Meet Molly Marler | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Molly Marler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Molly, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I have always lived by the saying “I’d rather regret things I’ve done than things I haven’t”… with a little “It’s better to ask for forgiveness than for permission” on the side. While that may not have always benefitted me personally, I honestly can’t think of one risk that hasn’t been beneficial when it comes to my work. Whether that means guerrilla-style shoots in places I may or may not have been necessarily “authorized” to be, reaching out to complete strangers on the internet to ask about shooting with/assisting/photographing them, or taking a chance working in a particular style or technique I didn’t exactly know but ended up figuring out – risks have been a crucial part of developing my career and discovering my aesthetic. What fun is there in playing it safe, anyway? Life -and art- is for making mistakes and learning and growing from them! Highly recommend.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always been someone who loves photographs – I remember tearing magazines apart when I was very young, making collages of my favorite images and turning one photo into something else entirely. I was also obsessed with National Geographic magazine and also remember watching the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition special on HBO, enraptured with the idea of being someone who travels to these exotic locations to photograph some of the world’s most beautiful creatures.

I’m originally from Atlanta, and think that growing up in the South had a huge impact on how I see beauty in the world. From the art and photography books on my parents’ coffee table to bright spring daffodils, autumnal splendor and a million shades of gray in the Atlanta winter, antique shops and gorgeous old Southern homes next to street art and shiny skyscrapers – I love so much about the juxtaposition of the South, and still seek to strike that high/low balance in my work. I love the grit of life, something with a soul to it, and find so much beauty in seemingly ordinary moments.

When I was a teenager, we lost my Daddy, my Grandfather and my Uncle in like a two year timespan, and it was devastating. Then followed a couple of really dark years full of sadness and pain. Little did I know then that having my heart cracked open that way would just make it a deeper well for me to feel, love, and create from later. When I got married and had my babies, I was consumed with photographing my family, always inspired to capture each little moment so I wouldn’t forget a thing… I think having lost loved ones earlier in life made me appreciate beauty in the little things, if that makes sense? I clearly also have ADD (ha!), which allows me to multitask and gives me a million ideas about how to be creative. I wake up at 4am and write things down all the time. As far as my portrait work, one of my favorite things in the world is photographing someone and showing them how beautiful they are – I find literally every human beautiful. Our uniqueness and our differences are what interest me most.

I’m most proud of my photography work with Medicine for Humanity, a nonprofit medical care and teaching organization that provides surgery to women with birth injuries in Uganda. I have the privilege of traveling to Africa with a team of medical professionals for about two weeks every year, telling the visual story of their work and the women we get to serve; it is some of the most fulfilling work of my life. Well, that and the fact that I get to do what I love for a living, with the freedom to make my own schedule, travel and spend time with my family & friends. I’m so freaking lucky.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve been in LA for 10 years and am still obsessed! There are so many iconic places to see, so much amazing art, culture, food, shopping and cocktail spots, I feel like I wear out my guests when they visit. I would probably start with a gorgeous morning hike on one of my favorite trails in Malibu or a workout with my trainer Scott St. John, then grab a smoothie or acai bowl at Sunlife (cliché but it’s worth it – I get the Mystic or Dragon Bowl, fyi), some shopping around the Country Mart (James Perse, Teressa Foglia, Barefoot Dreams, Madison), lunch at Cafe Habana (raw veggie salad & a skinny Casamigos marg), then some beach time with friends to watch them surf while we stand up paddle board, winding down with a beach bonfire on Little Dume. Maybe a late night Nobu reservation (get everything) and then picantes next door to finish off the perfect Malibu day. I could create similar itineraries for the Valley, East or Westside, or even a road trip up the coast, depending on how much time we have! For me, at the time of this interview, some “can’t misses” would include: a Montecito day and visit to Lotusland, one of the most magical places in CA, an LA museum day (my friend the insanely talented Kwaku Alston currently has an exhibit at the Leica Gallery, so duh, but also The Huntington, The Broad, The Getty, Annenberg ), a concert at the Bowl, Eataly, a WeHo shopping/dining day, the Rosebowl or Long Beach flea, road trips to Joshua Tree, Big Sur, Palm Springs… I could go on and on. Clearly.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have been so fortunate to have the support of my wonderful family and amazing friends throughout the journey of making a career out of my photography. In the beginning, I had a mentor who taught me so much and gave me incredible opportunities to learn and ask endless questions while shooting together. Then, my friends and the entire Malibu community rallied around me and my work and have provided so many chances for me to get paid doing what I love. The significance of referrals cannot be overstated! My friends have generously allowed me to shoot in their homes, modeled for me, trusted me with their brands, events, family and business portraits and so much more – all while also being endlessly encouraging and supportive. My husband David and our children are my forever inspiration, and I couldn’t do this without them believing in my work. I get asked to travel across the state or across the world and he always, always holds things down at home so I can go do my thing. “Africa? You HAVE to go. Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out.” I’m the luckiest.

Instagram: @mollymarlerphotography

Other: mollymarler@gmail.com