Meet Bridie

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bridie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bridie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Honestly, I’ve always had entrepreneurial dreams—I was that kid reading Fortune magazine and dreaming up all kinds of business ideas. Before Bright Box Image, I was working as a Creative Director at a small agency, which gave me a solid handle on process and team dynamics. When the agency got bought out, my role disappeared—as these things often go. But by then, I already had people reaching out. Some of my former teammates had started their own businesses and brought me in. So I didn’t really decide to start something—it just kind of rolled into place. The clients were there. The work was there. And my entrepreneurial brain said go.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always been wired to make things. As a kid, I’d lose hours drawing or messing around in the darkroom. That creative pull never left. Going to art school was the natural next step—not just to build skills, but to understand the context of what came before me: the artists, the thinkers, the cultural forces that shaped their work. That changed me.

During that time I found myself less interested in marks on paper and more drawn to the relationship between type, color, and image. I leaned into photography and design, and later into tech—because the how of things has always fascinated me. I love learning. I love solving problems creatively. And I’ve been doing this long enough to see trends come and go, which means I know how to follow my own eye.

These days, with AI hoovering up ideas and aesthetics at lightning speed, I think having actual point of view and thinking behind it—is more important than ever. What sets my work apart isn’t just skill, it’s sensibility and experience. I’ve built a toolkit across design, photography, content, and strategy that lets me create nearly anything I imagine—as long as it lives in two dimensions.

What I love most, though, is how this way of seeing turns the world into a playground. Creativity gives me a lens that makes everything more interesting, more alive. That’s what keeps me going.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Absolutely, hands down—a hike in Griffith Park. I’m there almost every week. If you make it all the way up to Mount Lee, just above the Hollywood Sign, the view is unreal. You can see the whole sweep of the city—from the ocean to downtown, all the way across the Valley. It’s the kind of view that makes you stop and remember how lucky you are to be alive.

Of course, not everyone can—or wants to—do that kind of hike. So my next go-to would be the Griffith Observatory. Sunsets up there are magic. You still get that sky-wide view of LA, but with a slower pace. Their little café is surprisingly decent. And if you want a charming spot to grab coffee, The Trails Café, nestled in the trees at the start of the park, is really sweet. Pro tip: park below and hike up to the Observatory—you’ll skip the $10-an-hour parking and get a peaceful walk overlooking the city as a bonus.

Another favorite for out-of-town visitors is a trip to Malibu, which has just recently reopened after the devastation of the fires. I haven’t been back yet, but one of the best spots to visit is Paradise Cove. It’s got a cozy beach and a restaurant right on the sand. If you time it right, you can catch a sunset that drenches the sky in crimson, purple, and blue—breathtaking Californian magic.

Lastly, I’d recommend a day at The Huntington Gardens. From the historic library to the desert cactus paths and the glowing rose garden, it’s one of the most stunning places in LA. The café there is also unexpectedly delicious—a lovely spot to sit and enjoy a fancy drink and wonderful meal.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout goes, of course, to family and friends—but also to the creative community around me. I live in Beachwood Canyon, and being part of this neighborhood has been a real gift. It’s full of curious, generous people doing interesting things, and it nudged me out of my comfort zone in the best way.

Two groups in particular positively shifted things for me. The first is Band of Singers, a non-traditional choir led by Maesa Pullman, where I sang with others, wrote songs, and actually performed—something I absolutely wasn’t confident or comfortable doing before. It completely rewired how I approach creativity. The second is 20 Minute Stories, a bi-monthly writing group led by Linda Gabriel. We’d write for twenty minutes and then share. For the first time in a long while, I was writing something other than client copy—and it felt like a real level-up.

Those two groups gave me the confidence to start something of my own: a monthly singing, yoga, and contemplative hike series in the Hollywood Hills with two friends. Another level-up. Another yes to the next brave thing.

Website: https://www.brightboximage.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridiemacd/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridiemacdonald/

Other: https://www.instagram.com/bridiexogo

Image Credits
All Photography and Design: Bridie Macdonald