Meet Marena Koenka

We recently connected with Marena Koenka and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Marena, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?

I grew up in a small town on the coast of Maine and being in that environment put a focus on the importance of community. My parents and the other family friends that helped raise me were always lending a hand to a neighbor, volunteering in the school or community event. There was one time when I was at the post office as a teenager and their card machine was down and I didn’t have enough cash to cover the shipping cost. The stranger behind me in line paid for me without hesitation. This type of generosity was common in my life as I grew up. Having these examples be a part of daily life has influenced how I give back to the community I live in now.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I run Sunset Ridge Photography; I specialize in intimate wedding photography and I absolutely adore it! Being a photographer gives me the opportunity to connect with so many different, incredible people as I capture their memories. I get to be peoples’ biggest cheerleader, help them feel comfortable, and photograph their unforgettable experiences.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I think that my ability to connect with others, my tenacity, and my ability to follow my gut feeling have been the most impactful on my journey. Connecting with people has been instrumental in creating genuine, long-lasting friendships, and in growing my photography business. It helps my clients feel comfortable and seen and creates a network of people who enjoy working with me and refer their friends. My tenacity has kept me going through many mental and physical challenges. I refuse to give up, even when doors close. I keep myself open to new and different opportunities that may not have come along if it wasn’t for that closed door (while also giving myself space to be temporarily upset over opportunities lost). Especially as someone who’s been socialized as a woman, I’ve grown up in a society that has tried to convince me to not listen to how I feel. Re-connecting with myself and trusting my gut feelings when it comes to situations and people, both personal and professional, has been key.

My pieces of advice are to step out of your comfort zone, remember that a “no” or a “failure” isn’t the end of the journey, to view every type of job/opportunity as a learning experience, and to really learn to check in with how certain situations make you feel (as opposed to how society says you should feel about it). Because of my anxiety and shy nature, I am not someone that is inherently comfortable talking to people I don’t know well. I I improved on my ability to connect with people the most during my time working as a server and at Trader Joe’s, both jobs that society doesn’t place a lot of value on, but were key to my growth. Continually checking in with how your body physically feels in different situations is a good way to practice following your gut instinct. Ask yourself “Does this spark joy?” to help you decide which choices may be best for you.

Honestly though, as cheesy as it sounds, the most import thing is to be yourself. And I know everyone says that, but I truly believe that has been the most impactful element to my journey. I spent a lot of years trying to be someone I wasn’t because I thought that would help me fit in and be more likable. Spoiler alert: all it did was make me unhappy, unsure of myself, and disingenuous. When I started being true to myself (again, cheesy, I know), that’s when I really started to build a life of joy and growth, both personally and professionally.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I’m overwhelmed, the last thing I want to do is step away from my work because I feel like I have way too much to do to take time off from it. However, that’s usually the best thing for me and helps me be more focused and calm when I come back to my work. I highly recommend thinking about what helps you feel grounded and like yourself and taking a break from work and leaning into that. For me, it’s spending time in nature, especially by the ocean, or going rock climbing with friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sunsetridgephoto.com
• Instagram: @sunset_ridge_photography
• Facebook: Sunset Ridge Photography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marena-koenka-745279189/
• Other: Tik Tok: @sunset_ridge_photography

Image Credits

Marissa Elise Photography