the why behind MK photography

Before I ever picked up a camera, I was a preschool teacher, a middle school cheer coach, and a marketing director for Chick-fil-A. But photography? That was my secret pipe dream. I’ve always loved capturing and sharing my life and I deeply admired the photographers I followed online. The way they told stories with light and emotion really spoke to me. I occasionally imagined what it might feel like to create something just as meaningful. Everything shifted for me when I moved to Oahu, Hawaii. Island life brought a joy and stillness I hadn’t felt in years. I found myself wanting to remember every detail; the warmth, the colors, the feeling of being fully present. That’s when I picked up my first professional camera and dove in headfirst.

Photography for me, is about presence. It’s about slowing down enough to truly see not just what’s in front of me, but what it means. I like to think of myself as a professional noticer. I take care to notice the way someone laughs, the way sunlight hits their skin, how fingertips subconsciously reach for the person they find comfort in, the way a moment feels before it’s gone. I photograph to tell stories, honest ones. To create space where people can show up as they are and leave with something they’ll cherish forever. This business brings me endless joy, not just because it allows me to create, but because it lets me connect with people, with places, and with the fleeting beauty of right now.

My hope is simple: that the images we create together will feel like a love letter to your life—a blessing that you can look back on for years to come.

The name Marissa means “of the sea,” and that connection has become intertwined into how I create. I feel most alive near the ocean and under golden skies, where things move freely and without pressure. That’s where my creativity thrives. While I’m now based in the desert of Arizona, “of the sea” isn’t out of place—it’s a reflection of where my business was born, who I am at my core, and the kind of imagery I’m drawn to. The phrase of the sea and under the sun captures both the story of where I started and the freedom to keep growing wherever life takes me. It allows me to create with purpose both here in my desert home and anywhere I’m called to go next.

The Name

Why I Photograph

The Pipe Dream