Kid Photography Victor & Missoula MT

I had the privilege of taking photographs of some awesome kids over the weekend.  Kids have this way of reminding us that we shouldn’t get so stressed about things, have fun, and to remember the little things in life are what truly matter.

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Kids have a way of reminding me why I take photographs.  There’s always little moments where you end up capturing a truly great moment or look from someone and that’s what keeps you going.  I love capturing moments people miss, candids people don’t know you’re capturing, or little moments of happiness that will forever remind you of that event or occasion.

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Sometimes our real heroes live in the hearts of small children fighting big battles. I had the pleasure of photographing some amazing kids over the weekend. I think it’s always important to cherish each other, find the beauty in every individual, and remember how precious every moment is.

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Senior Portraits Stevensville MT

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I had so much fun taking Senior Portraits.  I graduated over ten years ago and I tend to forget how much your life is changing at that moment. You are at a point in your life where everything seems possible but everything is so frightening at the same time.  I loved that time but I also would never go back!  I am in my 30s now and I feel a little more wiser and I’m not poverty stricken eating Roman Noodles for dinner.  montanaseniorportraits

marianemaynardphotographystevensvillemtThis Senior Session was a little more special because we did some with him and his mother.  You could clearly see and feel an amazing bond between the two of them.  I wish this kid the best of luck.  I know it took me most of my 20s to figure out “anything.”  At least, I always had a creative outlet with photography, I think that actually saved me a lot.  Congrats to the Class of 2015!seniorportraitsinmontana

“When I Was Told To Give Up On My Dream…”

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I am having a huge break through with my art career. Ace Hardware in Missoula, MT (the one next to Albertson’s) will be carrying my Greeting Cards. Thank you so much Wendy Moon for helping with this and making it happen. Words cannot express how thankful I am. This is the third store in Missoula carrying my cards. Here is a little bio on my photography past and how my dream was crushed in the beginning but in time was rejuvenated.

When I was a Freshman in High School I enlisted in a photography class and was in love with the dark room and doing a lot of abstract art – experimenting with double exposure and other things. I had a thought that maybe I could do this as a career. Well, at the end of the class my teacher gave me a C and said I had no composition and she didn’t like my abstract photography. She told me I shouldn’t take the next class and that I had no talent to be a photographer and should find something else to do. It really hurt because I did want to continue taking photography but she was the teacher. So, I put down the camera and went into Creative Writing.

I graduated from College with a Directing/Screenwriting degree but I was at a point in my life where I knew I didn’t want to live in Hollywood and so I moved back to Glenwood Springs, Colorado to aspire in writing the next “Chinatown.” I worked at various places after college and I found myself working at a Dog Kennel and volunteering for animal shelters. I became friends with someone that had a passion for photography and shortly after that I bought a film camera and began taking pictures of the dogs at the Dog Kennel for fun. I suddenly realized that my camera was always by my side. I then decided to embark on a road trip across the United States and to go wherever the road took me. I packed my dog and I in the car and started traveling, first stop Rosewell, New Mexico then across Texas into Tennessee, Kentucky and so on and so on. But this trip eventually brought me to Arkansas where I stayed for a long while and had the most amazing time with an Aunt that passed away not too long ago. The experience changed me and my Aunt’s words hit home. I was taking photographs of something and she said, “Why don’t you just do that, Bo? It makes you happy.” A part of me truly wanted to stay in Arkansas forever, mainly because of my Aunt. She was someone that I always felt so comfortable with and I had a huge connection with. However, I decided to embark back to Colorado and I decided I was going to be a Photographer.

