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

Genny, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think your parents did right?

My parents played a huge role in me starting my own business. Education was very important however having drive and creativity were also strongly encouraged and taught. My dad owned his own business and I watched the ups and downs, but it taught me how to be an entrepreneur and the feeling of success you get by being in charge of your own business. I was told I could do anything/be anything and I really believed it!

When I fell in love with art, they supported me when I decided that I wanted to study fine arts but pushed a mix of arts with liberal arts degree. I went to school on a scholarship and graduated with a BFA from Southern Methodist University. The first few years out of college was a struggle, but with a sink or swim mentality, I hustled and started my first business as an art therapist.

My parents let me struggle and encouraged me to continue trying. I was determined, I always saw that as a creative challenge and I still do. I found a way to blend my world of entrepreneurship and a lifelong love of creating.

My mom was a homemaker, and a hard worker, and she also taught me the joys in being a mother and making space for that in my life as well. Now owning my own studio, having a successful career in photography and also being able to raise my young children, I have the dream job! Most importantly, though, my parents have a partnership in which they rely on each other for support and I couldn’t have done any of this without my biggest cheerleader, my husband, Hans.

Overall, success was never considered monetary. And that’s huge for me. The most important thing was finding something you are passionate about, and monetary success will come to you, but the success of creating a business helping others and providing for your family as the greatest success of all.

Genny, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I went to university and then on / to complete my masters in art education. I have a degree in the fine arts with a concentration in photography and sculpture. I assisted a photographer right out of college, which really helped me realize I could do it; one day I could have my own studio. I left Texas, where I was raised and went to college, moved to California and soon realized I need a job! My love for learning led me back to school where I enrolled in my masters in education and then taught photography at a prep school in San Diego California for 12 years . I had my kids and my devotion to my students and my teaching waned and I didn’t feel like I was 100% present anymore. Raising my family is so important to me that I decided then it was the right time to open up my studio. The next 11 years consisted of three moves, opening two new studios and an evolution of my photographing business moving from capturing portraits and brand work, to interiors and architectural photography.

When my talented sister-in-law, Brooke Moser of By Brooke Interiors, first asked me to take pictures of her interior design work I knew THIS WAS IT! Growing up in the real estate world, I have a love for spaces, how they are designed, how people use them and how the image of a space plays an important impact in how the space is monetized.

I love capturing the narrative of the space; how the light hits the building or comes through the window and the way it makes you feel, and truly in the end how a designer creates for their client. Whether it’s a workspace, a commercial property, a hotel or a residence as an intuitive photographer, capturing the essence and feeling of a space is what I do best.

I believe that what I do best is elevating clients’ designs to bring them to most success and gain a higher level of client. I can translate their three-dimensional space into a two dimensional image and capture that feeling that they created. They then use it for their portfolio for press, for social media content, and they can share this elevated work with their peers and hopefully gain more clients.

I am so proud of this work, but I’m most proud that although I work alone, every photo shoot is a collaborative effort and I listen to my designers and architects and I look at what they’ve done and I evaluate the space and I really try my hardest to do what’s best for them.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

My most effective strategy has been connecting and networking with as many people as I can within the shelter industry. My company really did boom during Covid and that did have a lot to do with the fact that people were working on their homes because they were stuck in their homes. Although I meet a lot of clients through instagram, I try to join groups, have coffee dates, and introduce myself to anyone in the business. I find that networking and any sort of in person meeting is the best. It’s old school, but I’ve had the most luck with it.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I pride myself on being approachable, communicative, and I try to educate my clients. I’m a very practical person and so I like clients to get the most out of their photo shoots. This sometimes means I stop and I show them how to capture pictures with their iPhone or we think through The shot list and the props and a great narrative so that we can push it through press. Whether the job is a small one room bath or a full home tour, they all get the same attention.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.gennymoller.com
• Instagram: @gennymollerphotography
• Facebook: Genny Moller Photography and Design

Image Credits

Image # 1 Designer: Interior Occupations
Image # 2 Designer: Holah Architecture and Design
Image # 3 Designer: Cedarhurst Designs
Image # 4 Designer: Miranda Kaye Interiors
Image # 5 Designer: Bird In Hand
Image # 6 Designer: Sparrow Interiors
Image # 7 Designer: Emilia Decor
Image # 8 Designer: Exceptional Homes by Andre

All images credited : Genny Moller Photography