Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Dickson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Molly. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My mom was an art director, so I grew up going to set. I had no interest in photography until I took a black and white intro course as an elective in college. I ended up getting an art degree in photography from the University of North Texas in 2005, but I knew that I would gravitate back to commercial photography. After school, I assisted photographers for many years in Texas and Florida. Initially, I was too shy to ever consider working with models or live subjects.
Most of the projects I focused on were still-life based, even though the first few years of assisting. In 2009, I had launched my own business and was slowly taking on my first clients when I really grew an interest in shooting fashion. There was one photographer that I really wanted to assist, Thom Jackson, so I bothered him until he finally let me come on as a second assistant.
Thom became a mentor and friend, and that relationship was pivotal to me figuring out who I was as a photographer. He must be such good fashion photographer because he is genuinely interested in people. I think I’m similar in that I’m a fashion photographer, but I don’t care that much about fashion.
Great, 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?
Digital and social media have changed photography. I only had experience with film in college but I was lucky enough to come into the industry it right as the shift to digital seemed to be solid, so my experience was much easier than photographers that had to switch mid-career. The photography industry is challenging. It’s very saturated, so your work needs to be relevant but also distinctive from everyone else.
On the flip side, it’s also never been easier to get your work out there. There are so many ways potential clients can find you – social media, websites, online publications, people sharing your work etc. I’m just barely a Millennial, so I have to make a conscious effort to learn relevant technology. For example, a few years ago I had a pitch that required me to come up with a snapchot campaign… so I had to run home and learn snapchat.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I’m a fashion photographer and I also work in stop-motion animation. I call it “moving image” because I am tediously manipulating thousands of still images. Its very time consuming, but it’s also a labor of love. I focus on commercial, advertising, and editorial work and I am based in Dallas. Some of my clients include Ferragamo, Hewitt-Packard, Bumble, Forty-Five Ten, Bonobos, Reef, and Veuve Clicquot. I am represented by Sisterbrother Mgmt.
What role has luck (good luck or bad luck) played in your life and business?
I’ve tried to operate under a philosophy of creating work I enjoy, and the right clients will find you. Somehow, that’s worked out. In the last few years, I’ve even done quite a bit of work remotely with ad agencies I’ve never met in person because they’ve stumbled upon my website/Vimeo/Instagram/facebook/who even knows.
So I feel extremely lucky to have projects where I work with creative people locally, nationally, and occasionally internationally. This industry has introduced me to a wide range of creative, truly unique individuals.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.mollydicksonphotography.com
- Instagram: @savemolly
- Other: https://vimeo.com/savemolly
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