Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Dougherty.
Hi Molly, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was made in New Orleans, LA but got to Texas as fast as I could! I grew up in a small East Texas town called Hemphill, TX and then moved to Huntsville, Tx to attend college.
I graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. I went on to begin my career in sales/marketing for an oil and gas company, but three years later decided that it wasn’t the right fit/industry for me.
I then went to become a teacher and taught grades 1st, 3rd, 6th and high school. I taught for a total of seven years and was a head cheer coach for three years.
In June 2021, I took some maternity photos for a friend… from my iPhone! She was due very soon and wanted some last-minute photos so I said, “Hell I’ll take some of you let’s go”….And quite honestly, they weren’t terrible, they were actually really good (lol) and most people couldn’t believe they were from an iPhone! Technology is wild these days y’all.
A few months after this, I bought a used Canon Rebel T7 and thought, “I am not going to be able to figure this out and it will be a waste of money but oh well”. I started shooting some friends, figuring out manual mode (UGH), and just YouTubing everything. I also had a couple of successful photography friends that I would go to for answers and thank God for them because not all photographers are nice and share secrets!
In September of 2021, MollyD Photography was born. I have always been the friend that “takes too many photos” or has a good eye for potential. My mom did professional photography as a hobby for a while when I was in high school but I never really pictured myself doing it.
In May 2022, I took my last walk out of my classroom and never looked back. What a sigh of relief! I am currently a Digital Marketing Manager for a very well-known moving company here in Texas working remotely and traveling occasionally. I also do photography for this company which is super cool to combine the two things I really enjoy! Photography & Marketing!
As of this day, almost a year later since my business was born, my photography has evolved SO much and only for the better! I found my niche (seniors/babies/families) and really excel in these areas. I cannot believe how much business has come my way just by word of mouth and my little ole social media accounts!
My dream is to one day have a lot of lands, lots of animals and have my own studio/atelier on our property. I want an Atelier that is so unique, that will not only attract other photographers but make beautiful photos for my clients.
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?
I wouldn’t say it’s been a “tough” road but learning something new is always somewhat frustrating at first. Since opening my business, I have upgraded my camera… TWICE. Yes, twice.
I very quickly upgraded to a full-frame 5d Mark iii after starting with my Canon Rebel. I am a very impatient person and have high expectations for myself (sometimes unrealistic) but I also learn quickly. I recently just ordered my Mirrorless Canon R6 and I cannot wait to receive it in the mail!!!
I would say my two biggest struggles would be juggling two jobs and figuring out lighting in manual mode. Lighting is a beast of its own and I still learn new things every day. I wouldn’t say I have it “figured out” but I am MUCH more experienced than when I began.
Two jobs can be super hard both mentally and physically, especially during the “busy” seasons, but I manage. Time management is CRUCIAL and has to be strategic. It really is a crazy thing to get paid to do something you truly enjoy!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a professional photographer and I specialize in Lifestyle and Natural light photography. Honestly, I am not really “known” for anything except for maybe being super talkative and silly. Some would call it other things. LoL
I am most proud of the resilience that I have shown in switching careers, picking up an extra career along the way, and succeeding in all of it. It has NOT been an easy road but I am loving the direction I am going!
What sets me apart from others? Hm. I would like to think that I am super personable. No two sessions are alike. Every shoot has its own story, and I want to know exactly what that is! I want to know about your life and story so I can capture every emotion perfectly.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I’ve had to learn to separate friendship and business, and it’s not a topic that ANYONE wants to talk about. If you don’t respect me enough to value my hard work and dedication to building my business, then you don’t respect me enough, plain and simple.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mollydphoto.com
- Instagram: @mollydphoto
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/mollydphotography1
Image Credits
Personal Photo is by: Amy Lindemann. All other photos are by me.
