We produce high quality image art for all of our clients. If you're interested in working with us we are available for sessions on location throughout Chicagoland. We also offer Marmalade Location sessions in our home area in the SW Suburbs of Chicago.
We are often booked several weeks in advance especially during our peak seasons (spring, summer and fall). Session fees start at $195 for weekday sessions @ our Marmalade Locations or $295 for weekday sessions on location in Metro Chicagoland. Weekend sessions are available for an add'l $60.
Prints are a separate purchase and start at $45. Collection pricing starts at $795. Please call us: 815.603.8450 with any questions. We look forward to hearing from you!
About Marianne
Since 2005 I have been in the business of creating tangible memories but the truth is that I have been a photographer "forever". I was about 6 when I first held my brother Matt's (heavy) Canon AE-1's viewfinder up to my face, I the heft of the camera heavy in my hands & the strap scratching the back of my neck. I remember seeing the world through that viewfinder rectangle for the very first time.
For a number of years I worked as an RN in the critical care setting and at some point I had a realization that while I loved the connection nursing allowed me to have with others, I wanted more to contribute beauty and love to their existence. Some of my favorite patient families would bring photos in for their loved ones - visual reminders that the patient lying in bed is a human being, struggling at the moment but in reality this person is a loving parent, a doting grandparent, a wonderful wife or husband, someone's best friend. Those photos personalized my experience with my patients. It is because of these experiences that I continue to grasp to UNDERSTAND the meaning of this life. My belief is that the meaning lies in the connection between us all, relationships, after all, are the only thing we leave on this earth with any real meaning.
In 2005 when I finally took the leap and started Marmalade Photography it was based upon a single vision: fun, beautiful and quality photos for Chicago area families and children that speak to who they are as a character in the plot of their lives and who they are in the connectedness of this life.
My ten years photographing people of varying ages is of benefit to you: I offer a full service photography experience and have the expertise to create art you will love for your home. I love to help clients design wall galleries, provide custom created beautiful albums and art pieces. I have even been commissioned to create images as large as 10 feet in length. High touch, high quality, there is no other way to do it.
While I do live, breathe & eat photography obviously I am not just Marmalade Photography. I am also a wife…a mom to Maddie & Lauren who inspire me every day in so many ways…I am a historian and a friend…a gardener (who can't keep indoor plants but I have a green thumb if it grows outside)…funny…fun loving…serious…in fact you & I may have a lot in common…I would love to get to know you through that rectangle & tell your families' story for you.
Earlier this week I had the great pleasure of meeting little S and her lovely parents Jeff & Laini. I want to thank them for coming out to the studio the other evening for a session with me. This little girl is so beautiful and was amazing considering that she hardly had a nap before our time together. Here are a few sneak peeks … isn’t she a beauty?
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Really quick I want to lay out a huge congratulations to Chicago’s own President elect Barack Obama. It’s heartwarming to see that his win seems to have already brought some bright optimism to our Nation…I hope that the next four years bring the Nation even more together. On this note I also want to congratulate my colleague Ruthi David who followed her heart and photographed a great deal of the pre-election Obama campaign. I know she has to feel an amazing sense of contribution to a defining moment in history. Kudos to her for following her heart when she took this undertaking. I love it when people achieve their dreams by following their heart. Ruthi: you must be on top of the world right about now!!
Gorgeous work, as usual, Mare. Holy Moly on that girls amazing eyes!! Love your simplistic first shot. The popping colors on the third shot are stunning.
These images are just stunning. Her eyes just draw me in and I love how you have really captured her beauty so perfectly in each image. Beautiful work.
I hope everyone has gotten out to vote. In this era of jaded views it’s more important than ever to take part in the voting process. Hopefully changes will happen in the coming few years that will set a solid foundation for our children’s future…this has been my biggest concern. I won’t go on about political stuff because frankly to me it’s much less exciting than kid’s portraits but nonetheless voicing our desires via the vote is the most responsible thing. You can’t complain if you don’t vote my dad used to say.
I found this amazing chill music on open source audio. I think it’s the whole album. It’s called My Feel India Chill (sort of meshing with my yoga – Indian mood as of late). It’s half hour in length but I totally love the first and second songs. Worth keeping my blog on to listen to. 🙂
So TARA, I KNOW YOU’RE WAITING!! I won’t bore you all with details however let’s just say this is the best group of five kids ever. I am so fortunate to be their family photographer and have cherished watching them grow up this past three years (and four sessions!) Here are a few sneak peeks from the Country Girl portion of my Sunday this past weekend:
I can’t wait to totally dive into this session…it makes me happy. E girl was much more into getting photographed than in years past and looked surreal among the tall grasses in her silk blouse & skirt. I was in love with the gorgeousness!!
(sigh. I’ve always said I love November light. Now you can see why!)
