Hidden Gems: Meet Jana Marler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jana Marler.

Hi Jana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Starting as a professional wedding and lifestyle photographer in 2009, it was at the request of my clients that we create a photo booth experience for them as well. Thus started the adventure to create Banana Who? Booth in 2012.

We started with Open Air Booths (we now have 4), then added an Airstream trailer, then another trailer we cut open so the wall comes down and you can see inside during events (Marquee letters and all), then lastly our VW Bus Booth. We provide a wild experience, unlike most photo booths. Not only do we have all our unique vehicles and travel all over the country, but we have party services that range from green screen to custom backdrops, light painting to slow-motion videos, animated gifs, boomerangs, custom overlays, and more.

They said it themselves, “Best photo booth experience ever.” We’ve loved getting to share a bit of our fun side with the Kansas City community and beyond. This is definitely the fun and funky side of my brands. I also own and operate JanaMarie.co/Jana Marie Photography LLC. My husband is co-owner of Rochester Brewing & Roasting Co. I am the Venue Manager of the newest Outreach Event Space.

And we just adopted our two boys a year ago so life is a wild adventure for us multi hat-wearing entrepreneurs *smiles.* Travel is so important to us so we try to incorporate travel as much as possible into our business and personal life. The key to any of this success is finding the balance, God, and lots of therapy.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The last two years have definitely been the most challenging by far, as I know almost anyone can say.

My husband quit his job as a teacher after 10 years and started a large business right before a pandemic. At the same time, as is starting to foster children in our home, which led to adoption… at the same time, as the entire event industry shutting down which was my only source of income… to say, that the last two years were challenging would be an understatement.

From personal life to entrepreneur life, it was a season of major ups and downs. We lost loved ones while navigating loss with our clients, multiple date changes for jobs and projects, kids home from school, and having to be homeschooled (how in the world anyone got work done while homeschooling beats me), along with everything else 2020-2021 brought to the world.

It has just been a heavy season. But God is faithful and we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. We’re excited to get back into celebrating events and milestones with businesses and people.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Banana Who? Booth + JanaMarie.co + Rochester Brewing & Roasting Co. + Outreach Event Space?
Banana Who? Booth – mentioned all our awesomeness in previous pages (or): We’re Kansas City’s uncommonly awesome mobile & open-air photo booths. (Thanks for asking). — We are Kansas City’s most rad Airstream Trailer, Mobile trailer, VW BUS, and Open Air photo booth company bringing the fun to your next event. With light painting, slow-motion videos, boomerangs, green screen, social media sharing, branded booths, custom prints, backdrops & loads more. The sky is the limit. Want us at your wedding, tailgate, corporate event, nonprofit, company picnic, birthday, family reunion (fill in the blank)? No problem! We guarantee the quality, fun, and a one-of-a-kind experience.

JanaMarie.co – I am a Photographer, Educator, and photo and template Shop. I am here to serve brands with strategy, sustainable resources & a killer membership to help match businesses’ hearts with their brands. I sell social media templates and stock images to use for business as well as social tips and tricks. I believe that a rising tide lifts all boats and I absolutely love sharing my knowledge with others and watching their businesses grow.

I also photograph brands, lifestyle portraits, and weddings and believe I owe my successes to offering an “experience” for my clients. We travel internationally and spend a lot of week-long trips with clients which only grows us closer and allows more fun memories together. My imagery is timeless and authentic. My goal is that my clients will still love their images in 20, 30, 40+ years and that they won’t seem trendy or dated.

Rochester Brewing & Roasting Co. – My husband and his friend started this business together and I am so proud to say that they are the first roastery and brewery under one roof in the Kansas City area. They survived through covid and are quickly becoming one of Kansas City’s favorite cafes & taprooms.

Outreach Event Space – Outreach is a venue space like not many others. Proceeds from events go directly to helping people worldwide develop solutions to poverty. There is a greater purpose for why Outreach Event Space exists. We’re going to spend money on events already, so why not have your money go towards something good and to communities who need it? It’s a win-win-win for all.

What matters most to you?
God, my family, a wonderful balance to life when it comes to your personal life and business life. My love tank is filled when we’re serving others and traveling is what I daydream of always.

Because we love this earth so much, we’ve become huge advocates for being green in any way possible from personal to business life and share that a bit throughout our brands.

You know, it’s in interviews like this that I realize how crazy I sound with so many things we love and do.

Pricing:

• Photo booths start at $900
• Photography starts at $500
• Outreach Event Space rental starts at $200/hr
• Rochester has loads of things from food to coffee to beer.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
• Website: BananaWhoBooth.com — JanaMarie.co — Outreach-International.org/eventspace — Rochesterkc.com
• Instagram: @BananaWhoBooth — @JanaMarie.co — @JanaMariePhotos — @OutreachEventSpace — @RochesterKansasCity
• Facebook: @BananaWhoBooth — @JanaMariePhotos — @OutreachEventSpace — @RochesterKC
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdIoJWKFEtUCWOqzSBYNPBw

Image Credits
JanaMarie.co, CatchLight Photography, and Lark Photos