About
Photographer, writer, & library assistant with an MSLS based in Raleigh, NC
I am a Master of Science in Library Science graduate from UNC Chapel Hill and have been a Library Assistant with Wake County Public Libraries for the past 8 years. I am passionate about trauma-informed care and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Other special interests in libraries include collection development, organization of information, and readers advisory.
Take a look at my LinkedIn if you are interested in seeing more of my work history.
Outside of my day job I have many interests which include photography and writing.
Photography Booking
I am a photographer based in Raleigh, NC, and frequently travel to New York, NY and Philadelphia, PA. Contact me to book a photography session.
Testimonials
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Russian Circles, 2022 @ Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC Anyone who’s seen Marissa’s work from a live event can tell she has ridiculous talent.
Her meticulous eye for light, detail and motion are more than mere photographs; they’re literal pieces cut from time itself. Every performance, every musician captured is forever immortalized by her vision.
In the digital age, many events are captured through media by default. But Marissa Straw is here to remind us: photography is art.
— Odessa F
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I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Marissa in public libraries; she cares deeply for the people she serves and is always thinking creatively about how to improve and expand what the library offers.
— Daniel S
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I just wanted to say I love the photos you sent! Some of them are my favorite photos ever taken of me.
— Jacob A
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This is honestly one of my favorite photos I’ve ever seen of [Rivers of Nihil]—and I’ve seen a lot!!!
— Ali R
Highlighted History/Accomplishments
Photography
Behind-the-Scenes (BTS) Photography
BTS Photographer, Blue Karma’s Shadows music video, 2024
Product Photography
Head Photographer, Apex Waves, 2022
Music Festivals
Head Photographer, Shadow Frost Music & Arts Fest, 2020
https://ghostcultmag.com/festival-preview-shadow-frost-music-and-arts-festival/
Features
Music sites: Concert Addicts, Metal Riot, The PRP, and Metal Nerd
Albums/EPs: The Captain’s Chronicles by Darth Kannabyss and Ergodic by Ergodic
Library
Proposals
Straw, M. R. (2023) Trauma-Informed Care for Wake County Public Libraries: A Framework Proposal [Proposal, Wake County Public Libraries].
Work History
Library Assistant, Wake County Public Libraries, 2015 — present
Cataloguer (Intern), LGBTQ Center of Durham, 2020
Committees
Policy Committee, Wake County Public Libraries, 2023 — present
School
Degrees
Master of Science in Library Science, University of Chapel Hill, NC, 2020
Nondegree Studies (Statistics, 3 credits, 4.0 /4.0 GPA), North Carolina State University, 2015
Bachelor of Arts in English (Literary Studies), Minor in Technical Photography, Appalachian State University, 2012
Papers
Straw, M. R. (2020). Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Related (LGBTQ+) Young Adult Fiction Anti-Bias Selection Tool and Core Collection [Master’s paper/project, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]. Carolina Digital Repository. https://doi.org/10.17615/mejj-rn20; https://lgbtqcollection.wordpress.com/
Straw, M. R. (2012) A Spiritual Guidebook for the Downtrodden Individual: Love as the New Religion in Hubert Selby Jr.’s First Novel, Last Exit to Brooklyn [Bachelor’s dissertation, Appalachian State University].