We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marny. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marny below.

Marny, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

Looking back on my journey in photography, I do wonder how things could have been different if I had started earlier. Although it was a hobby of mine in high school, I didn’t consider it a viable career path. It wasn’t until I switched career paths a few years later that I felt like I could pursue photography seriously. Starting a creative career while also working a full-time job was both exciting and challenging. I think starting earlier would have given me more time to fine tune my skills and establish myself, but I don’t think I would have started off with as much confidence on the business side of things.

With that said, I am grateful for the journey that led me to where I am now. My previous work experiences provided me with invaluable knowledge that has helped me get through the non-creative side of running a business. Along the way, I’ve also gained insight into working with people from all walks of life, which has been essential to connecting with clients and capturing their authentic moments.

While part of me wonders how things would be if I had started earlier, I am very grateful and thankful for the opportunities I’ve gotten to experience that led me here.

Marny, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Photography has been my passion since I was young and I’ve always been that person whose phone storage is at max capacity storage. It wasn’t until my early twenties that I decided to pursue growing my passion for photography into a business. It all started with a film camera, and initially, I was drawn to architecture and landscape photography. After I got my first DSLR camera, I was going down the path of macro photography and loved focusing on the little things in life. Eventually I started to photograph people and it sure was a learning curve! It felt totally different from still objects but once I started to learn how to capture the moment instead of the pose, that is when the sparks started to fly. My goal with every session is to tell your unique story through meaningful moments. I love getting to know each person and their vision for the session, this helps me get creative ideas flowing and freeze those seconds that tug at your heart.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of my job is being able to document their special moments. It is truly an honor and privilege to be a part of their journey and I am so grateful I get to share these memories with them. Thank you all for giving me the opportunity to tell your story through my lens!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of my work is being able to connect with people and tell their story. My goal is to capture those moments that are often overlooked or forgotten, and turn them into memories they can look back on years from now.

Photography allows me to experience the world in a different way, express myself by highlighting moments of the everyday that carry an impact. Words can only go so far but with photography I am able to create something that is truly my own that no one has ever seen.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

You can never keep learning! Looking back on my creative journey, there are definitely some resources that I wish I had known about earlier.

One resource that has been incredibly helpful to me is online, and in person, communities and forums for creatives. These communities allow you to connect with other business owners, creative and photographers to share your work, and receive feedback and support. When I first started out, I didn’t realize the value of connecting with other creatives in this way. Recently, we have created a “Business Boos” group and it is a group of women owned businesses that get together and share what each other is working on, resources and tips to keep our drive going.

Another resource that I wish I would have utilized earlier is mentorships. Having a mentor, or enrolling in a mentorship, can provide guidance, support, and can help you navigate the ups and downs of a creative career. I was fortunate to have some great mentors along the way, but I definitely would have done more mentorship earlier in my journey.

I think investing in yourself is very important. Whether it’s attending workshops, taking online courses, or pursuing a formal education, there is always something new to learn and skills to hone to express your art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://emeraldlightphotographyy.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emerald.light_photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emeraldlight.photographyy