We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Molly McCormick. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Molly below.
Molly, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I found my purpose simply by picking up my camera. It was truly love at first sight (no pun intended). My very first camera was a Polaroid that my mom gave me, I still remember the sweet sound of the film popping out. I was instantly hooked on capturing moments. My love for photography grew in college, when I would spent hours in the darkroom trying to get the right exposures. When I graduated in 2008, I volunteered at children’s village in rural Tanzania, and my purpose grew even deeper. I fell in love with the people, culture, and the wildlife. When I returned home, I distinctly remember thinking “this is what I want to do with my life, my purpose is to capture moments in time.” Unfortunately, I got stuck in the mentality that I needed a stable job with stable income in order to be successful. My photography journey took the blunt of that societal pressure, and became more of a hobby. I had a sporadic resume- from tennis instructor, to massage therapist, to nanny- but nothing filled that void.
In 2015, I made a choice to change my life. I got sober from a long battle with alcohol addiction. With a new lease on life and a fresh perspective on the world, I focused all my energy on what loved. Eventually, I started spending all my free time exploring mountains, chasing down the next epic sunrise and sunset, and my favorite- watching wildlife. I ventured back to Tanzania in 2012 and 2017, and it reignited that purpose and passion. I knew, photography WAS my purpose, and if I don’t fit the societal mold than hey, at least I’ll have some epic memories to look back on. Fast forward to 2023 and now I’m a full time photographer fulfilling my dream. My love for wildlife and nature has been with me since I was a little kid, and now in my 30’s it gives me life. Conservation is incredibly important to me, especially as a wildlife photographer, and my purpose grows daily trying to tell stories through my shots while also sharing and fighting for this thing we call Earth.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
When I’m not drinking coffee and playing with my pups, I’m out in nature and nerding out with wildlife. The best part about being a wildlife photographer is the unexpected. I tend to be a bit of a control freak, and ironically enough, nature is the one thing you truly have no control over. I think that’s one of the reasons I love it, it makes me uncomfortable and offers me the opportunity to slide out of my comfort zone. I’ve learned so much about myself in my career, and that’s all from being at the hands of Mother Nature. One thing I try to accomplish in my work is keeping things real- in other words when I’m capturing a moment I want it to be as realistic and as close to what my eye is seeing while at the same time telling a story. Conservation and wildlife protection is huge for me, and my number one rule when photographing anything wild is to let be wild. Unfortunately there’s a lot of photographers out there who push ethics out the door to get the shot- I refuse to do that. There’s countless times I’ve embarked on an exciting adventure and don’t have any luck with wildlife. There are also times where the risk of upsetting an animal or pushing the boundaries of coexistence out weighs the shot. If it’s going to negatively impact a species (no matter what type) than I won’t do it. I think that’s what makes my photography unique, and allows me to tell a positive story.
I’ve been fortunate to visit a lot of incredible places- Tanzania, Norway, London, Alaska, just to name a few. Currently, I’m working on partnering with more conservation groups and getting out into more untouched places. I have a trip coming up to hopefully capture coastal sea wolves in Canada. Fingers and paws crossed!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The best advice I can tell newbie photographers is to be patient and keep shooting what you love. Success can take on many forms, and it doesn’t always mean money, popularity, and fame. Success is going out and spending time in nature, and embracing the sights, smells, and sounds. Success is when you wait hours for that little fox kit to come crawling out of the den, witnessing it roll around with it’s siblings as the sun goes down. Success is making a hot cup of coffee at 4am and heading to Rocky Mountain National Park to capture the haunting sounds of elk at sunrise, when there’s not a single soul around. I have thousands of photos that mean nothing to the person next to me, but they mean something to me. The more you shoot, the more you’ll push your creative side, and the more you’ll see what you like and don’t like.
Another piece of advice is to really get to know your camera. Read the manuals from front to back, and indulge on YouTube university. I’ve learned a great deal from other photographers and wildlife lovers. There’s a lot of great information, tutorials, and tricks out there that are easily accessible.
The last piece of advice is to try not to compare yourself to others. Imposter syndrome can be the great decline for creative folk. I sometimes stumble upon it and have to pull myself out and remind myself that I earned my accomplishments because I work hard and I love what I do. Your work is unique to you, and if it makes you feel good and allows you to express yourself, that’s what matters in the end.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
I wish I could say that I rarely come across challenges but that wouldn’t make life interesting now would it? A big challenge for me as photographer is remembering my self-worth. There are an infinite amount of photographers out there, essentially anyone with a smart phone and social media can be a photographer. I run into challenges when it comes to charging and price lists. I can’t even tell you how many people have reached out to get their hands on my work for little to no money or for free. Photo credit and social reach can devalue your work and your overall self. Does that mean I have not said yes to these types of things? No, depending on the the client or organization. However, if you go down that path it’s a slippery slope and you do not want to continue down a road of negative self worth. Never be afraid to charge clients and charge them what you are truly worth. If they want to go a less expensive route or find a freebee photographer that’s great for them, 9 times out of 10 the work won’t be as unique and powerful as yours.
Also, a cool t-shirt or hat with a logo on it is not a far trade for a shoot or a print. Don’t shoot for swag! (Unless it’s a new car, I would totally take that trade).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mollymccormickphoto.com
- Instagram: @mollymccormickphoto
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/mollymccormickphoto
Image Credits
Molly McCormick