Once I arrived home I opened the paper that week and in the ads was a Photographer Wanted position. I created a Portfolio and went to the interview nervously. I was hired because of my eagerness and willingness to learn. I started working with Digital Cameras for the first time in my life. I met Nick and he became a Mentor to me. Nick truly pushed me to improve, and I thank you for that. After a few years suddenly a friend and I had a photography business together. I read every book I could, practiced as much as I could, and basically was just thrown in the trenches to learn Photography. And suddenly I was a full time photographer again. I was offered a position at the Aspen Institute and became aware of the world and it’s non-sense. I didn’t even last a year in this world. I found our political leaders were truly full of crap and hypocritical. I was the Audio/Visual Technician and was doing sound for people like Bill Clinton, Wolf Blitzer, and worked along side Walter Isaacson when he came into town. The Aspen Institute is set up for World Leaders to come and discus policies, meet, and educate others on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. I quickly realized it was a joke and it was entirely based upon how much money they could collect. Last years sponsor for the Ideas Fest was Monsanto to give you an example. I was given the rare opportunity to meet and shadow Mahatma Gandhi a person I truly respect and I suddenly realized I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t meet this guy when I’ve fallen in the “Aspen” World of materialism and lies. I quit. From then on I fell into a downward spiral of attempting to find “something” or “someone” and when I hit, I hit hard. Life happens and somehow in the end it led me to Montana.

So, in these last few years I’ve been striving to get back to being a full time photographer. Never give up on your dreams even if someone tells you they’re wrong or no good. Strive to improve. Strive to endure. And strive to accomplish your goals. I truly believe the moment that destroys us is the moment we give up. Don’t give up on yourself. Have a big heart, a big dream, and a love for others and I believe everything else will fall together perfectly… eventually.   -Mariane Maynard

New Life Worship Center in Missoula, MT

 

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This was a fun wedding at the New Life Worship Center in Missoula, MT.    The couple was great and so much in love.  I actually had to say to the Groom during photos, “um, can we do a few without you kissing her so that we can get some for the parents.”  Too funny!  It gave them a good chuckle.  I love seeing couples this happy and excited for their future!

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I hope you enjoy all the photographs!  Everyone at the New Life Worship Center was so nice and accommodating.

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Thanks and I was happy to be a part of your big day!

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Wedding Photography Hamilton MT

 

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This was a fun wedding!  Great people and they were having fun with giving the bride and groom advice!  The reception was up Downing Mountain Lodge up Grubstake Road in Hamilton, MT.  It had a gorgeous view and the weather was perfect!  Congrats to the couple!  They are terrific together and I enjoyed every moment of the wedding.  It’s great seeing best friends getting married!weddingphotographyhamiltonhamiltonmt

Engagement Photography Missoula MT

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I had so much fun taking these photos!  I love it when you get to spend time with a couple that is so much in love it makes you just happy!  I am very excited for the wedding and I think this summer is going to be gorgeous!  It’s already looking that way.

 

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“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
Lao Tzu

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“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.”
Aristotle

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Engagement Portraits Missoula MT

 

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“Where there is love there is life.”
Mahatma Gandhi

Destination Photography

Screen Shot 2014-04-10 at 2.47.10 PMI’ve always enjoyed photography for the simple fact of capturing people’s personalities.  I think when we finally become comfortable with the photographer we let down our guard and show our humor, our love, and our beauty.  Granted at times this takes a glass of wine or a beer at times.  I like to do engagement photographs of the future bride and groom before just so they know my personality and I know theirs before the wedding.  It helps with the photos looking more natural and more candid than staged.  I’ve learned to always be on guard because you never know when someone is going to do something amazing and something they need to have evidence of!

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Custom Canvas Prints

Custom Canvas Print:

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This is a great gift idea!  If you have any great pictures of animals that would look great as a painting I can take the photography and turn it into a piece of art!  Like the one above, this was a picture taken from a Facebook profile.  I enhanced it and turned it into an oil painting then printed it on canvas.  Great gift idea or a great memorial to a pet you may have lost!

 – $65 to do a custom canvas.  –

– 406-381-1921 – e-mail order to maynardm2m@hotmail.com

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“I’m a HUGE animal lover and I think these prints are so much fun and a great way to capture your pets love, innocence, and cuteness!” -Mariane

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