THE HEARTHAUS EDIT

HEARTHAUS EDIT by The Cosmo Cottage
Creative Direction | Marissa Lane

You can tell when someone is in the middle of becoming — it shows up in the way they move, the way they breathe, the way they look toward light.

That’s where I met Marissa Lane — somewhere between what she’s built and what she’s stepping into next.

Marissa’s story is one of heart and reinvention. She’s a Midwest girl at her core — born in Rochester, Minnesota - she built a life around creativity, connection, and helping people feel beautiful in their own skin. But at some point, the hustle stopped feeling like home.

So she and her husband did something brave — they slowed down. They packed up their life and moved to Huntsville, Alabama, craving quiet, community, and a little more space for their daughter, Georgie Mae Danger Lane, to grow.

The Art of Feeling

That’s the thing about branding photography — when it’s done right, it’s not really about business at all. It’s about story. It’s about what your life looks like when you stop trying so hard to make it look perfect.

Marissa’s personal style has that effortless balance - a touch of French country warmth and a whisper of Malibu calm. So we chased that feeling: not a pose, not a performance, just quiet moments that belonged to her.

There’s something deeply rewarding about capturing a story of reinvention — Marissa’s evolution from master stylist in Denver to hairdresser at the Storehouse Parlor Salon, and now Realtor in Huntsville is more than a career shift; it’s a portrait of transformation. Her path carries that familiar rhythm of change — the kind that invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and realign with what truly matters.

I sought to translate that feeling — using natural light, soft textures, and honest composition to mirror her story’s warmth and intentionality. Each image became a visual echo of her philosophy: that “heart, home, and design” are not separate pursuits, but threads of the same beautiful tapestry.

“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.”
— Brené Brown

The Vision

When Marissa reached out for a branding session, she was standing at the edge of something new. Still holding her creative roots, but ready to plant them somewhere fresh. Now a Realtor with Cornerstone at Capstone Realty, she wanted images that didn’t just announce a new career — she wanted a story told in light.

That’s where my work began.

I wanted her session to feel like exhaling — to pull back all the layers and show something honest. We built it from the ground up: neutral palettes, soft linen, natural textures, sunlight spilling through imperfect windows. I didn’t want to make her look polished; I wanted to make her look real.

The kind of real that’s even better.

“Courage is contagious. A critical mass of brave leaders is the foundation of an intentionally courageous culture. Every time we are brave with our lives, we make the people around us a little braver and our organizations bolder and stronger.”

— Brené Brown

Behind the scenes, my process is always about atmosphere — how the light moves, how texture holds emotion, how color feels when it’s breathed in. I build images the same way I imagine a room: layered, intentional, lived-in. A home should feel like an exhale - it doesn’t have to be perfect t, it just has to feel like you. The final gallery was a Cosmo Cottage labor of love. It wasn’t about showing a Realtor. It’s about showing a woman who has built her own sense of belonging and now hopes to help others find theirs.

Every image is a small homecoming — rooted in beauty, inspired by home.

I’ve always believed that the best branding sessions aren’t about showing who someone thinks they should be — they’re about seeing who they already are. The quiet magic happens somewhere between direction and surrender, where light meets honesty and the walls come down.

At The Cosmo Cottage, I approach every session like I would a space I’m designing — I start with light, texture, and story. Every image is meant to feel like a home you’ve already lived in — imperfect, honest, and entirely yours.

What I’ve learned, after countless hours behind the lens, is that art doesn’t need to shout to be heard. Sometimes it just needs to breathe.

That’s the beauty of this work — helping people see that their real, unpolished selves are already the masterpiece.

— Varis Laurila Rockholt
The Cosmo Cottage - Huntsville, AL