Meet Marny Emerald Light Photography | Owner & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marny Emerald Light Photography and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marny, why did you pursue a creative career?
I have always pursued careers that were “practical”, but I kept art close through the years. I loved drawing and painting as a child, my parents may not have appreciated my art as much on the cabinets but who doesn’t love some color! High-school is where I got to feel clay for the first time and I was convinced pottery was it for me, that was until I developed a roll of film.

Pursuing art always felt like a wild dream that only happens to a select few so I found a path to follow and I majored in Finance and Marketing. I took any and all opportunities that came my way. I’d be in a sushi chef outfit at 5am, in class at 10am and in a suit by 3pm for an internship. After college I started working as an accountant and really got into acrylic painting and pouring but photography has always had my heart. Yes, I am that aunt with all the arts & craft supplies.

After years of portfolio building, and folks constantly telling me I should charge, it was time! Then the pandemic hit, the world changed in so many ways, and social life went virtual. The lockdown highlighted what was working and what was not. I wanted to align myself to do more of the things that inspire me so I changed careers to work im IT and took that time to focus on making the wild dream a reality.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The experience of the phoroshoot is a big part of creating and being able to work with folks from all walks of life allows me to capture them when they are in the moment. My goal is to tell folks stories and highlight the essence and connections of this time in their lives.

Taking photos can be an ordeal getting everyone ready so I try to make it as fun and laid back as possible. Capturing kids doing what they do each day is where you get those adorable smiles. If a pose doesn’t go as planned we will always switch to something fun and bubbles usually does the trick!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Assuming we have the same taste in everything, sushi would be top of mind but that’s a given if you know anything about me. Fontana Sushi on Alameda has recently won over my taste buds in the sushi bracket and Kiki’s Casual Japanese is a small shop along Colorado Blvd that has the best ramen. As for fun, visiting the Denver Zoo, Aquarium, Botanic Gardens is always a good time or Meow Wolf now that they are here! We could also do a hike at Chautauqua or paddle board at Union Reservoir. If we had time, I’d love to fit in a plant shop and my eyes and soul love being at City Floral or Southwest Gardens.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Hands, knees, toes down, my parents! There’s so many things I could say but the one that sticks with me is knowing how much I am loved. I am who I am because of them and I am lucky to be shaped by genuine love and support.

They have gone through a lot and I am amazed by them everyday. My parents came to the US in the early 80’s because of the Cambodian genocide. They actually got married in the US and met in the Thailand refugee camps. Prior to the Khmer Rouge, they were strangers and we found out they lived right across the river from each other in Cambodia. Even though they have different stories up until they met in Thailand, they both lost everything and almost everyone they knew. They’ve had to run for their lives, were forced into work camps, and split up from their family never knowing if they would see each other again. They were able to find refuge in Thailand and that is where their story together starts.

They both were sponsored to come to the US and somehow reconnected across states without the internet yall. They started over in a new country with no money and had to learn a new language/culture, worked multiple jobs at a time and continued to do everything they could do to give their kids the life they never had. Ask any of my family members or friends and I would bet that the large majority would agree that my parents are pretty amazing, plus some, and I am truly lucky and grateful to be able to experience their love. I would not be who I am or where I am without them!

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