Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet D. Marcelin.
Janet, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have loved art for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Cuba, my grandparents used to take me to art and history museums, and those moments shaped me deeply. I think that’s where I first learned that art has the power to make people feel, remember, and connect.
While in college, I began experimenting with photography in 2018 just for fun, using friends as models and getting creative with lighting, face paint, styling, and props. That early creative exploration naturally grew alongside my studies. Two years later, I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Art History and Art Criticism, which gave me a deeper appreciation for storytelling, emotion, and beauty in all forms.
Originally, I wanted to become an art history professor, but eventually I realized I didn’t just want to talk about art, I wanted to create it. In 2022, I made the scary but life-changing decision to walk away from that path, pick up my old Nikon camera again, and start over. I worked two jobs and saved every penny for months to buy my first professional camera, a Canon R6, before finally taking the leap into photography full-time in Tampa, Florida.
Since then, life has transformed in the most beautiful ways. My husband and I welcomed our daughter, moved to Greenville, South Carolina, bought our first home, and I rebuilt my business from the ground up all over again.
Motherhood changed me deeply, not only as a person, but as an artist. Becoming a mother made me slower in the best way, more observant, more emotional, more aware of how fleeting life truly is. I started noticing the tiny in-between moments that once seemed invisible: the way a mother instinctively reaches for her child’s hand, the softness of a pregnant woman protecting her belly, the exhausted but overwhelming love in new parents’ eyes. I began understanding that photography is not just about creating beautiful images, but about preserving feelings people are terrified of forgetting.
I always imagined myself solely as a wedding photographer, but motherhood led me to fall deeply in love with maternity and family photography. There is something sacred to me about documenting seasons of life that pass far too quickly. Now, every time I photograph a family, I photograph them with the awareness that one day these images may become part of someone’s history, someone’s childhood memories, or something they hold onto long after life has changed.
The journey has not always been easy, especially while balancing motherhood and business, but it has been incredibly meaningful. At the end of the day, what matters most to me is building a life where I get to wake up every day and create. To turn emotion into art, to capture people’s love in an honest and magical way, and to freeze moments that otherwise pass far too quickly.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but it’s been a meaningful one.
There have been seasons of uncertainty, especially when I decided to leave a more traditional academic path and start over with photography. Building something from scratch meant a lot of financial pressure at times, long hours working two jobs, and saving every possible dollar just to invest in my first professional camera. Even after taking the leap into photography full-time, there were moments of doubt, learning curves, and the constant challenge of figuring things out without a clear roadmap.
Another big shift came with motherhood. As beautiful as it has been, it also brought a new layer of responsibility and balance that I hadn’t experienced before. Learning how to grow a business while caring for a young child has required constant adjustment, emotionally, mentally, and practically. There were moments where I had to slow down, rethink my pace, and redefine what success looked like for me in this season of life.
But looking back, those struggles are also what shaped me the most. They pushed me to be more intentional, more resilient, and more connected to the kind of work I want to create. They also deepened the way I see people and their stories, which ultimately reflects in my photography.
So while the road hasn’t been smooth, I wouldn’t change it because every challenge has led me closer to the kind of artist and person I am today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a portrait and lifestyle photographer specializing in maternity, family, couples, and weddings. My work is rooted in storytelling, capturing emotion in its most honest and fleeting form. I’m drawn to the quiet in-between moments, the connection between people, and the kind of love that doesn’t need to be directed to be felt.
While I originally imagined focusing mainly on weddings, over time I fell deeply in love with documenting all seasons of love and life, from maternity and early motherhood, to family connections and couples in their most natural, intimate moments. My goal is always to create imagery that feels timeless, emotional, and alive, like a memory you can step back into years later.
What I’m most known for is the emotional depth in my work. I don’t approach sessions as posed photoshoots, but as an experience where real connection is allowed to unfold. My background in Art History and Art Criticism strongly influences how I see light, composition, and storytelling, and I bring that intentionality into every session while still allowing space for spontaneity and authenticity.
What sets me apart is the way I connect with people. I’ve lived through major transitions in my own life, moving, rebuilding, and becoming a mother, and those experiences have shaped the way I see people and their stories. I approach every session with empathy and awareness of how meaningful these moments truly are. That naturally translates into images that feel personal and emotionally honest.
What I’m most proud of is building this path from the ground up while navigating major life changes, especially motherhood. Growing my business while raising my daughter has taught me patience, balance, and intention. Today, I feel incredibly grateful that I get to create work that not only reflects beauty, but preserves the emotional legacy of people’s lives.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The quality that has been most important to my success is intentionality.
For me, photography has never been just about taking beautiful images, it’s about being fully present with people and understanding the weight of the moments I’m being trusted to capture. Whether it’s a wedding day, a maternity session, or a quiet family moment, I try to approach every experience with care, empathy, and awareness of how quickly these seasons of life pass.
Intentionality also shows up in how I’ve built my path. Nothing about my journey has been rushed or easy, so I’ve learned to move with purpose, to be thoughtful about the work I create, the way I connect with clients, and the kind of artist I want to become. Even in seasons of uncertainty, that mindset has helped me stay grounded and consistent.
I also think intentionality allows me to slow down and really see people. That’s where the emotion in my work comes from. When people feel seen and comfortable, they let their guard down, and that’s when the most honest and meaningful images happen.
At the end of the day, intentionality is what ties everything together for me, my art, my relationships with clients, and the way I’ve built my business while navigating life and motherhood.
Pricing:
- Maternity sessions begin at $450
- Family sessions begin at $450
- Couples sessions begin at $450
- Wedding collections begin at $2,500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.marcelinstudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcelinstudios?utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18ahKydq8V/?mibextid=wwXIfr
