Rising Stars: Meet Mollie Crowe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mollie Crowe. 

Hi Mollie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Well my story as a photographer really began on my 17th birthday, when I received my first point-and-shoot camera from my parents. As an introverted teenager in the early 2000s, music and photography were my avenues to connect with the world around me. So, what started out as taking candid photos of my friends and the world around me, eventually evolved into taking photos of the underground music scene. Some of my fondest memories were going to those local skatepark and basement shows, and it’s played a major role in shaping my style as a photographer today. As for me, my name is Mollie Crowe and I’ve worn a lot of hats in my lifetime. My resume includes (in no particular order): pizza delivery girl, Bob Evans’ hostess, marketing coordinator, wedding/lifestyle/newborn/concert photographer, and hairstylist. I find inspiration in the books I read and music I listen to – everything from Nick Hornby, Jen Sincero, and Stephen Chbosky to Harry Styles, The Head And The Heart, and Bayside. When I’m not behind the lens, I’m a big fan of having girl time with my friends (since I’m around a lot of testosterone in my field of work), relaxing at home with my black cat Binx, and going on road trips and traveling.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There were definitely roadblocks, the biggest of which was the year 2020. I had just finished 2019 with the attitude that I would make the new year the best for my photography business. Then March 15, 2020 everything went dark and I felt a weight on my heart not knowing when I would photograph a concert again. However, a little over a month later I was very fortunate that Westside Bowl (Youngstown) hired me to be part of their livestream concert series team. During a time when venues were begging for federal aid and bands were recording albums remotely, I was adding to my portfolio sometimes 3 times a week. The return of live music in 2021 was promising but also had many roadblocks because everyone was essentially starting from scratch. Even today, there’s a lot of uncertainty and the road remains bumpy but I try my best to find the silver lining and chase the light. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I own a live music and portrait photography business, Little Blackbird Photo. Currently, I travel between Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Indianapolis, and New York, but my goal for the coming year is to expand further throughout the Midwest. My dream is to document the stories of the artists I work with – from the recording studio to the stage to the bus, which I’ve been able to do so many of those things with local bands such as Fuzz Aldrin, Hiram-Maxim, The Vindys, and The Labra Brothers, to name a few. It’s been a dream building relationships with the bands and being the person they trust to portray them in the most authentic light. I really focus on capturing emotional moments and I think that’s what most people will say I’m known for and what sets me apart from others. 

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
The best advice I can give is ask yourself why you’re doing it and find a way to make it your own. I support going against the grain and ignoring the pressure to do what everyone else is doing. Also, define what success means exclusively to you and identify what it will take to make that happen. Most importantly, believe in yourself and your “why”. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.littleblackbirdphoto.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/littleblackbirdphoto
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/lbpbymc

Image Credits
Mollie Crowe