Meet Scott

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

Hi Scott , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Honestly, when I look back, I think the signs were always there. It sounds funny, but I believe a lot of us know who we are when we’re young we just don’t always recognize it. As a kid, I could spend hours drawing cartoon characters, cars, anything that sparked my imagination. Art was where I felt the most myself.

A big influence during that time was Disney. My parents took me to Disney World when I was nine years old, and to this day it’s one of the most memorable trips of my life. Growing up watching Disney movies, being obsessed with Mickey Mouse, and then experiencing that world in person it lit something inside me. The colors, the creativity, the storytelling, the way everything felt magical… it all left a deep impression. That trip really fueled my imagination and made me fall in love with the power of visuals and creativity.

Photography came later, but all those small moments were building blocks. My mom also played a huge role in that. She always had a camera family parties, vacations, everyday moments she captured everything. Watching her freeze memories in time made me appreciate the beauty of holding onto moments, even before I knew what photography really meant.

But the journey wasn’t easy. When I wanted to learn photography seriously, a lot of photographers weren’t willing to teach me or mentor me. I reached out to people I admired, and often I was turned away. It was frustrating, but it pushed me to teach myself, to experiment, to fail, and to keep going. That experience shaped my work ethic as much as anything else.

The real turning point came when I was 25 and my brother handed me his old Nikon D3100 from his yearbook days. That gift changed everything. Once I had that camera, I was hooked. I would go out and shoot anything and everything, just chasing that feeling of creating something meaningful.

Now at 35, I’ve hit my 10-year anniversary of taking photography seriously. A decade of growth, creativity, challenges, and purpose. Somewhere along that path, I realized photography wasn’t just a hobby it was my calling. Capturing moments, telling stories, and creating art through my lens is who I am.

My purpose wasn’t found in just one moment. It was the combination of childhood drawings, Disney’s imagination, my mom’s camera, the rejection that shaped me, and the support of my brother. All of those experiences led me here, and I’m grateful for every part of that journey.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Today, I’m at a point in my life where all the different parts of my creative and professional journey are finally coming together in a really meaningful way. I’ve been taking photography seriously for the last 10 years, and looking back at what I started at 25 and where I stand now at 35, the growth has been incredible. I’ve come such a long way, and I’m truly grateful for every opportunity, every project, and every door that opened for me many of which I never imagined would ever come my way. Sometimes it still blows my mind when I reflect on the experiences I’ve had through photography. It’s been amazing.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve also taken important steps in building my brand. One milestone was creating my official logo, Scott Molina Visuals, which a close friend designed. That logo helped elevate my identity as an artist and made everything feel more “real,” more intentional. My focus isn’t just on photography anymore I’m actively expanding into video work as well. With social media shifting toward short-form content like Instagram reels and TikToks, I see a huge creative opportunity. I’ve done video projects in the past, including music videos for some of my rapper friends, and I definitely want to keep growing in that direction. I’ve always been drawn to filmmaking, writing, and directing, so expanding into video feels like a natural evolution of my creativity.

I’m also exploring ways to grow my brand through products things like hats, shirts, or clothing featuring my photography. I’ve always had a business mindset, and creating tangible pieces of my art is something I’m excited to pursue, though I’m careful not to overwhelm myself by doing too much at once.

Outside of my creative work, I’ve also built a strong career in real estate. I’ve been a real estate agent for six years now with Keller Williams, beginning my journey in 2019 right before COVID. Real estate has taught me so much about business, communication, and discipline, and those skills have definitely shaped the way I approach photography and video as well. The two careers actually work hand-in-hand more than people realize I get to use my creative skills for real estate content all the time, and both fields continue to open new opportunities for me.

Another important part of my focus today is something I’m proud to share publicly: I’ll soon be doing volunteer work with a non-profit called Movie Institute, and eventually joining their board. They focus on giving kids a creative outlet at a young age something I personally connect with deeply. Growing up, I was the “creative kid,” always drawing for hours, expressing myself through art. But in school and society, art isn’t always valued the same as academics or sports. So being part of a mission that helps young creatives find their voice means a lot to me. I want to help inspire the next generation to follow their dreams and help them feel seen.

And one more piece of me that I’m bringing back into the spotlight is music. I’ve rapped and sung for years, and even studied audio engineering in college. Music has always been part of my identity, but I put it on the back burner while building everything else. Now that my life and career have more balance, it feels like the right time to start creating again and exploring that artistic side of myself.

