About Me

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Hi there! My name is Marena Koenka (she/they) and I am based in Portland, Maine. I graduated summa cum laude from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts with a B.A. in Business Management and double minors in Theatre and Studio Arts, with a concentration in photography. I studied photography under Stephen DiRado, Frank Armstrong, and Eric Nichols. When I'm not behind the camera you can find me working in the mental healthcare field through peer support, rock climbing, or snuggling my cats. 

Founded in 2016, Sunset Ridge Photography has allowed me to explore both the commercial and the creative sides of photography, often melding the two. From selling greeting cards and prints at local craft fairs, to capturing clients' important life moments, to spending hours in the dark room perfecting a single print, to showing my work in galleries; I've enjoyed every minute of building this business. 

​I love meeting new clients and learning about them as I take their portraits. Photography has allowed me to make long lasting connections that I will always cherish. During a session, you can expect me to be hyping you up, posing you to capture natural looking moments, and most importantly, making sure you feel comfortable. I look forward to the prospect of working with you!