BEN ROTHERMEL. [musician]

With all the travel and photojournalism I've been doing with my school, I have been neglecting this blog and focusing more on my other one (marisagroff.blogspot.com). I thought it was about time to post something to my client blog :) With that being said I'd like to preset to you images of my friend Ben Rothermel. We work together at the Prince Street Cafe and last December he had asked me to take some photos for his album Blue or Green. This album has been quite the journey for Ben and he was finally able to release it this past spring! The music is wonderful and inspiring, I'm so proud of all the work and time he put in to finishing the album. You can check out his indie tunes here at http://www.benrothermel.com/ (as well as on facebook and twitter) ..and if you happen to be in the area make sure to catch one of his shows!

trying somethin' new

so the other day while shooting we took some flashes, and reflectors out and made a makeshift soft box to try shooting with studio lighting. I always shoot with natural light but our assignment was to get an extreme photo with extreme light. It was so fun to work with and we felt so legit in the middle of the park with a full fledged photo shoot going on.. people holding flashes/hairlights, reflector/softbox..someone holding a sheet up so whoever was modeling could change haha it was such a fun afternoon and although these pics are different than my normal style I love them a lot :)

Lily Wang

Here are some photos from a mini shoot I did recently with my friend Lily for a photography assignment :) if you like them leave a comment! If you dont like them.. still comment, critique is always helpful too :)

Shrock Family Portraits

When I was in Florida with my grandparents I have the honor and joy to photograph my dear friend alyssa's family photos for their Christmas card. I met alyssa in YWAM and turns out she lived 10 minute from my grandparents Florida home! So it was sweet that I was able to see her. Their family is so sweet and I love how close these three sisters are :) We went to Marina Jack to take the photos.. I decided that marinas/boats/the sea are one of my favorite places to be near, shes so lucky she gets to live so close to the sea! its beautiful there and made the perfect backdrop for photos :) Love you guys so much!

(images © marisa groff)

I find the great thing in this world is not so much
where we stand, as in what direction we are moving
- we must sail sometimes with the wind
and sometimes against it - but we must sail,
and not drift, nor lie at anchor.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Florida [continued..]

florida [vacation]

Our grandparents treated us cousins to a VERY relaxing and fun weekend in Florida at their winter home. We drove down Wednesday.. fighting against our sleepy eyes to stay awake on the road.. 18 hour drive.. McDonalds breakfast and free wifi bright and early in the morning never tasted so good :) We stayed till Sunday afternoon and our grandparents flew us home. I loved being able to be outside again! going for walks, bike riding, climbing banyan trees :D eating out, beaches, ice cream, flee markets and endless funny games of Black Rook :) my grandparents are the best and I am so blessed to have such a sweet family who all gets along, we had such fun times together. One of my best friends from YWAM happens to live 10 minutes from my grandparents house in Sarasota so I was able to hangout and visit with her as well over the weekend :) and I took their family Christmas card photos! (coming soon).Also coming soon, a fun video I made about our weekend :)

 an awesome branch I fell in love with and ended up turning into a hair accessory that I wore to church :)