Today we’d like to introduce you to Janeris Marte.
Hi Janeris, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
For over twenty-five years, photography was my world. I built a career capturing people’s most meaningful moments, weddings, portraits, milestones, the kind of work that requires your whole heart. And for a long time, I loved it. But when the world shut down in 2020, something inside me did too.
Lockdown made me realize how fragile everything I had built really was. I remember thinking, if something this impossible can happen, a global shutdown, who is to say it will not happen again? My income disappeared overnight, and even when things started opening back up, my heart was no longer in it. I enjoyed focusing on my kids. I was exhausted physically, mentally, and spiritually.
I have lived with lupus for over twenty years. For much of my photography career, I pushed myself to keep up with the constant demand of clients, long shoot days, travel, editing, deadlines, and needing to constantly find more and more clients. I was doing work my body could not always handle, but it was all I knew. When lupus flared, I worked through the pain because the alternative was losing income. That cycle of pressure and physical strain slowly drained me.
When lockdown hit, I realized I could not keep living that way. I started searching for something that did not depend on clients or my physical energy. I tried everything: Airbnb, stocks, drop shipping, affiliate marketing, and content creation. I was determined to find a better way, but nothing felt aligned.
One day, I looked around my office and saw my camera gear collecting dust. I was still paying for photography software I had not opened in years. I sat there and realized I had been clinging to an identity that no longer fit me. That same day, I canceled every subscription, packed up my gear, and chose to trust that God had something else waiting.
The biggest wake-up call was not just the pandemic. It was realizing how easily everything could be taken away and how little control I had in a world run by technology. Back in college in 2004, I remember a professor warning us that technology would replace much of what we were learning. At the time, I brushed it off. But years later, I was watching it unfold right in front of me.
That is when God stepped in. He had been preparing me to pivot long before I even saw the signs. Every closed door in photography forced me to look inward and listen. When I finally surrendered, He showed me how to use my story, the struggles, the experience, and the faith, to serve others.
That is how Campfire Rising was born. It is more than a brand; it is a mission to help burned-out entrepreneurs turn their spark into something sustainable. Through my program Ember Revive and my one-on-one mentorship, I now help service providers and creators turn their personal stories into digital products that generate income even when they rest. I teach them how to create a business that works with their life, not against it.
The truth is, burnout does not have to be the end of your story. It can be the beginning of your purpose. God has a way of turning pain into platforms. He took the ashes of a career I thought was over and used them to build a fire that fuels others.
If you are running on fumes, I want you to know there is a better way. You do not have to hustle yourself into the ground. You do not have to ignore your body or silence your faith. You can build income around peace, not pressure. And when you hand it all to God, He will turn your burnout into purpose, just like He did for me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Yes, it was. Once I made the decision to pivot, everything started to fall into place. I was already creating content on TikTok, so when I shifted my focus, growth came naturally. I quickly grew my following across multiple platforms to around fifty thousand and began monetizing every channel.
TikTok Shop took off almost immediately. I joined at the right time and got to witness a new wave of online income from the very beginning. For the first time, I experienced what true freedom felt like. I could travel, be present for my kids, and help my family without feeling tied down by a schedule or clients.
The transition from content creation to teaching and mentoring happened organically. As people began asking how I was doing it, I realized there was a real need for guidance. Helping others find that same freedom came naturally because I was simply sharing what I had already learned to do. It was a smooth and fulfilling shift that allowed me to walk in purpose, not pressure.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work centers on helping people step into purpose and build income around their natural gifts. I mentor service providers, creators, and aspiring entrepreneurs who know they are called to more but are not sure how to begin. I teach them how to take what they already have inside of them and use it to create sustainable income online through digital products, mentorship, and faith-based strategy.
I specialize in helping people find clarity in their story. Many of my students come to me feeling uncertain or overwhelmed, and I walk them through a process that helps them see how their personal experiences can become the foundation of a business. I show them how to simplify what they know, package it in a way people understand, and market it with authenticity.
What I am known for is helping people move forward when they feel stuck. I have a gift for taking something complicated and turning it into a clear, actionable plan. People often tell me they finally feel peace and direction after working with me, and that means more to me than anything.
What sets me apart is that I build everything I teach around faith and purpose. I am not just focused on helping people make money online. I help them build something that aligns with who they are, honors their values, and gives them freedom. I am most proud that the work I do changes more than income. It restores confidence, clarity, and belief in what is possible when you trust God’s timing and step out in faith.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I have definitely taken risks, and many of them came with lessons I had to learn the hard way. In my search for growth, I invested large amounts of money into mentors, marketing programs, and systems that promised results. I truly believed each time that I had finally found the answer. Some of those choices helped me move forward, but many turned out to be expensive mistakes. There were moments I felt completely taken advantage of by people who only cared about selling dreams instead of helping others succeed.
As much as it hurt, I am grateful for those experiences because they shaped how I lead today. They taught me what kind of mentor I never want to be. I do not believe in selling people a fantasy. I believe in helping them build something real and sustainable, something they can stand on even when things get tough.
To me, risk means taking a leap and believing in yourself. Every investment, every new idea, every time you step into the unknown is a risk. I felt that uncertainty every time I got on a sales call filled with promises or watched others selling similar programs in ways that did not align with my values. Those moments reminded me how easy it is to let fear or pressure drive decisions instead of faith and wisdom.
The biggest lesson I have learned is that you must be thoughtful about the risks you take so that you do not regret them later. But if you never take them, you will stay stuck in the same place forever. Growth always requires risk. The key is learning to take risks with discernment, not desperation. When your confidence comes from God and not from what others promise you, every leap becomes a step forward instead of a fall.
Pricing:
- Free training
- $47-$399
Contact Info:
- Website: janeris.com (currently being built)
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/campfirerising?igsh=MTN5ZjZoenB5ZGR4bg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CZ6MZjonN/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janerisstudios/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@janeris?si=hXrs92pcsWqU6f8L
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@campfirerising?_t=ZT-90mIsG5JCJC&_r=1
Image Credits
Photos by
1. Janeris Marte
2. So You By Erica Sue
3. FemForce
