Today we’d like to introduce you to Marlee Martin.
Marlee, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up, I was always a crafty, curious girl. I watched YouTube videos, made things in my room, and played with my American Girl dolls and at some point, I picked up my parents’ old dusty camera and started photographing them.
Looking back, those dolls were my first models, and honestly? The photos were great.
Photography and storytelling were always part of my home life. My dad was the one behind the camera at every sports game and family gathering, and my mom was the one who turned those moments into albums, one for each of us kids. Every birthday, she’d bring them out, tell us the story of our birth, and we’d flip through the pages. We probably acted like it was silly, but we loved it. That feeling of being seen, celebrated, and able to look back at your own life? It stays with you.
So I think the passion was always there, I just had to find my own way into it.
I started posting photos on social media, eventually moved from dolls to friends, and slowly began doing paid shoots. My first ones were $25, maybe $50 not much, but they were paid, and that meant something. All through middle and high school I was juggling multiple sports, keeping my grades up, and quietly building something on the side. I also ran a YouTube channel during that time, which is genuinely how I taught myself editing, storytelling, and how media works. Everything I know is self-taught whether it’s photography, video, business and honestly a lot of life lessons.
Now I run my own business and sometimes I have to stop and remind myself to appreciate where it all started. Just a young girl with a dusty camera, having fun, and seeing the world through a lens.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not and I think anyone who says otherwise is leaving something out.
In middle and high school, I got judged for having a YouTube channel. The online response was actually amazing, but it was the people I went to school with who wanted to be critics of something I was just doing for fun. That stung in the way only hometown opinions can.
Beyond that, the biggest early struggle was simply the busyness of being a teenager. I was playing multiple sports competitively and at school, maintaining straight A’s, keeping up a social life and trying to layer a side hustle on top of all of it. Booking shoots, editing photos, learning the craft, managing the business side none of that comes with a manual, and I was figuring it out as I went. This goes for my youtube channel as well.
Then there’s the challenge that I think a lot of creative people face: turning a passion into a business. Once money enters the picture, something shifts. You have to be intentional about protecting the love you have for your work, because it can quietly slip away if you’re not paying attention.
And honestly? My biggest struggle has always been myself. Imposter syndrome, perfectionism, the constant pressure I put on my own shoulders. I’ve always been someone who goes all in, straight A’s, college scholarship through sports, long hours and that drive doesn’t turn off just because I’m now running a business. I’m ambitious, I want more, and sometimes I have to remind myself that I’m one person and things take time to build. Learning to be my own biggest supporter instead of my own worst critic, that’s still a work in progress.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At its core, my work is about celebration. I specialize in portrait photography with a film-style, artistic approach, but what really drives me is the same thing that shaped my childhood: the belief that people’s lives deserve to be documented, honored, and looked back on with joy.
Growing up, my family didn’t just acknowledge milestones, we celebrated them. Parties, gatherings, the closest people around you. That energy is something I try to bring into every session. I want my clients to feel like this moment is entirely about them.
On the photography side, two areas that hold a really special place for me are maternity and senior portraits.
My maternity work has been really taking off lately, and that feels meaningful to me. There’s something special about seeing a woman in that season of life and being able to create art that she’ll hold onto forever.
Senior portraits are another big part of what I do, and honestly, they light me up every time. I work primarily with high school girls, and I never take that lightly. Those are some of the most vulnerable years, the comparison, the insecurity, the pressure. So when I can put a girl in front of my camera and watch her realize how beautiful and powerful she is, that’s everything. I love telling their story too. whether that’s the sports they played, the clubs they were part of, or simply a chapter of their life they want to remember. Seeing them light up is the whole point.
Beyond that, I shoot families, newborns, and work extensively in the commercial space with businesses and brands. A lot of business owners are stretched thin, and I genuinely love being able to step in, take that creative load off their plate, and help them look as professional and polished as they actually are. Whether it’s content creation, marketing assets, or full visual branding, I want to help move the needle for them.
What I’m most proud of isn’t any single image, it’s the experience I create for my clients. I want the process to feel easy, exciting, and comfortable from start to finish. I want them to trust me, bring me their wildest inspiration, and walk away feeling celebrated. The beautiful photos are the goal, yes, but the feeling I leave someone with matters just as much to me.
As for what I’m known for, my friends would probably still say the YouTube channel. “MissMarleeMarie” hasn’t fully retired, apparently.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Good character. That was ingrained in me through years of competitive sports, and it’s something I carry into everything I do. Being a genuinely good person with good intentions, that’s the foundation of everything else.
Beyond that, I’d say being a self-learner has been huge. No one has to micromanage me or hand me a roadmap. If there’s something I need to know, I go find it. That ties directly into having a growth mindset, I never want to put myself in a box. There’s always another level, always something more to understand or improve.
You also have to be your own cheerleader. You have to believe in what you’re doing before anyone else will. Wholeheartedly, not halfway.
And then there’s persistence, I think that might be the word that defines me most. I’m not someone who stops when something isn’t working. I get flexible, I find another way, I figure it out. There’s an entrepreneurial wiring in me that I think has always been there. Honestly, I believe that no matter what circumstances life threw at me, I’d find my way back to something like this. It’s just how I’m built. My life has always been leading to this, owning something, creating something, doing it on my own terms. Once you have that mindset, you always find your way back to it.
That combination – character, curiosity, self-belief, and persistence, is what keeps me going.
Pricing:
- Portrait sessions (engagements, headshots, families, maternity) start at $395
- Senior portrait packages are all-inclusive, featuring hair & makeup, outfit styling, location scouting, multiple looks, grad portraits, and print credits – starting at $1,495
- Commercial & brand retainers (content creation and marketing deliverables) range from $725–$2,000+ depending on scope
- Print design sessions are available following any shoot and are priced based on your selections
- All pricing is subject to change — reach out directly for current packages and availability
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lifeinfocusbymarlee.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeinfocusbymarlee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifeInFocusByMarlee/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlee-martin-9226601b9/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeInFocusByMarlee
- Other: https://share.google/DS1YqClTU5K9xQNJ9
