Molly Zacher
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I am a portrait photographer and retoucher in NYC who strives to illustrate the story of every subject I shoot.”
When I’m not behind a camera or in front of a computer, I like to run around the city (as a form of exercise and to find my way around new neighborhoods), bake all kinds of desserts to feed my sweet tooth and my friends, and watch the same three movies on repeat.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
A story not different from many others, I grew up in a small town in the midwest, started shooting on a little pink Sony point-and-shoot, eventually got my hands on a DSLR and a Canon AE-1, and never looked back. I knew I wanted to be a photographer by the time I was 14, and despite my parents questioning my choice , I convinced them that art school was the only way I would attend college and get a degree.
I found my way to Savannah, Georgia, and spent four years learning and growing at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Upon graduation, I decided it was NYC or bust, and off I went to take a job as a retoucher for Haddad Brands, a children’s clothing manufacturer and distributor for Nike, Levi’s Hurley, Jordan, and Converse. I spent almost two years there, finding my footing professionally and personally in this chaotic city. Recently, I made the decision to leave my full-time position to pursue a freelance career in order to push myself to grow outside the restraint of a steady paycheck, and here we are. From Illinois, to Savannah, to Manhattan, and newly, Brooklyn.
How do you stand out in your field?
I’m not the loudest person in the room, I tend to listen more than I talk, and it’s usually because I want to understand the people around me as deeply as possible. When it comes to shooting portraits, I want people to feel comfortable expressing themselves. I use my empathic tendencies to try to connect with my subject and capture something deeper.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
I want to shoot new people as much as possible, so I have decided to use my bad luck on dating apps to my advantage by finding models via Hinge. I set up my profile to illustrate that I am looking for people to sit for me and have since acquired almost 100 people who are willing to let me photograph them. Currently, I am focusing on femme representation in the LGBTQIA+ community, and the diversity within it, but the project is ever evolving, but I’m excited to see where it goes.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
In college I started a project titled “Women: Chapter I” where I worked with six women, photographing them in a studio and in another location of their choice that made them feel strong and empowered. I also interviewed them about their experiences as women, and how they find strength in femininity, for a video that accompanied the photos. While my shooting style and aesthetic have evolved since this project, the motivation to better understand my subjects as more than just models has remained constant through much of my work since. I always like to shoot with an open mind and experiment as much as possible as a shoot unfolds. While I always strive to create beautiful and interesting photographs, I want to capture who the person in front of the camera is, not just a vision of what I want a photo to look like.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
I have been almost exclusively retouching since I graduated from college. I have worked as a freelance retoucher with a few different brands and shot for Haddad Brands, as well as retouching for them, but working as a professional editorial portrait photographer has always been the goal. I hope that, now, I can focus more on building the business skills necessary to excel as a freelancer and spend more time shooting my own photos, rather than just working on other's photos.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
I am a bit frustrated that my plan to begin freelancing full-time was delayed and upended by the global pandemic. I had made many plans to begin this effort earlier in the year but not being able to interact with people face-to-face to help me grow my network and prove myself has slowed things tremendously. Now, I feel like I am reaching out in 100 different directions to try and find my footing in the industry and this process has been made even more challenging by the virus.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
The concept of an agent is intriguing to me. I’m not the best at selling myself, and as a photographer, you’re running the whole show, so having someone to make sure I don’t undersell myself would be valuable.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
I think it took me a long time in college to really figure out what I wanted to be shooting. I spent a lot of time on projects I didn’t love while I was making them, and hate looking at now. I know that every photo is a part of the process, and there was growth that was happening, but I would love to go back and talk to my early college self about finding things that I care about and focusing on those things to drive my art. Uninspired work isn’t engaging work, and if you don’t care about what you’re creating, there’s a slim chance anyone else will either.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
Being a female in a male-dominated field is daunting. I look up to photographers like Heather Hazzan and Ali Mitton who are crushing the kind of work I dream of doing. I would love to sit down and chat with them about their experiences and struggles and just soak up every bit of advice about how they started out, obstacles they overcame, and tips and tricks they’ve learned along the way.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Portraiture of any kind. I would love the chance to shoot photos that accompany words, that tell a story, and dive deeper than just a headshot.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
I love anyone who comes in with an idea, but an open mind about collaborating and allowing their idea to evolve. There are often solutions that, no matter how much you plan, only become apparent once you're on set, and require everyone to think on their feet. Allowing a concept or vision to be transformed through collaboration is essential.
Some of my favorite projects have been with big teams of people who are excited to work together and are equally interested in putting their best foot forward; projects with creatives who allow for a concept or vision to be evolve through collaboration. I love shooting, I love the process that is involved with photographing, and anyone who shares that passion for their craft makes me that much more excited to do what I love.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Email is best. You can call if you’d like, slide into my dm’s, write me a letter, whatever floats your boat. Bonus points if you include how you found my work and what drew you to it!
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Living somewhere that provides endless inspiration, and surrounding myself with people who make creating feel important.
This member profile was originally published in October 2020.