About

The Early Years:

Growing up in a middle class home in a small suburb of Akron, Ohio, professional photography was not on Marci’s radar as a career path. In fact, if her mother had been successful at her plan, Marci would not have experienced a career at all. Marci grew up in a home that fostered the mentality that women were not meant to be in the workforce and that their sole purpose was to marry, have children and live their life as a good, dutiful wife and mother. Marci’s childhood home was not one of nurturing and supportiveness. Yet, throughout all the life threw her at a young age, Marci remained positive and love and an overly romantic knowing deep inside of her that there was beauty in the world and love could conquer all.

Fast forward to 2024 where life’s journey has proven that you are not a product of your environment. In her early adulthood, Marci fell in love with photography by accident when she worked one Christmas season for a retail portrait studio. She loved it, but something inside of her said that this was not “real” photography and she yearned for more knowledge to grow her passion and talent. And that is exactly what she did: grow her knowledge and talent. Throughout the years, Marci has not simply photographed life’s moments. She has been the family historian for many, providing families a single moment in time to be frozen and flood their hearts and memories forever. No matter whether a wedding, birth, childhood milestone, or a loved one’s last moments of life, Marci has captured not only the picture but the depth of emotion that accompanied that moment and enshrined it for those bestowing her with the honor of being there.

For Marci, photography has not simply been “a job” or “a hobby,” but a way to capture and depict all that is beautiful and good in the world. “The life I see through my lens, is the life I always knew existed during the darkest moments of my childhood and I want others to know that life is not what happens to you, but the way you view it.”

The Photographer:

Marci’s passion for photography lied dormant for many years after that short stint as a seasonal “shutter releaser.” It was almost 4 years later when she met a local certified Master, Craftsmen professional wedding photographer and volunteered to do an apprenticeship to learn and hone the technical portion of her craft. It was during this apprenticeship that Marci knew she had found her lifelong passion. Never did she imagine the adventure she was about to embark upon, nor little did she know the doors that this apprenticeship would open.

In 2000, Marci contracted her first client as a solo professional photographer. For several years thereafter, Marci worked in corporate America by day and built her studio by night. Her day job fed her home based studio that she built from the ground up with only her desire to succeed and the Nikon 35mm used camera that the sale of her husband’s used car was able to buy her. From there, she quickly became one of the most sought after wedding photographers in the industry. At the time, she was one of the few female photographers and definitely one of the youngest. She saw photography and its opportunities through fresh eyes; reinventing the nature of wedding photography from the initial contact through the delivery of products. Being one of the first to offer digital slide show previews that 

were set to music, she revolutionized the wedding segment of photography by incorporating multiple senses to hear, see and feel the emotions of the day in a format that the upcoming generations could relate to.

During her journey, Marci has been mentored by renowned professional photographers such as Monte Zucker, Joe Buissink and many others. Becoming an internationally acclaimed wedding photographer herself, in 2005, she was awarded one of the highest photographic awards for best wedding portrait; the Fuji Masterpiece award. However, her journey as a professional photographer was far from complete.

Professionally, Marci served for many years on the Board of Trustees of the Professional Photographers of Ohio, the President for Akron Society of Professional Photographers, a member at large of the Society of Northern Ohio Professional Photographers, and a member of the Professional Photographers of America (of which she remains an active member). Even though a seasoned professional photographer, Marci continues her education through conventions and seminars offered through the Professional Photographers of America. 

Over the years, Marci has photographed more than 500 weddings both domestically and internationally. She has also extended her portrait clientele to include other life milestones such as Maternity, Infant, and annual Family Portraits, high school senior and college graduations, and many other once-in-a-lifetime moments.There have been immeasurable rewards and satisfaction in being part of client’s most significant life milestones. In the course of being involved in the most intimate of moments, Marci has witnessed life’s happiest (and sometimes saddest) occasions. However, during those instances, she has been able to not only view, but feel the depth of emotion embodying each unique situation. She hasn’t just beared witness to life, but experienced it. 

While her clients often expressed feeling honored to have her photograph their events, what they didn’t realize was that the honor was truly hers. Their intimate relationships and most cherished moments renewed her love for life and strengthened her own interpersonal relationships. Each weekend she was privileged to see the world through the eyes of a couple vowing to love each other through good and bad or share the tears of a mother as she hands down to her daughter a cherished family heirloom. And it was in these moments that Marci’s cup was replenished filling her heart with positivity, love and light and allowing her to radiate that in all of her own personal relationships. 

Today, Marci not only continues to grow her professional photography business, Modern Images Photography, but also mentors other photographers through speaking engagements and private classes. She focuses on teaching professional photographers not only the basics, but also how to build a profitable business and not just an expensive hobby. She continues to pioneer new trends both behind the camera and the computer. 

The Philanthropist:

Throughout her career as a professional photographer, Marci has given back in many ways. She has volunteered at local high schools mentoring students, partaken in activities giving back to Veterans, and even often found giving love to animals through pet photography and other activities with local sanctuaries. However, one of the most meaningful volunteer opportunities has been with the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep foundation. This is a foundation in which photographers provide fine art portraits of children born still and terminally ill infants; providing portraits to parents who otherwise would have nothing of a child who they loved dearly even if for only a short time.

Currently, Marci is pursuing opportunities to provide local small businesses who are struggling with the current economic climate with professional portraits for their social media content and websites. Additionally, she is working to create a workshop that will empower young women and survivors of domestic violence through photography. It is her way to provide another woman an outlet to “see the world through a different lens” and become a strong, independent survivor versus a victim; just as she herself was.

The Heart and Soul Behind the Lens:

Marci currently resides in the Columbus area near her daughter, son-in-law and new granddaughter. She purchased her own home just 2 years after leaving an abusive relationship and now resides peacefully with her 2 dogs, Gizmo and Bella. Running and working out have become some of her favorite pastimes. Between camping in the summers and crafting or making wine with friends and family in the winters, Marci lives a full life appreciating God’s abundant blessings. While knowing that Columbus will be home for many years, Marci does aspire to build a home in Tennessee in which she can vacation and retire in the cold winter months.