Marisa Marulli is an explorer, photographer and journalist with a passion for connecting people to the unknown.

FIND YOURSELF

ABOUT

In her explorations of remote places like the Arctic Circle, Siberia, Iceland and more, Marisa discovered that the "unknown" does not only refer to unexplored places, but also to unknown, difficult-to-access circumstances or feelings.

Within the desire to explore the unknown, she has taken special interest in the hard and often muted topic of the human experience: the necessary discovery of our true selves. Marisa is fascinated by the individual human experience, the power of the shifts within us, and she holds the mission of inspiring people to discover what we truly want for our lives and to go after that with all we've got. 

As true to her as the quest to find our true selves, Marisa is passionate about exploring an equally challenging topic: the conservation of the Earth. She believes that as we uncover the true facets of ourselves, we inherently acknowledge and honor our heritage and connectedness with Planet Earth.

LIVE YOUR LIFE

PHOTO EXPEDITIONS

Marisa used to think so much she never did much. One day, she decided she’d play the side of her hopes and dreams and take the time investment away from my doubts and fears. It didn’t feel easy, but she was tired of the alternative. So she embraced a “fake it til you make it” mentality with herself. She ‘faked’ it. She quit her cubicle job and acted as if things would fall into place. She acted like her dreams were right. Then, she hopped on a plane and acted like she knew what she was doing. Then, she built her business. And now she’s here.

Marisa wants you to join her. Set yourself free. She welcomes you to browse through her expeditions and sign up for the one that speaks to you.

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CAPTURE THE RED MAGIC OF MOAB
CAPTURE THE RED MAGIC OF MOAB

MAY 16-19, 2019

Join photographers Marisa Marulli and Robert Swinson as we chase the stunning light that falls on one of America's most unique landscapes. Sunrises, sunsets and even astrophotography will be part of this tour!

THE GREAT ALASKAN ADVENTURE
THE GREAT ALASKAN ADVENTURE

Sep 3-9, 2019

It is time to embark to ‘The Final Frontier!’ Join Marisa and Alaskan conservationist in chasing an unforgettable sunrise glow on beautiful landscapes, the magical Aurora Borealis, wildlife, fall colors, and even trek on glaciers! This Great Alaska photo expedition offers every piece of the beautiful land!

THE LAND OF BISTI
THE LAND OF BISTI

OCT 1-5, 2019

Tucked away in the heart of the U.S. lies the magical land of the Bisti wilderness, vast expanses of white sand dunes, dark skies beckoning us to the Milky Way — and the ethereal morning glows from the international hot air balloon festival. We invite you to capture it all with us in this photography expedition to one of America’s most striking secrets.

CAPTURE THE RED MAGIC OF MOAB
CAPTURE THE RED MAGIC OF MOAB

MAY 14-17, 2020

Join photographers Marisa Marulli and Robert Swinson as they chase the stunning light that falls on one of America's most unique landscapes. Sunrises, sunsets and even astrophotography will be part of this expedition!

BELIEVE IN YOU

RECOGNITION

One of Marisa’s favorite poets, David Whyte, released a book titled “Everything Is Waiting For You.” If only we could tell our kids that the real magic happens when you finally believe in yourself and invest in yourself. You just take that leap, and then bam — it’s like everyone was waiting for you all along to just make the move. Marisa went from being an administrative assistant to being an administrative assistant to renouncing it all for her passion, and then the Universe swept in and said, “Well, hello there!”

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palm beach illustrated magazine
palm beach illustrated magazine
afar magazine
afar magazine
the palm beach post
the palm beach post

nurture YOUR mind

JOURNAL

If you haven’t noticed, we use our words around here. During the process of making her dreams a reality, Marisa thought and felt a lot of things. She figures if she could pack those ‘things’ into tangible, digestible, little blog nuggets, it would help people understand all of this (the feelings, the thoughts) is normal and in fact necessary to creating what you want for your life.

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Marisa Marulli
Super Blood Wolf Moon Tonight, New Photo Expeditions + More!
Marisa Marulli

This month we're talking about:

  • How to photograph tonight's rare Super Wolf Blood Moon

  • High speed photography from the recent workshop I hosted with Ed More

  • My upcoming Alaska feature story in INK Magazine

  • Two amazing new photo expeditions for Fall 2019 (Bisti Badlands, White Sand Dunes, Grand Tetons) - JOIN US!

  • Latest business lessons I learned

  • And more!

Keep reading for all the goodies...

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Marisa Marulli
MY LOVE LETTER TO THE TONGASS
Marisa Marulli
MY LOVE LETTER TO THE TONGASS
Marisa Marulli

Your 17 million acres of green imperfection swallowed my complacency whole. For seven days in June, it was just you and me — anyone else on our 25-passenger boat was there just as a floating passerby in their own silent catharses. 

For days we watched your inhabitant whales’ blows, fins and tales play with the surface of your silky smooth water.

It was during the choppier times that we saw them for the first time truly dance, breaching in full-hearted devotion to the symphony of waves and wind that constitutes you.

Tree by tree, breath by breath, our world’s largest temperate rainforest (intact), Tongass, you’re the biggest love we have left.

