We were lucky to catch up with Marie Moon recently and have shared our conversation below.
Marie, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
This started back in 2014, Vic & I were struggling to conceive, and being limited on income, skipping meals until our next paycheck, loosing my job, and trying to figure out our way, it was pretty tough. I vividly remember my cousin [who is now our hair and make up artist in our studio] asking me to capture her baby shower event, which I happily agreed to. I remember picking up the camera, feeling joy, and feeling this type of importance. Like this was what I was meant to do. I remember guiding people into group shots, getting detailed shots, and going home to work on them. The very next day, we purchased an actual camera and decided to start putting ads on our local craigslist for free photoshoots [eventually paid photoshoots] as we gathered our portfolio, and tried to figure out what it was that Vic & I truly wanted to capture. we ventured into Family, Weddings, events, Newborns, Babies, Children, Seniors, Couples, and realized our heart was truly at Maternity, Newborn, and the First Year. With the occasional 2,3,4,5 all the way to 10 year olds.
We had an instance where we traveled to a family’s home, set up, took pictures of both of their babies with sheets from a thrift store, lights from a china company, and props that were too big on the babies. I remember going home, feeling defeated because we did not get many good pictures of the babies. My editind skills were also not that great [LOL] so when we delievered the images, they said that although they appreciated the effort, they did not like the images, and that they felt this was not the profession we should be in, and that we should look into doing something else.
I remember crying and sobbing, and telling Vic I was done. I didn’t want to do this anymore because I was a person who felt things too strongly. So anything negative would hit me pretty harshly.
But Vic then told me, ‘Do you want to prove them right…or Prove them wrong?
Of course, I thought about it….I stopped crying, and that is when I realized I wanted to prove them wrong.
So, Vic and I switched roles, he took over the camera, I took over editing and the emails/scheduling, and it’s like everything made sense.
After a Miscarriage in 2016, a Pregnancy in 2017, a 3rd Pregnancy in 2020, and 3 Studios, we found our purpose. Between our Line of Work + Both of My Boys, Our Purpose was clear. We wanted to capture those little details of the most important little persons in our lives as well as our client’s lives. These tiny, fleeting moments and milestones of children and their families have become a part of us and who we are as Vic and Marie. We’re all about Family.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I focus on our studios, mainly. But I’m also a Mother 2 crazy but sweet [to me] boys <3
What’ most exciting about running studios is creating sets, that part is what makes me ME! hahahah.
I honestly enjoy working on new set ups and putting them together, and not only this, but seeing our clients swoon over what is on my mind a lot, and making it come alive, it just gives me more of my own purpose.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Top three would have to be:
1. Communication! It’s so important to keep clients in the loop, and making sure they don’t feel like they are being ignored or don’t feel like they are important, but they are! They keep us busy, help put food on our tables for not only my family, but our team members, and making sure they are always taken care of.
2. Creativity. Without it, I don’t think our studios would be thriving as they are! It’s fun coming up with new sets and playing around with our props to put together something new and fun.
3. Love. Loving what you do and what you put your whole heart in, makes everything worth it. All the stress levels, all the pain, heartaches, everything. I put my heart in everything I’ve put together, and I feel it shows in our work and art.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
The most helpful and amazing person has been my husband, Vic. I really couldn’t do any of this if it weren’t for him pushing me and making me better than who I was when we first started. He believed in me and knew I could be the person I am now [and still growing!] He has always makes me see things a different way, in a more understanding way, and he is just pretty awesome [can you tell i’m in love?]
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vicandmariephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicandmariephotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vicnmariephotography
Image Credits
Vic and Marie Photography
