If you have been following Dyad for a while, you will have seen Amori Birch's work, even if you did not know it was hers. She has been the makeup artist behind our shoots for years, bringing the same approach every time: refined, skincare-led, and never trying too hard.
Amori found her way into beauty by accident, nudged in the right direction by her sister on a gap year afternoon, and has spent the last 18 years building a career that spans editorial, bridal, nails, and skincare. She is also a proud single mom to an almost three-year-old little boy, and somewhere in between all of it, she recently took three Dyad bags through Northern Italy.
In this conversation, Amori discusses navigating creative freedom and client expectations, what travel does for her creativity, and why becoming a mother has completely changed the way she thinks about beauty.
Tell us a little about yourself and how you found your way into makeup and beauty.
I'm 38 years old and a proud single mom to an almost three-year-old little boy. I've spent the last 18 years in the beauty industry, with most of my career in fashion makeup before specialising in bridal over the past five years.
I actually found makeup by accident. After school, I took a gap year because I wasn't sure what I wanted to study. My sister, who worked as a fashion stylist at the time, came home one day and said, "I know exactly what you should do—you need to become a makeup artist." She'd met a makeup artist on set and thought it would suit my creative personality perfectly.
We found a makeup school, went to visit it that same day, and I enrolled. A few months later, I started my diploma, and I've never looked back. It turned out to be exactly where I was meant to be.
Your work spans editorial shoots, weddings, nails, and skincare. How do you navigate the balance between your own creative expression and what a client expects from you?
I think each part of the industry requires a different approach. From a bridal perspective, every bride has her own personality, style and vision. It's never about creating the look I want—it's about listening, understanding what she wants, and using my experience to enhance that vision and make her feel like the best version of herself.
Fashion, on the other hand, gives you a little more creative freedom. You're still working to a brief, but those briefs are often more artistic and allow you to experiment and push boundaries.
I really enjoy having both. Bridal plays to my strengths—beautiful skin, skincare-led makeup, longevity and timeless beauty—while fashion keeps me creatively inspired. They complement each other really well.
How do you express yourself creatively outside of your work? Is there anything that surprises people about how you unwind or stay inspired?
I think creativity isn't something I switch on just for work—it's something I try to nurture outside of work too.
People are often surprised that the way I recharge has very little to do with beauty. For me, it's being outdoors—dancing, moving my body, hiking in the mountains, spending time by the ocean, soaking up the sun, enjoying good food, travelling, being with my son, my girlfriends and around animals.
Nature has a way of resetting me, and I've found that when I step away from makeup and reconnect with the things I love, I come back feeling far more inspired and creative.
You have worked with some incredible local brands, Pichulik, Good Clothing, Crystal Birch, and of course Dyad. What has been the most memorable shoot you have ever worked on, and what made it stand out?
One of my favourite shoots was the 2015 Jack Parow album cover. My sister, Crystal, was the stylist, and she cast all of us—her assistant, her agent, me, Xander's manager and his girlfriend—in these completely ridiculous outfits.
It was absolute chaos in the best way. We laughed all day, everyone threw themselves into the concept, and more than a decade later it's still one of the most memorable shoots I've ever been part of. I think it perfectly captures what I love most about this industry: creative people making something great together.
Where do you find your creative inspiration:
I find most of my inspiration outside the beauty industry. Nature is probably the biggest one for me—being in the ocean, hiking in the mountains, travelling and simply slowing down. That's where my mind becomes clear, and new ideas tend to come naturally.
I'm also an avid podcast listener. I enjoy conversations with people who think differently and challenge perspectives, particularly on The Diary of a CEO. I find that hearing other people's journeys and ways of thinking inspires me just as much as visual inspiration does.
Quick Fire:
People, Hard to say.
Places, Italy!
Art, Kintsugi and definitely dance
Nature, being in the mountains and floating in the sea
Podcast, Diary of a CEO
You recently travelled overseas with your Dyad bag. Where did you go, and what was the trip about?
The trip was a combination of recharging and exploring future opportunities. I travelled through Northern Italy—from Milan to Lake Garda to the Dolomites, Tuscany, Portofino, the Cinque Terre and Genoa.
It was a chance to slow down, experience the Italian way of life, and immerse myself in the culture, architecture and landscapes, which I found incredibly inspiring. I also used the opportunity to do a bit of networking and explore the possibility of working in Italy in the future.
For me, travel is one of the best ways to gain fresh perspective, both personally and creatively.
A good bag on the road has to work hard. How did your Dyad bag hold up, and what did you end up carrying in it every day on your overseas trip?
I was lucky enough to travel with three different Dyad bags, and what I loved was that each one had its own purpose.
My small tan bag became my everyday essential. It was the perfect size for my phone, lip balm, cardholder and a few little souvenirs I picked up along the way.
For longer days exploring and hiking, I used the bag with the pink scrunch strap. It was lightweight, comfortable to wear crossbody, and had enough room for my sunscreen, sunglasses, water and other daily essentials without ever feeling bulky.
Then, for travel days, I reached for the larger butter shoulder bag. It easily fitted my makeup bag, personal items and shopping, and I loved that the removable pouch meant I could leave the bigger bag behind and just take the essentials when I popped into a café or shop.
I genuinely enjoyed rotating between all three because each one suited a different part of the journey.
Travel has a way of shifting how you see things. Did the trip influence your creativity or your approach to beauty in any way?
Absolutely. Travel has definitely influenced my creativity and my approach to beauty. It reminds me that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Every culture has its own aesthetic, traditions and way of expressing itself, and I find that really inspiring.
Italy, in particular, reinforced my love for timeless beauty. There's an effortless elegance there; you notice the quality, the craftsmanship and the appreciation for natural beauty rather than excess.
I think that's carried into my work. It has made me even more intentional about creating makeup that feels refined, enhances the person wearing it, and stands the test of time rather than following trends.
Has your view of beauty changed since you’ve been a mom?
Absolutely. Becoming a mom completely shifted my perspective on beauty. It made me realise that beauty isn't about perfection; it's about how you feel.
As a mom, time is precious, so I've learnt to appreciate beauty that's simple, efficient and effortless. I believe makeup should enhance your confidence, not become another pressure or expectation.
Ironically, becoming a mom has made me value beauty even more. Taking a few moments to care for yourself isn't vanity; it's self-care. When you feel good, you carry yourself differently, and that's the kind of beauty that really lasts.