Altogether, these different paths photography, video, real estate, nonprofit work, and music form a full picture of who I am today. I’m excited, motivated, and looking forward to what’s ahead. 2026 is going to be an amazing year, and I’m ready for everything that’s coming.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

When I look back at my journey, there are three qualities and areas of knowledge that shaped me more than anything else: work ethic, people skills, and self-belief. Each one came from real experiences growing up, and each one has played a huge role in every part of my life from photography, to real estate, to music, to everything I’m building today.

1. A Strong Work Ethic

My work ethic was built long before I realized how important it was. My parents put me to work in our family restaurant when I was around 12 years old. At the time, I didn’t understand it I wondered why I had to work so young. But today, I’m grateful for every moment of it.

I did everything: bussing tables, washing dishes, seating guests, prepping food, cooking, server, and eventually managing the restaurant. That experience taught me responsibility and discipline. It showed me what it means to work hard and to take pride in what you do.

My advice for anyone early in their journey: don’t run from hard work. The habits you build when no one is watching will become the foundation of everything you do later in life.

2. People Skills & Service Mindset

Working in a restaurant taught me how to communicate, how to treat people, and how to be comfortable with anyone whether they’re a lawyer, a doctor, a millionaire, or anyone else. I learned early on that everyone is human, and everyone deserves respect.

That service-based mindset has helped me in photography, real estate, and every business relationship I’ve built. Being able to connect with people is just as important as having talent. In a lot of cases, it matters even more.

My advice: practice talking to people, listen more than you speak, and treat everyone with the same level of respect. Good communication will take you far in any field.

3. Self-Belief, Faith, and Resilience

I was bullied growing up, and like a lot of kids, I struggled with insecurities. My parents especially my mom played a major role in shaping my mindset. She always told me to follow my dreams, and she reminded me constantly that “only God can judge you.”

Those words stuck with me. Throughout my life, people have doubted me, criticized me, or tried to tear me down. But I learned that most people project their own fears onto you. Sometimes even the people who love you tell you not to pursue something because they’re afraid of seeing you fail.

But failure is part of growth. I’ve failed many times, and those moments built my character more than anything else.

My advice:
• Protect your dreams.
• Don’t let anyone’s doubt become your doubt.
• Believe in yourself even when no one else does.
• Fall seven times, get up eight.
• Be a student of your craft — read, learn, practice, experiment, use YouTube, and teach yourself anything people refuse to teach you.

At the end of the day, ambition, faith, and resilience are what kept me going. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m still growing every day. My journey hasn’t been easy, but every challenge shaped me into the artist and entrepreneur I am today.

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

Absolutely — I’m very open to collaboration. As I’ve grown in my creative journey, I’ve realized how powerful it is to work with other artists and visionaries. Collaboration brings new ideas, new perspectives, and opportunities to create something bigger than what any of us could do alone.

I’m interested in collaborating with a wide range of people, including:
• Photographers and videographers who want to create fresh concepts and push creative boundaries together.
• Models looking to build portfolios, tell visual stories, or create high-quality photo and video content.
• Visual artists, such as painters, designers, and illustrators, who want to combine mediums and explore unique creative projects.
• Music artists, especially those interested in visual storytelling, music videos, creative direction, or promotional content.
• Real estate professionals and business owners who want to create strong branding, marketing visuals, or social media content.
• Content creators and influencers who want to collaborate on reels, TikToks, or other short-form video content to grow our audiences together.

At the end of the day, I’m open to collaborating with anyone who’s passionate, motivated, and excited about creating something meaningful. Whether it’s for business growth, creative exploration, or simply to bring an idea to life, I’m always down to partner with people who share that same drive.

If you have an idea or want to work together, definitely reach out. You can find me on Instagram at @ScottMolinaVisuals, on YouTube under the same name, and on other platforms by searching Scott Molina. I’m expanding more into TikTok as well, and I’m excited to grow and connect with more creatives there.

Let’s create something great together.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @scottmolinavisuals @scottmdfw
• Facebook: Scott Molina
• Linkedin: Scott Molina
• Twitter: @scottmolinavis
• Youtube: Scott Molina Visuals
• Soundcloud: Scott Molina

Image Credits

Nick Jubera @texmexrican on Instagram took the last picture with the Dallas skyline on my 30th birthday.
Dinorah Garcia @db_garcia_1022 on Instagram she made my Scott Molina Visuals Logo.
Janie Molina @janiebalderasmolina my mother she took my creative picture holding my camera and when I was a kid at Disney World.
All other photos I took.