Iris Galerie is a small studio found on a corner in Olde Mistick Village in Mystic, Connecticut. This isn’t a typical photo studio. Iris Galerie claims to “highlight the uniqueness of your eyes by transforming their intricate details, vibrant colors, and individual patterns into personalized photographic artwork that is entirely yours.”
When you walk into the building, you are greeted by welcoming and friendly staff. They explain the background of Iris Galerie, the purpose, the process, and the things you can do with your photo after it’s taken.
After a brief introduction by the staff, you are asked to sit down in a chair in front of a camera setup. You place your head on a headrest. The staff may take only one picture or multiple to guarantee the best results. Throughout the process, the staff was kind and endearing. In our experience, the two young women, Michala and Jonairis, were both amazing. Michala ensured that we were comfortable and sweet. She gave multiple compliments on both of our eyes and made sure we were happy and relaxed throughout the entire process. The process took under ten minutes. Jonairis was attentive and kind, making sure she got all of our information correct, as well as teaching us about the history of Iris Galerie.
Once the picture of your eye gets taken, you preview the image, and then they take your email and full name to make sure you have access to the photo on the app. From there, you can see the multitude of ways your eye could be printed. There are multiple pieces of artwork like, frames of your eye, your eye as a charm on a bracelet, or a necklace and more. You can see examples on their website. They use the picture of your eye, specifically so you can get the full effect. If you decide on a favorite style and make the decision to purchase a piece, the artwork gets shipped to a European Laboratory to be created. After a few weeks, your piece is completed and sent back out to you wherever you are in the world. If you decide that you don’t want to purchase a piece, you can take photos of the slideshow and admire your eye that way. The entire process is free unless you choose to buy something. There is no charge for the experience or to take the photo whatsoever.
Some styles were abstract, making your eye look like a galaxy; others were simpler, like combining half of two different eyes to make a full picture. Chloe’s favorite style was the duo halo, while Ali’s favored the plain picture of the eye.
If you choose to order a piece of artwork after you’ve left the building, you can do so on the app. You just have to log in using your email, find your photo and complete the purchase as you would on any other app. We didn’t get the full experience because the app is still in development. As of now, you cannot make any purchases through the app because it is still in development. You can see your eye in the different artworks and pieces, but that is all. The range of each piece is from $80.00 to $500.00.
Overall, Iris Gallery was an unique experience that is hard to come across. We honestly cannot recommend this store enough. Whether you’re looking for a personalized keepsake or just want to see a high-quality photo of your eye, this place is wonderful. The amazing staff, the interesting history, the unique idea, and the overall experience get a 10/10 from us.
