We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marie Foss a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Marie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

At Marie Foss Photography, my mission is to capture stories of love, light, and life in their most authentic form. Photography is my way of spreading joy, kindness, and positivity—whether through traveling and sharing the beauty of the world around us or celebrating your personal and romantic journey. At its core, my work is rooted in the deep belief that love and light, in all their unique forms, deserve to be seen, cherished, and remembered.

I fell in love with photography for its ability to freeze time. Life moves fast, but photographs let us hold onto the feelings, memories, and moments that mean the most. Whether it’s an intimate elopement in a breathtaking landscape or a quiet moment between soulmates, I want my images to transport you back—to remind you not just of how it looked, but how it felt.

As your photographer, I seek to capture the warmth and romance of your most cherished moments, focusing on genuine emotions and intimate connections. With an artistic, cinematic touch, I create heartfelt, authentic images that tell your love story as beautifully as you and the incredible destinations that surround us. It’s about celebrating love in a way that feels warm, real, and epic—because your story isn’t just a moment; it’s a masterpiece. And I’m honored to capture it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve always been artistic. Since I was a kid growing up in Wisconsin, art and photography have been a way for me to express myself and bring beauty and warmth to those around me. As a photographer and a creative, I see and experience the world through a lens of seeking meaning in aesthetics and things that make you feel, whether it’s dance, music, travel, or visual art.

Noticing the little things has always come naturally to me—the way light interacts with nature, the texture of a building, or a fleeting moment of human connection. Growing up, I borrowed my parents’ small digital camera, taking turns with my sister to photograph flowers on family trips. In high school, I learned film photography and practiced portraiture by doing fun photoshoots and senior pictures for my friends. By the time I graduated college in 2021 and earned a BFA degree in Graphic Design, I had crafted my brand and established my photography business, capturing portraits, events, graduations, engagements, and weddings.

Over the past four years, my brand has evolved alongside me. Today, as a published professional photographer, I capture stories and memories both locally and around the world. With a unique artistic eye, I balance posed and candid moments that blend real emotion with a romantically cinematic perspective. I want every session to feel like a scene from a movie as a timeless, heartfelt reflection of my clients’ lives. I also strongly believe in caring about my clients and giving them a comfortable and positive experience every time. Above all, I want each person I photograph to feel welcomed, valued, and treated with kindness.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think some people view photography as merely transactional, rather than meaningful or creative. For me, being a photographer is more about transformation and transcendence, not transaction. Each inquiry and client is an opportunity and a spark of something new. During the photo session, laughs are shared, memories are created, and moments transform from life to image. The editing is a practice of creation and refinement, transcending the raw canvas into the final artwork. Each client and photo session is unique, inspired by my subjects, surroundings, and experience that day.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Some days I am just amazed by how much I have grown my business, having moved between several different cities and only being in Washington DC for less than two years. Upon further reflection, there are several things I’ve done for my business that have been incredibly beneficial to growing success and building a client base, even as someone who is continuing to grow.

1. Find your voice – When potential clients look for a photographer, it’s important to have a clear presence. Who are you? What makes you unique, successful, and reliable? How do you stand out? It can be so helpful to your brand and gaining the trust of your clients to not only have a strong and unique voice, but to also show up authentically on your website and social media.

2. Build your brand – Whether you hire a graphic designer or create/manage your brand yourself (like I did), good branding is a crucial investment in yourself and your business. A great brand includes a consistent but flexible visual presence, where each piece (logo, website, pricing guides, etc.) feels connected and part of the same holistic experience. Ideally, you should be using your brand to showcase your style and tell clients who you are and what your business is about.

3. Showcase your work – My biggest piece of advice for photographers (as one who has moved and rebuilt my client base in multiple cities) is this: go out, take photos, and post your work! Show that you are already active and established in your city. Or if you are looking to be a destination photographer, travel and take photos as you go. Once you get a few clients, you can build client trust and expand even further through referrals and social media. Creating a supportive network by connecting with other local photographers and creatives can be so beneficial as well. Connection is so much more rewarding than competition!

4. Keep growing – Never be afraid of growth. By continuing to evolve and grow in your photography skills and portfolio, you will inevitably garner more success. As you grow in your business, it is also essential to incorporate tools that help you continue to refine your business management and client experience. The more comfortable, easy, and professional your client and business management process is, the stronger your business becomes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mariefossphotography.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/mariefossphoto
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/mariefossphoto
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-foss

Image Credits

All photos courtesy of Marie Foss Photography.