Chicago Photographer for family, children, baby, newborns, baby
Contact Marmalade Photography
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.
I had the pleasure of photographing the very beautiful K family yesterday evening. They drove all the way from up north (like Lake County north 🙂 ) to hang out and have a session with me. It is always humbling to know that people are willing to drive distances to come hang out with me and get images out in the vast mostly untouched nature that is my outdoor studio. A big thanks to Agnes & Jeff for allowing me to capture their beautiful kids, O&K at this beautiful time in their lives.
So…a sneak peek for them (& eyecandy no doubt!). Look below for something fun as well.
• • • • • •
Now for something different. Chloe is the wonderful new addition to the antique store across the way from me, Antiques On Water Street (definitely worth a stop if you are in the Wilmington/Rt. 66 neighborhood!). Isn’t she beautiful?
There is more but I haven’t gotten done playing with them. I just love little Chloe.
It doesn’t surprise me one bit that people are willing to go to the distance for a session with you. Beautiful work! The shot with daddy and little girl just made me sigh. So absolutely sweet!
A truly amazing photographer….these are not just photographs…they are true expressions of art! In these photographs I see magic, emotion and an amazing love for what you do! Oh…and Chloe…ADORABLE…I can hardly wait to see more of her! Minnie Pearl…watch out…you have nothing on Chloe..her vintage hat with the Antiques on Water Street tag says it all!
Several months ago when Polaroid announced that it would be pulling out of the instant film market that it created (a sad day for niche hobbyists everywhere) I started searching through the many boxes that are stored in our basement for my old One Step camera. My goal is to snap pics of everyday life with the old skool instant gratification that encompassed the entire decade of the 70’s (in my mind anyway?) ! What is more synonymous with the 70’s than the many old polaroids people have. The muted tones of the now defunct (and fabled) SX-70 film contain more memories all over the world than I could possibly imagine.
So, with Polaroid pulling out of the instant film market (no more shaking it like a Polaroid pic-turrre!) it’s time to stock up. Several weeks ago I ran across my L.A. photographer friend, Angela Calderon’s blog and she was buying 600 Film up like it was going out of style (um, wait a sec…) 😉 I have a ton stockpiled in various internet shopping carts but worry that I’m participating in a mass hysteria feeding frenzy for a product that altho is much beloved doesn’t necessarily produce portrait quality images (not on the level of what I’m used to with my equipment that costs as much as thousands of old One Step cameras).
It may not be high art but nonetheless some memories are left better muted and slightly out of focus. One of my most cherished of images (and quality wise it sort of sucks) that Polaroid has captured for my own family is of my newborn Lauren. When I was in the hospital in 2001 after she was born and suffered unforeseen circumstances I was unable to see/hold her in the first few days of her life, the RNs in the nursery snapped a Polaroid pic for me that was taped to the bedrail on my bed in ICU:
Without this picture there for the several days I spent away from her (completely away from her) I may have not recovered from my own circumstances as well. I remember gazing at her sweet face and willing myself to get out of bed and just get better. So although I never had thought about it much before, Polaroid had a hand in keeping me on the path to stick around and be a mom for my two girls….however small the hand was, Polaroid images have been part of my life and probably will continue (until my stockpiles of film run out).
I finally FINALLY dug out my old One Step camera last night. I was on the phone with a good friend from h.s. who I had lost touch with in the past 10 years or so and I shouted into the phone YEHHAW!! Poor woman on the other line may have thought I lost it, getting giddy over a camera so readily found on eBay for pennies on the dollar but I was excited! TIme to break out the stockpiles and get a little retro artsy with my found object. Now if I could only find the ole Holga I’d be in business….
In the spirit of Polaroid, I present this next little YouTube clip. THIS is amazing, a must watch for my Polaroi-holics out there (and even those of you who may not be):
Ohhh Marianne I love polaroids too!! lol when I found out they were not making them anymore I immediately ordered up 20 boxes of film just in case. I LOVE that shot it brings back memories to you which is what it is all about 🙂
Can be SO SO very fun. Especially when everyone involved is totally into it.
Meet (once again) E&S, two of the cutest babies this side of Chicago. I am telling you, E is a huge flirt and S just knows she is IT. So stinking adorable, I could’ve taken them home for my own (luckily I didn’t otherwise I’d be writing this from the Will County jailhouse!)
A big huge thanks to Lisa & Ed who brought the kidlets out to the studio for urban studio stuff and then willing to haul my new blue velvet chair to the new location to do some fun sky stuff. I have enjoyed working with you guys so much over the course of the last two baby plan sessions, you guys are so very awesome. Up for anything. Ed, I now hereby decree you Chair King. LOL.
So anyway…here we go:
and finally, my nod to the great Dave Hill (whose work has inspired me for years now and finally I am understanding some of the methods…)
I am so happy with this session. Can you hear how giddy I am?
Well, I really don’t know what to write. These shots are amazing. Ed and I are so very excited to see the rest! Great job there, Marianne. What a great job.
Very cool work! It’s always a treat to see what your creative mind has come up with. So inspiring. These are beautiful and I LOVE the family image! Great work.
CarmenM -May 20, 2008 - 10:08 pm
I gasped when I saw the last one of the family. That is stunning!
I’m trying to think of words to explain how much I love these! The location, lighting and your special artistic talents all come together to create such incredible works of art. The family image? – jaw dropping!
One of my most beloved small movies is actually a commercial. I have several in fact (all advertisements, however subtle they may be, produced to be viral pieces of beauty or humor filled to spread the buzz of the brand they signify)…this is my ‘beauty’ favorite. Stay tuned til the end to see the real deal of the WHY this is.
I am honestly most thankful that now, having been out of the world of nursing for a year and a half, I do not have to attend anymore mandatory meetings. DH and I were discussing the infamous Dave Barry quote:
If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race
has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word
would be "meetings."
Which always amused me. The hospital that he and I both worked LOVED the mandatory meeting / focus group concept. There of course is nothing wrong with meetings but often they felt like nothing got accomplished. I do NOT miss the mandatory meeting.
Which brings me to this. Who doesn’t love mocking the caveman set:
What a beautiful family! The one of Daddy holding his little girl is beyond precious. The colors are just luscious in all of them!
It doesn’t surprise me one bit that people are willing to go to the distance for a session with you. Beautiful work! The shot with daddy and little girl just made me sigh. So absolutely sweet!
What a beautiful family! I love the shot of Chloe, too!
I love this image! It’s perfect. 🙂
A truly amazing photographer….these are not just photographs…they are true expressions of art! In these photographs I see magic, emotion and an amazing love for what you do! Oh…and Chloe…ADORABLE…I can hardly wait to see more of her! Minnie Pearl…watch out…you have nothing on Chloe..her vintage hat with the Antiques on Water Street tag says it all!
I gasped when I saw the one of dad with his baby girl. Beautiful!
The little dog photograph is awesome, love it and so lively!