Heyyy I'm Marly Hanson,
Most days you’ll find me….
Squeaking in a few pages in my current read, listening to music as soon as I crack my eyes open (Spotify playlist creations are my guilty pleasure), and then dancing my way to let my 3 dogs outside. I am a BIG hockey fan and it’s the only good thing about the winter IMO. When I’m not documenting my clients, I'm exploring a new coffee shop with my husband, Collin!
And I believe fiercely in documenting people the way they actually are - loud, quiet, chaotic, soft, joyful, messy, and in love!
Bold | Edgy | Creative | Emotional
Life isn't about being perfect, it's about being so ridiculously passionate that people think you're a little crazy
I discovered photography at 16...
It was one of those love-at-first-click kind of things. I started out photographing anything and everything, but it wasn’t until my 20s that I realized just how powerful photos really are. My husband served as an Army Ranger for over six years, and during those early deployments and long stretches apart, pictures were what I held on to. They reminded me why the little, everyday moments mattered... even the ones we documented “just because.” And boy was there a LOT of those!
That experience is a big part of why I do this. I know how meaningful it is to have something tangible to look back on - the in-between moments, the real stuff.
And after five years working in social media, I’ve got a deep appreciation for aesthetic, too. The blurry motion shots, the tiny details, the joy that accidentally sneaks into the frame - that’s the gold for me. My sessions live in the sweet spot between what you’d hang on your wall and what you’d share on your feed: beautiful, honest, and entirely yours.
Let me walk you through the good stuff
Visit The Experience Page to learn more
Darby & reno // Chicago
"Marly is truly the most talented and beautiful soul. She effortlessly made our engagement shoot feel natural and brought my vision to life. From assisting us pre-shoot with outfits to making us feel so comfortable behind a camera. I cannot recommend her enough"
Mitchell & Erin // Chicago
"Thank you so much for having us and all the work that you put into the pictures to turn them around so quickly! Erin and I have been obsessed with them and already have a couple printed and framed for the new place. They are such a wonderful keepsake for this new stage in our relationship and we can't thank you enough for capturing the memories! Your work is amazing and we are so grateful for you working with us!"