over a decade, when she was a client and he was with a long standing agency and location business. Needless to say, he’s most experienced and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Eric is a perfectionist in all he does. We call him a “Renaissance Man”, as he travels through Europe during his time off, is a gourmet cook, grows his own herbs, makes his own craft beer, and is an expert artist with oils and watercolors. His personal photography only adds to his arsenal of creative stash! How fortunate we are to have him in our midst!

Grip has been with the DPDP team since 2010, and his name is really “Grip”! He is a careful handler of our vehicles and the expensive furnishings we rent for our clients’ shoots. He often helps with painting sets, but is actually a painter of fine art; that is his passion. In 2019 he wrote his first novel and it was published. How fortunate we are to have a man of his talents among us!

Originally from Long Island, NY, Jim moved to NC in 1998 and considers himself and North Carolinian. He graduated from Guilford College in 2011 majoring in History and minoring in Political Science. Jim feels lucky every day to be a part of the DPDP team, striving to make sure the client is happy no matter what. Outside of work, Jim enjoys hiking, running, and yoga.

Affectionately called “Mello” by our team members, Melvin has been with DPDP for about three years. He has excelled here, since he walked in the door, having been a grip for other studios in our area. He loves the difference in our operation, so has become rather exclusive to our studio, and we are happy for it! He always stays a few steps ahead of the photographer he is working with, and the design team loves him, because of his pleasant “can-do” attitude. He always has a smile for everyone, and if there is a cloud in his sky- we would never know it, by his demeanor every day!