I was born into a big, footloose family in Long Beach California. We soon moved to Texas, and eight schools and 12 years later I was working as the head cook in a Chinese restaurant, and taking pictures while earning my journalism degree at the University of Arkansas. I worked for more than a decade as a newspaper photographer—a job that let me chase another passion, concert photography.

In 1989 I joined the staff of Southern Living Magazine as a senior photographer for Travel. That was so much fun I stayed for almost 25 years, shooting hundreds of features, and logging more than four million frequent flyer miles. Now freelance, I still love creating story-telling images. My years of photographing music, food, and culture have made me adept at putting people at ease and working in a relaxed, energetic style.

Two recent projects include the tasty guide book Alabama Barbecue-Delicious Road Trips, and the National ADDY Award winning What Happened Here Changed the World. That book, documenting historic Civil Rights sites across the South, was recently presented to the board of UNESCO with the aim of gaining a World Heritage Site designation for the Civil Rights Trail. I also completed all the photography for the new US Civil Rights Trail website https://civilrightstrail.com

I am represented by Wonderful Machine, while my classic concert work is represented by Rock Paper Photo, the definitive place for pop culture fine art photography. https://www.rockpaperphoto.com/browse-by-photographer/art-meripol More of my concert work can be view at oldschoolconcerts.photoshelter.com

I’m based in beautiful Birmingham, Alabama and always packed and ready for the next shoot. When I’m not on the road or on a shoot, you can find me walking our two dogs, cooking dinner, or playing Disc Golf.

Editorial work

Magazines:Southern Living Magazine, Coastal Living Magazine, Weight Watchers, Cooking Light, NY Times, National Geographic Traveler, Preservation Magazine, Wall St Journal, USA Today, Covey Rise, Farm Life, Oxmoor House Books, AAA Magazine, Cooking with Paula Dean, Bake From Scratch, Business Alabama, Arkansas Life, Stern, Birmingham Home and Garden, Alabama Magazine, First for Women, Covey Rise, Columbia.

Books:Alabama Barbeque-Delicious Road Trips, What Happened Here Changed the World-US Civil Rights Trail, Southern Living 50 Years, Christmas With Southern Living. Southern Living Books-Off the Eaten Path-Second Helpings and Off the Eaten Path-On the Road Again.

Clients-Corporate and Agency

Havas Chicago, Cracker Barrel, Big Cedar Lodge, Alabama Dept of Tourism, USGA, Peter Mayer Group, Luckie & Co., Marriott Renaissance Hotels, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Little Rock Arkansas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Hot Springs Arkansas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Asheville North Carolina Convention and Visitors Bureau, University of Alabama Med Center, Intermark, Delta Faucet, University of Montevallo, Indian Springs School , Pure Temp, Tiny Prints. Time Inc Media Group, Meredith Publishing, Hoffman Media, Cahaba Media Group, Daly Hotel Management, Logicore, Cayenne Creative, CJRW, Journal Communications, BlackBenack, Antoines Restaurant New Orleans, ArchitectureWorks, Markstein.