Meet Laura Marzullo

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Laura Marzullo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Laura, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

Honestly, confidence and self-esteem have never been something that just “stayed consistent” for me. They come and go, especially in a creative space where you’re constantly putting yourself out there. Running my business has been a journey with a lot of self-doubt, worries, and even some tough mental health moments.
What’s really kept me going, though, is the support I’ve gotten from my friends, family, and clients. It all started with my friends trusting me to capture their moments, and that gave me the push to keep creating. Their encouragement, along with kind words from clients, has been the thing that helps me believe in myself—even on days when it’s hard to.
Of course, I’m proud of the work I make, but honestly, it’s always been about the people. Knowing they trust me with their memories gives me a sense of purpose and reminds me why I do this. I know people say confidence has to come from within, and maybe one day I’ll fully get there, but for now, I’m just grateful to have found a form of it through something I’ve built and through the people who believe in me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a senior at the University of Tampa studying marketing, and I’ve been running my photography business since the spring of 2021—so it’s almost five years now. It really all started with me being the “friend photographer.” I was always the one with the camera, and eventually people started asking me to take their pictures and even offered to pay me. My very first paid shoots were graduation photos, and from there it just kind of snowballed into couples, families, and eventually all kinds of sessions.
Now I offer just about everything – from weddings and lifestyle shoots to events, branding, headshots, maternity, and even fun creative ideas that clients bring my way. That’s one of my favorite parts of what I do: every shoot is so different, and I get to meet such a variety of people. I always leave feeling like I’ve made a new friend, not just taken photos.
Lately, I’ve been focusing more on building my wedding portfolio, which has been such an exciting new challenge. Weddings are so special, and being trusted to capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments is something that really pushes me to grow. Overall, I feel so grateful that something I started for fun with my friends has turned into something that gives me both purpose and joy.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, I’d say the three qualities that had the biggest impact on my journey are work ethic, communication skills, and creating a personable brand.

Having a strong work ethic in a creative space is never easy. Burnout is real, and balancing life outside of your business can feel overwhelming. What kept me going was knowing I had built something I was proud of, and seeing the results reflected in my clients’ happiness. My clients really are my fuel and fire.

Communication skills have also been essential. Photography is so one-on-one, and I want every client to have a clear idea of what they’re getting into. From booking forms to texting, to giving detailed next steps, I try to make the entire process easy, efficient, and enjoyable.

And then there’s building a personable brand—it’s honestly one of the most fun and rewarding parts of this career. You learn so much about yourself along the way. I put 100% of myself into my work, and the love I’ve received back has been incredible. For me, it’s never just about photos. It’s about giving people a whole experience, one where they feel like their best friend is behind the camera cheering them on.

For anyone starting out in photography, my biggest advice is simple: just go for it. Don’t wait until you feel “ready,” because the best growth happens while you’re in the process. Stay passionate, have fun, and pour yourself into the experience. Passion is what fuels this business far more than finances ever will. If you can keep that spark alive, the rest will follow.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

If I could truly answer this question, it would be pages long. To sum it up, my dream collaborations would be working on campaigns or projects for the entertainers I love most. I’m a fan girl at heart, and I really believe fans are the new marketers. We play such a big role in the promotion and development of artists today, and to be part of capturing their stories would be an absolute dream.

I take a lot of pride in who I choose to support and look up to. I strive to follow people who not only inspire me creatively but who also seem to have genuinely good hearts. Of course, no one can know for sure, but I like to believe that the people I admire are putting good into the world with what they create.

If Dominic Fike and his team ever wanted to collaborate, I would be over the moon. That would be a full-circle moment for me.

For anyone interested in collaborating, you can connect with me on Instagram at @lauramarzullopictures or through my website: https://lauramarzullopictures.mypixieset.com

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?

Coffee? Workouts? Hitting the snooze button 14 times? Everyone has their morning ritual and we

Highlighter Series
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?

Our deepest wounds often shape us as much as our greatest joys. The pain we

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than