Check Out Marissa McDaniels’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marissa McDaniels

Hi Marissa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started my business back in 2011- I was just a teenager but I am so grateful I started my website as that has helped me with my SEO having an older website. It took me awhile to have faith and make the full leap into entreapunership. It wasn’t until COVID where I was forced out of being a bartender that was my comfort zone to start thinking outside the box. Once, I focused on my photography I sky rocketed with many sessions that it was hard to keep up. Over the years I have been relearning boundaries in my business and balancing work and family life.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
You don’t learn on smooth roads! Being an entreprenuer is learning how to balance everything, keep learning and embracing the change. A huge thing that I am still learning is asking for help and building my team, Which, I have been working on the last few years and ready to level up my team here this year and the next.
A constant theme for my struggles has been taking on too much and learning my time management so it doesn’t affect my mental health, burn out and family life.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an all around photographer. I know they say niche down but what is the fun in that when I love doing boudoir, branding for companies. Most of my clients are families & couples. I help plan surprise proposals, engagements, elopements to large weddings.

I am proud of all my work and the couples I get to meet that trust my creative eye and show up being vulnerable and ready for me to guide them through the photography process with a fun and edgey spin to everything. I want everyone to feel confident and ready to take on the world. That is my outlook in life that I love to share. Every day and everything is beautiful if you just look and believe.

What sets me apart from others is my personality and editing style. I have the ability to connect with anyone. I am very personable and have many interested and been in many different walks of life that I can connect with so many people. My editing & shooting style is romantic, moody, documentary & editorial with deep and moody colors.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was pretty similar to how I am now. I had interests in everything. Everyone thought I was going to be a veterinarian with how many animals you would see following me home from the bus stop. I was always training an animal, finding one and trying to fix it up if it was injured. I did go to school for a bit to be a vet but dropped out for many reasons and started training dogs while I bartended. I have ALWAYS taken photos and had an interest in being a model. I took classes for modeling and always had a camera in hand capturing life and making it beautiful.

I grew up a little country, little city. I rode horses, always was on a mountain adventure and exploring. I enjoyed playing with the neighborhood kids with any sport. I was usually always in a cute outfit but that never stopped me from getting dirty if the occasion called for it. I have always been all in, fearless and confident and I love to spread that to the world.

Pricing:

• 600 Portraits, Boudoir, Couples (engagement, proposals & just cause)& Family Sessions (1 Hour)
• $5,500 All Day Wedding Coverage. I have other packages that go off hourly needs. All packages influde film photos, timeline, shotlist and mood boards personalized to your wedding day!
• Branding- Different packages for different needs starting at $650

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lightrae.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightrae_exposures/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LightRaeExposures

Image Credits
@lightrae_exposures