Most waterfront businesses fit their marketing in between everything else. I take it off your plate, from the booking system behind your trips to the merch your guests take home, for marinas and charter operators across Southern California.
What I Handle
Studio services and rates
Built for Businesses on the Water
Operations
So the front desk stops running on sticky notes.
- CRM and workflow setup
- Slip and charter booking systems
- Website design and builds
- Customer surveys and feedback
Monday.com pipelines UMG still runs on · Apple Inc. sentiment program
Marketing
The right boaters find you and keep coming back.
- Local SEO and Google Business Profile
- Directory listings and reviews
- Email newsletters
- Paid ads on Google and Meta
CPCs as low as $0.04 · 3,500+ editorial pitches at UMG
Photo and Video
Made on the water, never pulled from a stock site.
- Marina and harbor photography
- Yacht and boat listing photos
- Charter and promo video
- 360° and underwater footage
Griffin Museum selection · 128K+ site visitors in 180+ countries
Growth
Grants that get renewed and merch people actually wear.
- Grant writing
- Events and boat shows
- Sponsorships and cross-promotions
- Branded merch and online stores
$60K renewed for Sea Otter Savvy · Stores for six brands and nonprofits
Partnerships and Rates
Every engagement runs on a flat rate with no hourly billing. A slip or charter-time trade can cover part of it.
Compare partnershipsStrategic Partnership
from$3,000/mo
Fractional marketing and operations leadership on a quarterly commitment.
Visual Content Partnership
from$3,500/mo
Monthly photo and video plus access to my archive, with digital usage rights included.
On-Location Production
from$2,500
Single-day shoots to multi-week residencies with a two-person field team and redundant cameras.
Project Builds
from$1,500
Websites, CRMs, email systems and merch setups on platforms you own, priced by scope.
What I'm Open To
I've spent years working from the land side of the harbor, and I'm ready to move my days onto the docks.
Any of these setups can be paid or traded for a pet-friendly (indoor only) place to live or time on the water, and I'm happy to split it. I'm glad to hear other ideas too.
A liveaboard slip as part of the pay
The work credited against slip and liveaboard fees, so the marina gets steady help and a resident who walks the docks every day. Once a slip is lined up I plan to buy a boat that's already in the area, ideally one for sale in your marina. If the trade ever winds down, I'd stay on as a paying liveaboard tenant.
Paid work on the water
Dock and marina operations, from assistant dockmaster shifts to crew work, or anything else that gets me off the parking lot and onto the floats.
A live-work space on site
An RV spot or a room near the water, in exchange for keeping an eye on the grounds after hours and running the marketing.
Charter time
Hours aboard your charter boat in exchange for photo and video of your trips or an extra hand on deck.
A Johnstown Steel-Town Kid Who Ended Up Living Dockside in California
I grew up in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, spending summers on Lake Shawnee and Raystown Lake, and have lived dockside at a Southern California harbor since leaving Los Angeles, documenting the wildlife and the boat traffic from the end of the dock. Before that I spent more than fifteen years in music marketing and operations, including Universal Music Group and Apple.
Griffin Museum of Photography Executive Director Crista Dix selected my photograph of Profile Point, made from a boat off Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park, for Enduring Ground: America's National Parks, the museum's juried 2026 online exhibition. I also hold one of three CAWS wildlife photography certifications awarded through Sea Otter Savvy.
Today I run Salt + Noelle, a conservation media studio, and serve as Advising Director of Marketing & Development at Sea Otter Savvy. I work independently, and I'm glad to send references along with my marine conservation portfolio.
From Clients and Colleagues
At UMe, Alexis completely overhauled and streamlined our priority pitching process with her systems knowledge and strategic thinking. She was instrumental in getting our organization up and running on Monday.com, Slack, and other workflow tools that transformed how we collaborated.
Corrie ArnyVice President, Digital Commerce, Universal Music Group
Working with Salt + Noelle has been transformative for our organization. Alexis has helped us modernize systems, navigate new technologies, strengthen donor visibility, organize programs, and think more strategically about our growth and impact.
Heather BarrettScience Communication Director, Research Scientist, Sea Otter Savvy
Before You Write
Do you already have a boat?
Not yet, and that's on purpose. Once a slip is lined up I'll buy a boat that's already in the area, ideally one for sale in your marina, so there's no delivery and your staff already know the vessel.
How is the trade measured?
It depends on the work. Ongoing help like listings or newsletters usually runs as a set number of hours each month, while a defined build like a website or a boat show booth is scoped as a project. Either way I match your posted slip and liveaboard rates against my standard rates and invoice through Salt + Noelle LLC, so both sides have a paper trail.
What happens if the trade stops working?
I'd stay on as a paying tenant at your standard rate. I'd rather put that in writing at the start so nobody has to sort it out later.
What about pets?
They're indoor only. You won't see them on the docks.
Where will you work?
Anywhere from Goleta to Del Mar, and I'll go as far north as Santa Cruz or as far south as San Diego for the right fit.
Are you insured?
Yes. Salt + Noelle carries $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate in commercial general liability. I can add your business as an additional insured and send a certificate before any work starts.
Have a Project on the Water?
Tell me what's on your list, even if it's only half figured out. If you'd rather trade for a mooring or time aboard, I'm open to that too. I read every message myself.
Button not opening your email? Send me a note at alexisnoelle@saltnoelle.com.