Last December, I was introduced to Holly Marder while taking an online photography styling class with Holly Becker of Decor8. The course shared so many juicy styling secrets, but it was Holly M’s story that left a lasting impression.
Traveling through Europe in her early twenties, young Holly Marder fell in love with capturing the sights and details around her, without even realizing that photography would one day become her mainstay. Shortly after her travels, she settled down and took a job as a journalist where she shot photos to support her articles, but it wasn’t long before she craved something more creative.
With a background in fashion design and a natural knack for interiors (her mother is also a decorator), Holly became more interested in design blogs and discovered Houzz. She noticed they were hiring and applied for a writer/photographer position. Despite her lack of experience in the industry, she got the job and began shooting houses. At this point in her life she also had a young baby, so on her one baby-free day a week, she’d photograph home tours and submit her work remotely. This was a turning point in Holly’s career, where she was able to build up her skills by constantly practicing and learning from her mistakes.
Soon enough, Holly began approaching her photography with more intention. She studied other photographers’ work and picked up new techniques that helped strengthen her style. She’s played with every camera setting imaginable and believes that experimenting will always be more beneficial than an expensive photography degree.
Today, Holly is a Netherlands-based interior design journalist and stylist, collaborating with magazines and various clients to create gorgeous editorial shoots all over the world. Her work has also been published in several design books and popular blogs such as DesignLoveFest, Sfgirlbybay, and Style Me Pretty Living, not to mention her regular column on Decor8.
I love that Holly’s truly a self-taught success story. Her journey especially resonated with me when she mentioned that her career didn’t actually take off until she was a new mom, juggling everything from late night feedings to creating a brand for herself.
To see more of Holly’s beautiful photos, visit her blog, Avenue Lifestyle.