We were lucky to catch up with Moch Snyder recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Moch, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
My mission is to help capture stories — ones that you can share with others. The story behind it ties closely to my family heritage.
I was born in Cambodia, a third-world country, while it was being torn apart by Pol Pot’s reign. My parents met under tragic circumstances: at a concentration camp not long after being separated from their own families. I know they found comfort in one another. To this day, I’m not entirely sure what triggered the decision to leave, but they fled the camp together and made it safely across the border to Thailand, where they ended up in a refugee camp.
A few years later, my sister and I were born. Cameras were scarce at the refugee camp, so my older sister doesn’t have any photos of herself younger than five years old. Luckily, I had a picture taken as a newborn that remains the closest thing to an official birth certificate I own!
This part of my upbringing is why my mission is about capturing stories to share with others. Growing up, I would visit my friends and be mesmerized by all their childhood photographs and nostalgic memories tied to them. I loved hearing their stories and couldn’t help but wonder about the untold stories of my own. Part of me doesn’t think I’d want to see all of the hardships my family had to endure, while the other wishes I had more to remember my father by since he passed soon after I got married. Regardless, I know the images would tell a powerful story.
Moch, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Something about me is that I have always loved imagery! Ever since I was little, photographs and book illustrations drew me in. As a teenager, I loved reading magazines. I found them all to be dreamlike. For what seemed to be the longest time, I was unsure of what I wanted to do when I grew up and then that changed as soon as I got my hands on a camera, something clicked!
I knew photography was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Even if I was not great at it in the beginning, I felt freedom by having a camera in my hand and wanted to take photos of everything I knew and met! Ha! While point-and-shoot cameras were great, I was then introduced to film photography and developing images in a dark room. Let me tell you; it was magical! I will never forget that black and white film class. It was the start of my dream of being a photographer and when I was gifted my first camera.
I went on to college and pursued a career I thought I might be successful in: marketing with an emphasis in PR. I chose that path because I was told that being an artist wasn’t a career worth chasing after since “you can’t make a living off it.” Ultimately, I had to complete an internship to get my degree. So naturally, I sought out a photographer through a mutual friend. That internship is how I learned that you could have a career as a photographer!
Soon after, I was gifted my second camera — it was a DSLR. I even attended a month-long course in NYC studying photography. Around this time is when I met my wonderful husband, Jon. We got married before graduating, which was a big deal in itself! As of today, I am the second person in my family to graduate from high school and college. Then, a year into marriage, I asked him what he thought about turning my hobby into a business since I was growing in my skills and feeling more and more passionate about photography. In August 2009, Jon and Moch Photography became a business. In 2018, I rebranded, and it became Moch Photography.
I enjoy being around people and love getting to hear about their lives. We are all so unique and have so many things to share with one another! This is why I love portraits… if it involves a person, you can be sure that I will be there to take a photograph. When I started, I was only taking senior photos. Slowly, my business grew, and I began offering family sessions. Later, I assisted a friend at a wedding, which is what I loved the most. Weddings are still my absolute favorite and I hope I get to capture them for a very long time!
I love that my photography allows others to reminisce. Now that I am a parent, I look back at photographs of our kids and treasure them because time goes by so fast! I want my clients to be able to look back 25 years at their newborn or wedding photos with a smile. I love capturing moments that become frozen to remember forever. While I wish I had more pictures with my father, I will do everything I can to create lasting memories, so others don’t have to regret missing a special moment.
I’m proud that anytime I walk away from a session, I feel like I’ve gained a new friend — I hope they feel the same way too! I feel connected to my clients even if there are years between our sessions because they always mark important seasons in their lives. I like to think that my ability to connect and maintain close friendships with my clients sets me apart in the industry. Truly, the human connection and lasting friendships are at the heart of my business.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
There have been two pivots that have significantly impacted my photography business. First, I mentioned before that my husband’s name used to be part of our photography business name. For context, Jon is not only my best friend; he has also been my number one fan, even when we disagreed on something regarding the photography business. In the end, he is the one I turn to for help and trust wholeheartedly.
Back in 2017, when my husband told me he wanted to step down from the photography business we built together, I was scared. He had shared how he wasn’t passionate about photography, at least not as much as I was. He also wanted to be home on the weekends with the kids since his other full-time job didn’t allow for much family time the rest of the week. But, honestly, I didn’t know how I’d continue without him, even though I had been going to solo sessions at that point. So this started the process of changing the business name, and when I began rebranding myself!
The rebrand forced me to seriously reflect on my self-confidence and ask hard questions regarding my hopes and dreams of what the business could eventually become. Everything changed from new colors to raising prices, a new logo concept, to finding a new second shooter! It has been four years since I relaunched as Moch Photography, and — I must say — it was a good move! I have seen tremendous growth in every way. It’s been challenging but so worth it. I am grateful for my loyal clients and the growing pains of owning a business.
I thought that was a pivot. Then came 2021, when we decided to move our family of five from Washington to Texas. Washington is where I grew up. I knew the area well and was so connected to family, friends, and clients. During that period, there was so much unknown that all I could do was try to be patient and kind to myself. After the move, I experienced a few very low moments, when I questioned whether my business would ever be successful again. I was the new person in such a saturated market. During this time, I kept coming back to choosing to be patient and kind towards myself… Easier said than done, that’s for sure!
It’s been a year now, and all I can say is: it’s a good thing that I like people! I finally got the courage to go out and start over again. I was able to get outside of my comfort zone and meet the folks in the industry. It’s still early on, but I already love the world of Texas wedding vendors! I’ve seen so many good things that have come out of this life-altering pivot, and I have yet to see all the growth and new opportunities that will come up because of it.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Holding value in the relationships that are established during a photography session is what helped build my reputation in my market. I find that most people are not comfortable and feel awkward in front of the camera. Once you build trust with clients, you get your name passed to others.
Word of mouth is still a powerful way of marketing, but you know SEO is huge, too! Your online presence makes a difference in this day and age. Interestingly enough, I’ve realized that growing a large following on social media isn’t a priority in my business anymore. I enjoy knowing someone trusted me and sent me their family or friends!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mochphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mochiesnyder/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonandmochphotography
Image Credits
Moch Snyder Kerry Jeane Photography (self portrait) My family photo Savan Photography