Meet Marlene Forand

We were lucky to catch up with Marlene Forand recently and have shared our conversation below.

Marlene, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

Some people say they are “self taught” and I guess you can say that pertains to me. I attribute my creative talent and ability to God. I graduated high school at 16 (an honor roll student) and then went in to nursing of all things! My creative side was always a part of my personality but not my career choice. It wasn’t until I moved to Tampa and my first job in television was a Coke commercial doing the wardrobe styling. I never looked back.

My creativity stays alive by my connection to my faith and always learning new things. I’ve never been on a shoot where I didn’t learn something new. Creativity cannot be taught. It truly is a gift from above.

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?

If I had it my way, everything I do would be to help feed the underserved in our country. Since a large amount of my work is food focused (I also shoot fashion) I have always felt that food should never be a luxury but all too often it is. I have been trying to launch a cookbook (tabletop art book) to support food pantries. Sometimes the items headed for the trash can become a gourmet meal. I take them home and transform them into something not only aesthetically beautiful, but also delicious.

Since I have worked in film, television and print for 30 years I offer a unique “Swiss Army Knife” type of service. On typical shoots and commercials, despite there being only 1 or 2 actors, I’ve learned to wear many hats well. In addition to being an art director, stylist, photographer, editor, wardrobe stylist and make-up artist I am an asset to my clients and my love and passion for the work continues on. I have 2 websites highlighting my skills.
www.marleneforanddesigns.com
www.foodfacesandfashionphotography.com

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?

Three qualities and skills that set me apart are integrity, godly character and a team player attitude. I always suggest to new folks on their journey to study, find a mentor and get on set to gain experience. You can graduate from a University or Culinary Institute, but actually hands on is the best way to learn. Pay attention and be diligent. Don’t be afraid to ask for direction and most importantly…LOVE WHAT YOU DO!

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

The most important book to impart wisdom is the bible. It is jam packed with life skills, keys to overcome life’s obstacle and a blue print to learning wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.marleneforanddesigns.com www.foodfacesandfashionphotography.com
• Instagram: marleneforanddeigns
• Facebook: Marlene Forand Designs
• Linkedin: Marlene Forand designs

Image Credits

All photography, styling and editing done by Marlene Forand