Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcy Browe.
Hi Marcy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey to becoming a branding photographer started at a young age.
My grandfather made a living as a portrait photographer. In his basement he had built a professional photography darkroom, I was fascinated with all the equipment he had in the darkroom.
It was with one of my grandfather’s cameras that I learned to be a photographer.
Just like my grandfather, I always wanted to photograph people.
I had no interest in photographing sunsets or architecture. It was faces and movement and expressions that immediately captured my interest.
But honestly, as much as I loved photographing people, I didn’t immediately set my sights on making a living from photography.
I was also obsessed with advertising and marketing and branding. I was fascinated with how ads were created and how marketing language was created.
I graduated from college with a degree in advertising and spent 15 years working for high end, tech-driven companies in their advertising and marketing departments.
For much of my career, I worked for TV Guide.
Being at TV Guide as it metamorphosed from a magazine into an entirely new company with a transforming brand taught me so much about branding and shifting perceptions and controlling the narrative of your own external image.
But while I was deep in the corporate marketing phase of my life, I was also developing a growing passion for portrait photography.
My photography was a side interest, something I did when I had free time. Or on occasion I provided photography for my company’s marketing pieces and headshots for my friends.
Eventually the corporate career got tired. I felt like I was constantly in sprint mode in the rat race. I was working long hours and beginning to grow uninspired,
When I felt this feeling of dis-satisfaction setting in, I embarked on a journey of soul searching, and asked myself what it would be like if I turned my side hustle, my passion for photography, into my main gig?
That’s exactly what I did! I combined my background in branding and marketing with my love of photography,
Now, I proudly declare that I am a branding photographer!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Leaving the comfort of a well paying job to living the life of an entrepreneur wasn’t easy! I had to learn how to excel at the craft of photography while also learning how to run a business.
I’ve had multiple team members over the years, and this has been one of the more challenging aspects for me, because it’s risky to bring someone on to your payroll and provide them with consistent pay when each month is inconsistent in the business.
Getting into my first photo studio was also a learning experience for me. My first studio was a space that I shared with another business owner, and that relationship didn’t end well, and I was left owing a lot of money to our property manager after she unexpectedly parted ways with me.
But I know that with growth comes new challenges and I can honestly say that I’ve learned so much in my 11 years of owning this business!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a branding photographer which means that I help my clients attract their ideal clients through photos. I specialize in this because I know my extensive background in the marketing industry helps me create photos that support their marketing.
I also made the choice to be a sustainable, green-certified business because I am deeply passionate about the environment and I set my business up to eco-friendly and I give back to earth-friendly causes that are meaningful to me.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I moved to Oceanside 11 years ago and I’ve seen so much growth, but this city and the people who live and work in Oceanside do a wonderful job of keeping the heart of the city. This is a local’s city, it’s the place where you always see familiar faces around town, and there is a sense of pride about living here that I very much embody.
I love supporting Oceanside restaurants and local business owners!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://marcybrowe.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcybrowe_photo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcybrowephoto/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcy-browe-b85341/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@marcybrowephotography2251
Image Credits
Ashley Strong Smith
Sarah Morgan
Becki Freed
