Mary Marantz has been one of my biggest role models for a while now. My first introduction to Mary Marantz was through her and her husband's Wedding Photography Business, Justin & Mary. I followed them on social media, as not only were they BIG TIME wedding photographers, they were among the biggest names in online educators for wedding photographers. I soaked up so much of the education they put out, and I especially felt great admiration for Mary's poetic view of life and how she beautifully tangled that into their work. It went into how they posed their couples, connecting deep emotion into the moments. It inspired really beautiful, most importantly, genuine ideas for meaningful photographs.
My social media knowledge of Justin & Mary was all I knew. I didn't know of her blog at this time or it probably would have told me a lot more. All I saw were all their beautiful Connecticut pictures, the incredible wedding pictures they took, how popular and effective they were in educating photographers, and the love they had for golden retrievers (I grew up with a golden retriever so I certainly share that love.) I did sense some tie to West Virginia, but I didn't know what it was or if I was even accurate in thinking there was one. Then, in watching one of their free webinars for photographers, she mentioned being from West Virginia. I knew it! I knew there was something there! But what I didn't realized until searching farther was that she went to Richwood High School. Richwood High School is the other high school in the same county I grew up in and literally the high school my boyfriend went to. (She's a few years older than us)
I was so surprised! I am just constantly shocked by what a small world this is. Just think about it from my perspective. Justin & Mary were big time inspirations and educators in my life in this online world we live in for almost 2 years. I'd always seen their pictures with sailboats and lighthouses, and now I come to find out she grew up in the same county as me. I think it is just so cool, and just makes her even more of an inspiration in my mind. I wasn't dating Ryan at the time of this discovery, although we were friends. I have since found out that Mary grew up on the same street as Ryan. Yep, the world gets smaller and smaller.
In the past year, Mary has started her own podcast, The Mary Marantz Show, and I don't think I've ever been more confident in having her as a role model. It's full of so much life advice and guidance, and her relationship and trust in God really shines through in every recording. Besides sharing her own wisdom, she's always bringing others onto the show to share their own stories and ways they're using their life lessons and gifts to help encourage others to live life the way we're meant to. It's helped me grow so much in this past year, and I know a lot of it I will carry with me for years to come.
Mary has been fulfilling a new calling and has just recently finished writing her very first book! I know it's nothing short of amazing, and I'm so excited to be accepted to join her launch team!! Be sure to check out her book Dirt on pre-order now and officially out in September.
Comments