50 Essential Portrait Photographers: Carrie Marshall of Carrie Marshall Photography

Photographer Carrie Marshall is a mother of two girls and has been happily married for 15 years. She loves hiking in the canyon with my dog Henry and after, sitting outside at Delaney’s drinking a yummy latte with her buddies. “Life is good!

Tell us a bit about your company.

I didn’t intentionally start this business. It found me. My kids were little, and they were my priority. However, I loved taking photos and often did for friends and acquaintances. One day, I was photographing a friend and her family on the beach and a woman approached me for a business card. I didn’t have one at the time, but soon got them after that!Ê I don’t advertise, which keeps my exposure limited by design. I work with clients who have almost exclusively been referrals from other clients good ol’ word of mouth. This is a wonderful way to find clients, because there is a comfort to it for everyone.We aren’t working among strangers. They have seen my work already, and trust me from the start.

How would you characterize your style of photography?

I love to capture emotion in my photographs. I don’t start a session with an agenda or a preconceived notion of the final product. Rather, I try to capture the relationship of the family in candid moments.I photograph those moments and feelings that my clients will want to remember 10 years from now. When my clients see their photos, I want to give them back what they felt in that moment.I want to capture the truth. And I stress how important it is for the parents to be in the photos. Really, these photos aren’t for us.We have them taken for our children. They become a gift for the future that grows with time. When our children look back at my photography, I want them to see you laughing and playing with them.

Who are your clients?

My clients are mostly North Shore families. I live on the North Shore and I like working close to home; it allows me flexibility in my work schedule and more time with my family. The North Shore also provides a beautiful backdrop for my photography. I like to work with other photographers who are like minded, referring them to clients in their area.Ê As you can see, there are alot of talented photographers in this city! I feel more in control of both my work and my family this way, and that makes me a happier Mother/Wife/Photographer.Ê It’s been a perfect balance for me.

What should your mom clients expect when working with you?

One of the most important things I tell my clients is that it’s going to be a very laid back photo shoot. We all want great photos of our kids but if the parents are nervous and stressed, the kids will be too. So being relaxed about the kids, their behavior, their clothes…all that is very important. I don’t make very many demands on my clients, except to have fun with their kids and forget about me!

Anything else to add?

I love what I do. I still can’t believe that I get to hang out with great families, take photos, have a blast and get paid! It’s the best job I’ve ever had. And for me, theÊicing on the cakeÊis sharing the results with the parents. I get very excited and can’t wait for them to see the shots!