Thanks Tara & Alan for allowing me to watch (via the camera) your beautiful family grow…
I heard this song on my way into the city yesterday morning…I remembered how much I loved this song when it came out (& still do):
Sunday was very much a CITY GIRL/COUNTRY GIRL kind of day for me. My first of two sessions was in Wicker Park. It was an AMAZING day in terms of weather and in terms of the company I was with. Lucky lucky me! I got to meet E and her gorgeous parents Thad and Deb. A huge thanks to them for welcoming me into their lives for a few hours for an on location session. Without further adieu…on with the sneak peeks:
Thanks for stopping in…more sneak peeks tomorrow!!
What a great location for this session. I love the soft feel of this sweet little girl in an urban setting.
Mare at work, creating beautiful portraits as always!
I’m a couple days behind and apologize for my tardiness. 🙂
This past weekend I had the great pleasure of meeting a wonderfully gracious family who allowed me into their reunion weekend for just a couple of hours to photograph this amazing weekend in their lives. Here’s a few more candid sneak peeks that have made me grin from ear to ear:
Had to show one with the sweaters!! 🙂
As for the events of the past week…Thanks to all my readers, those who took time to comment & congratulate and those who emailed me. I was overwhelmed with the happiness people have shown me for the good stuff. I truly believe that happiness begets more happiness and I wish many successes and much happiness to all my readers. I’m overwhelmed with all sorts of oozy good stuff, call me Mrs. Brightside. 😀
I know I know, it’s like the 100th time The Killers have appeared in my life’s soundtrack. What can I say? It’s my blog! 😀
Mare, it is always a treat to view your sessions. You manage to capture the essence of the children and their family with such beauty. Always an inspiration.
These images are just so wonderful, they ooze love and family and I guess that is what a reunion is all about. And by the way, my 6 year old’s in love with The Killers, so keep on sharing.
I am told Marmalade Photography is going to be featured in Chicago’s Daily Candy!!! tomorrow (Monday). ……I know! What a H U G E honor. Even more unbelievable… I was told by a little birdie that um, I’m like the first photographer to be featured. That just blows me away and I feel incredibly humbled. Thank you to Kelly and Megan from Daily Candy and please, Monday a.m., go check it out! To be up to date on the latest, hippest, newest goings on in Chicagoland you should subscribe to Daily Candy. There’s other metro areas if you are outside of Chicagoland (is there such a place…ok, yeah, in this cold there definitely is! LOL )
Since I’m taking a few moments to toot my horn…photographers everywhere would agree that one of the of the best sources for photographers who desire to be inspired is DESIGN AGLOW. DA infuses the reader with inspiration and creativity and I am completely humbled/honored/proud to be part of the most recent issue of Design Aglow, Issue No. 6 The Style Issue (available now). (does this mean i have style?) 😀 The article is written by the talented Andrea Joki and discusses thoughts on shooting and surroundings, philosophy and my own inspiration, it also features a few of my favorite images. If you have never gotten a copy of Design Aglow this issue is sure to blow you away. Why you may ask? Because this issue features some of the most talented photographers in the world and I am truly humbled to be amongst these well known and beloved photography style icons. Anyway, run don’t walk to get this issue. I promise you the tips and the stories in this issue are amongst the best available to us photographers in the industry.
And lastly and image and a bit of soundtrack, because I love this song so much and it’s theme is anti-my mood today I decided let’s include it, a bit contradictory, are we Mare? Why yes I am! As an aside I have always found Shirley Manson intriguing…and filled with style 😉 SHE would be fascinating in front of the camera, wouldn’t she?
So even tho I’m personally in love with the rain, but my mood isn’t, I thought let’s pull my fave rain image out. They look happy don’t they?
A couple of sneak peeks in the next few days as well as the rest of Fall 2008. Amazingly enough there is like…1 session left for 2008! Run run run to your phone to book it. 2008 is dwindling down fast!
I can’t wait to see the DAILY CANDY piece! You shouldn’t sound so surprised about the DA bit and the Daily Candy nod, Mare. You, and Marmalade, rock the Casbah!
thanks! i am super excited about all this good stuff and very thankful that my work resonates with the viewer. i appreciate the kind words and thoughts sent my way! thank you thank you thank you!!
That is so awesome…so many great things happening for you at once!!! I can’t wait to check out DA and what an honor to be the first featured photographer in Daily Candy! Well deserved kudos to you!!!
Whitney -October 28, 2008 - 6:45 pm
Love Daily Candy! Love you! So excited for you!!!! Congrats! 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛
Gorgeous work, as usual, Mare. Holy Moly on that girls amazing eyes!! Love your simplistic first shot. The popping colors on the third shot are stunning.
Fabulous!! What a beautiful little girl!!
Looks like you had a great session….is that a giraffe hat? That is too cute!
I can’t wait to see the rest of the pictures. These three photos are beautiful!!!
these are stunning
These are beautiful! I LOVE her hat – so cute!!
These images are just stunning. Her eyes just draw me in and I love how you have really captured her beauty so perfectly in each image. Beautiful work.
Oh Mare just yummy!! Perfect color, beautiful showcase!! Your work is always so refreshing.
Beautiful little girl with gorgeous eyes!
These are all great Marianne.. always love to see your work.