I once read somewhere that a photographer's web site is a lot like a business card. A web site usually has contact info, pricing information, samples of ones work etc. BUT- a photographer's blog-that's more like an introduction. It's where you become friends-can keep up and learn about the person without all that business mumbo jumbo. It has only taken me a year or so to finally get a photography blog going and even now it is a work in progress. I realized that if I keep waiting until I get it just right, then you'd probably never see it!
When I first meet someone, they usually ask, "So your name is Maryann?" while it honestly doesn't bother me if someone calls me by the wrong name, I'll usually respond with, "No it's Marion, like Maid Marion in Robin Hood." They will usually laugh, but after that, they remember. Names are important. Have you ever met someone and been surprised when they knew your name? Before I shoot a session I always want to know everyone's names-especially the children's. The bridge of a child being uncomfortable and becoming your friend comes much faster to cross when you can call them by name.
So here I am, the Marion behind Marion's Photography. Like most people, I wear many hats and there are days I struggle to keep all the wheels turning. I am a follower of Jesus, the Daughter of the One True King and very active in my church, Morningside Baptist. I'm the wife to the most amazing man who encourages me and loves me daily, even on my worst of days. We have four crazy-fun children, aged 12 to 2. We also homeschool those crazy-fun children-which yes, is crazy...but also fun! Lastly, I'm a photographer who passionately loves to capture memories to savor for generations down the road to share. I also love to write and there have been many times I've been able to combine the two. The Lord took a passion for photography and turned it into a profession, allowing me to live my "American Dream"!
My sweet tooth always craves Dr Pepper, coffee ice cream and Peanut M&M's (but not all together!). I love to wake up to rain on a morning that I can sleep in and not go anywhere. I love to read-though I hardly ever have time to do it anymore. I have a new found love for working in my garden and I'm visually seeing my patience pay off as sunflowers are blooming. A huge weakness of mine is grammar-I'm terrible at it, so please forgive my mistakes! One silly thing I would not like to live without would be my Rainbow vacuum cleaner-love that thing! I really like to try new recipes-my sisters and I are always swapping new ones we find (so please feel free to share your family favorite meals anytime!). If you opened my fridge, you'd probably find a tub of homemade chocolate chip cookie dough-ready to bake fresh cookies from the oven-just the way my husband likes them. One day I hope to go to Tuscany to photograph the beautiful sunsets-but in the meantime I'll enjoy the amazing colors of a Georgia evening sky. No matter how tired I am, I will stay up a little later to do dishes just so I can wake up to a clean sink! Waking up to dirty dishes makes me feel like I'm barely out of bed and I'm already behind for the day! I love when my house is quiet and I can listen to Sara Groves and edit a recent photography session or write. On the flip side-I also love when my house is full of laughing, playing (nice!) children. Kids remind me that a lot of life can be determined by your perspective. They can turn a towel into a cape, a tree into a pirate ship and they can say the silliest things that are also so full of wisdom! Life is never boring raising four children; there are all kinds of moments, but never a boring one! I grew up the oldest of five so I guess I've always been around contained chaos!
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| My Crew! |
So in a teeny-tiny nut shell-this is me. I hope that through this blog we can become fast friends. It is my plan to share with you future sneak peeks (along with the stories behind them!), some photography secrets, giveaways and most important-a glimpse into the person behind the lens as I grow in this photography adventure the Lord has blessed me with! Please leave comments, ask me any questions and subscribe to the MP Blog! I look forward to hearing from you soon!
As a side note, I thought it might be fun to post a few pics of me working. Many of you know that for weddings and big events, I work as a Mother-Daughter team! My mom comes along as my assistant. She is a great second shooter and is wonderful at making sure I don't miss any of the little details. We really have the best time working together! God has blessed me so much with her support and her friendship! Mom also has a fun time snapping a few of me working! Here are just some from the last few weddings we've worked together. Some of these are SOOC so nothing fancy-but still fun for me to see what a goof I look like ;)