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Marisa Marulli
Magical Little Lonely
Marisa Marulli
Magical Little Lonely
Marisa Marulli

I realize there’s a whole system of life here within me.

A moment with my own self is actually an amazing thing. It’s incredible. A blessing. A miracle.

Anytime I may feel alone, I remember this epiphany I had, and immediately, I no longer feel alone. I just feel grateful to have this moment with myself, in this life.

If you think about the impermanence of life, and change, and all the good, and the challenges, and all the in-between most likely coming your way, you look at this aloneness as something to be cherished.

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Marisa Marulli
Breaking Your Mold
Marisa Marulli
Breaking Your Mold
Marisa Marulli

And as you go through this process, know this mold is not who you are.

Stop letting your mind take it to the level of identifying with it. Believe in yourself, that you’re different now. The change is being made.

Maybe before anyone else believes in you, maybe before you’re even sure yourself.

That’s a leap of faith. And that’s what you do in this situation. You take a leap of faith that you can change.

Behave differently in pieces, before your whole system is on board. Eventually, it all will follow.

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Marisa Marulli
The Purpose of Life
Marisa Marulli
The Purpose of Life
Marisa Marulli

That’s the purpose of life for me, in this moment. It may change.

That is, if there is any purpose to life - any outward thing you should find yourself doing to achieve some greater connection to your existence - other than to just enjoy it. 

But I have to say, I believe there is.

For those that this post does not resonate with, maybe the purpose of your life is to find your own purpose.

Blessings as you do!

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Marisa Marulli
Self Love
Marisa Marulli
Self Love
Marisa Marulli

We all need way more self-love - for ourselves and our experiences of being a human on this planet.

We sit there and just expect so much of ourselves, so much of others. 

We decide who they should be, and they decide who we should be. It’s a board game in a circular path. None of this gets us to each other.

Instead, what we need to do is simply feel the day.

Loosen the expectations of ourselves, of our days, and of each other.

Unwrap the need to control. Open up the grip. Be gentle with ourselves, gentle with each other.

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Marisa Marulli
You're Never Stuck
Marisa Marulli
You're Never Stuck
Marisa Marulli

Life is about metamorphosis. Not even the seasons can stay the same for more than a few months. 

No wonder you can easily get sick of something or someone, when you yourself are sticking to an old, layered identity and suppressing part of your divine potential.

I once heard someone say that luck will show up for people and it will leave them, but if you’re constantly working on and improving who you are - game over (in a good way). 

And so, I believe that if you’re constantly challenging the staircase you're climbing, taking turns up and down new paths, you’ll create and enter whole universes of new possibilities for yourself.

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Marisa Marulli
Staying Focused
Marisa Marulli
Staying Focused
Marisa Marulli

That’s what we do as people who are in charge of our own futures, as people who are responsible for and dedicated to going after what we want for our lives: we respect the way our bodies feel, we respect the other obligations we have, but we walk the line of challenging ourselves to go when it looks like the weather might change.

Then you trust that your efforts will be received by the universe. And if they are not - if your attempts take time to get there and then you still don’t feel like they are received, then you find another way around, a new route, a new relationship, a new method of applying for jobs. You try different things and you keep going. 

Because no thing is more important than you staying with yourself. No matter what, you stay focused on yourself and what you want for your life. 

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Marisa Marulli
New Beginnings
Marisa Marulli
New Beginnings
Marisa Marulli

2016 is over. 2017 has just begun. The change of year compelled me to write a credo, a manifesto, for this new beginning. The concepts in my credo aren’t anything new - however, that’s not to say I hear them much or quite like this.

Not always have I been able to embody them perfectly - sometimes not at all. But they remain my backbone and they have guided me through time, love, happiness, fear and the loss of my dear sister, Jessica.

These are my intentions. I always come back to them.

I wanted to put my credo out into the world so it can serve as yours too, if it resonates with you and you want it. I hope it helps you further your path, and expands deeper meaning, authenticity and presence in your life. 

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Marisa Marulli
Life and Death
Marisa Marulli
Life and Death
Marisa Marulli

I was so proud of Sam, so taken back by her comfort. I was sobered by her ability - when it really comes down to the pain of things - to really be there for someone. To lay right down there with them and go through the thick of it with them.

I think of grief. The grief of my own loss, or of watching a loved one go through it, or of not necessarily losing someone but indirectly hurting someone who loves me. I think of all the heavy and light miscommunication in this world. 

Grief is something you carry. It’s not quite something you move through. You learn where it fits, where it’s recurved the structure of your body. What parts of your skin ache when seated a certain way now. And respecting that. You find a new normal.

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Marisa Marulli

feed your passions

the photo scoop

Just looking for all the photo tips and tricks we’ve learned along the way? Here’s your spot…

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Beautiful Moon, Show Me Your Craters!
Beautiful Moon, Show Me Your Craters!

The solution for how to photograph the moon:

  • Set your camera up on a tripod

  • I like to try a nice telephoto lens like a 70-200

  • Put your camera in Manual mode

  • Set your aperture to f11

  • Set your shutter speed to around 1/125 or 1/250 

  • Set your ISO to 100-200

  • Now that your general settings are ready to go, you need to achieve focus on infinity (which is where the moon is). Don’t forget about this part! 

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“Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment.”
— Rumi