Today we’d like to introduce you to Marni Wishart.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My earliest memory is of making art. I was finger painting while sitting at our kitchen table and completely blissed out in the moment. When I look back on my childhood, teen years, college, and the various careers I have had – there is one common thread, and that is art. Though my methods and interests have evolved from drawing and painting, printmaking, pottery, art history and museum studies … digital media, arts education, and – of course – photography, I have always been looking for my best way of creating. I feel like understanding meaning in a visual language is innate, and yet it still has so much mystery and so much to discover. I can completely geek out over typography and color theory – seriously, don’t even get me started talking about kerning and hexcodes! Overall, I am very process-oriented and appreciate the element of the journey.
My path to becoming a professional film photographer was more of a coming home kind of story. “Back in the day” there was only film photography and my days in the college darkroom were some of my absolute favorite. As I was completing my BFA, I knew that graduate school was my next big goal and decided on Museum Studies which led me straight into an art museum career – my dream job! If I was ever having a stressed-out day, I would take a walk through the museum galleries. It was really such a gift to be surrounded by masterpieces day in and day out! It was a career I thought I would never leave … but life happens, and motherhood took my career on a little detour, I became an art educator, and over the years my love for photography only grew stronger. My own children were my first “clients” and, after chasing all the innovations in digital photography, I have come full circle back to film – the place I feel the most myself.
Please tell us about your art.
I photograph weddings, elopements, engagements, high school seniors … families, and I have a passion project of photographing couples for their anniversaries. It’s something I feel strongly about celebrating — the real-life evidence that love lasts and love grows, it’s really inspiring to me. Although I am based in Houston, I photograph in destinations near and far. It’s so amazing to have work that supports my passion for traveling the world!
I am forever learning and growing and I love the historical connection of shooting with film. It changes the way I work … the slowed pace that my sessions take – (consider that I have to reload my medium format camera every 16 frames) – makes me mindful of details, of finding the best light, of composing the image with intention, yet all the while holding a space for serendipity to step in to create a little bit of magic. I love connecting with my clients so they feel comfortable and beautiful. I like for people to feel like they can be themselves with me whether that means quiet and introspective, or loud and silly!
The most success I can imagine is for my clients to look at their photographs and to connect with them on an emotional level. That’s the kind of photograph that is an investment in your future, because those are the images that become more valuable and meaningful over time – the ones that give a glimpse of who you truly are and the emotions you embody.
We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
Collaborating with fellow creatives is one of the perks of being a photographer! I usually have one or more collaborations in the works – my favorite part is to see how the contributions of each artist or vendor comes together to be greater than any one of us could have accomplished on our own. The sum of the parts … right?! We have an awesome creative community in Houston, not only are we surrounded by amazing talent, but people are genuinely friendly and welcoming. I also love meeting and connecting with clients and creatives around the world through social media. I know social media can seem superficial, but I have met some of my best friends and clients this way and had opportunities I never would have imagined otherwise. The trick is to find the people who share your same values.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I post most of my recent work to my Instagram: www.instagram.com/marniwishartphotography. You can find me on the Knot, and I also have work published in Southern Bride, Trendy Bride, Brides of Houston, Burnett’s Boards, Cake and Lace, Want That Wedding, as well as upcoming features in The Bride Link, Hey Wedding Lady, and Magnolia Rouge to name a few.
I just launched a new page: www.instagram.com/seniorsonfilm which is a place for all the work I do with high school seniors. I’m very excited about bringing “old school” film photography to modern senior portraiture. As one of my clients told me, she has never seen a photograph of herself on film before because everything in her lifetime has been dominated by digital imagery. I’m glad that, as an art form, film has made a huge comeback and can be appreciated across the generation gap for all its beautiful qualities! My calendar is currently booking through 2020 for destinations worldwide as well as right here, at home, in Houston.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marniwishartphotography.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/marniwishartphotography
- Other: www.instagram.com/seniorsonfilm
Image Credit:
All copyright Marni Wishart Photography
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