Today we’d like to introduce you to Marla Klein.
Hi Marla, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a freelance photographer and studio/venue owner in Minneapolis, where I’ve been based for about 12 years. I grew up in Eastern Wisconsin, where I was lucky enough to attend a fine art public charter school and try out every art genre. I grew to love my art history classes, visual art, yoga, acting, and photography. I have known I wanted to be a photographer since I was 16; it’s truly a form of magic, and I get to make it happen for each client. After high school, I attended the Hallmark Institute of Photography in Massachusetts. It was an intensive year-long program that covered everything I’d need, from technical photo/lighting skills to retouching to business and marketing skills. In 2012, I moved to Minnesota to start my career and worked different photo-related jobs to support my freelance work. For those of you starting out or in the early career stages, never feel like you’re undeserving of a photographer title if you’re working other jobs while trying to make it. This career is costly and challenging to have full-time; if you want to call yourself a photographer, do it! I spent too many years thinking I couldn’t until I was fully freelance, which I regret. In 2014, I joined a photo studio space with a small group of other artists to have a spot of our own to create. It’s evolved over the years to be a photo rental studio as more people in the community wanted to shoot there, and it’s now called Studio Apparatus. I ended up buying the business in 2022 and have been building it into a space where creatives can feel inspired, welcomed, and safe. We also host public and private events, and I love having a physical space to bring people together.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road? If not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not! Being a freelance artist has many obstacles: financial burdens, networking, steady health insurance, time management, challenges to your self-worth, and the ability to tell yourself to keep going. This past year has been the most difficult of my career thus far. I moved my studio across town, renovated a new space, and dealt with terrible landlords. The economy of small businesses is suffering, making it difficult to pay bills.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a conceptual photographer and studio owner, and I love making unique, quirky photos that make people stop and think. I tend to shoot a lot of products and portraits for my paid work, and for personal work, I love creating fairytale-esque, otherworldly images. I also have a 7-year ongoing passion project called The Metamorphosis Project, in which I photograph transgender people over time during their transitions. What sets me apart is that I love to tell stories with my photos and build compassion. Creating with intention is essential for an artist and community-building. I love bringing people together in my studio space and helping create a more robust artist network.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was timid growing up, so I often worked on crafting and making art independently. I loved creating my whimsical world within my house and yard. I wanted to be a writer for years until I realized in high school how much I adored photography. The possibilities were much more significant when I could tell stories without words. When I realized I wanted to be a photographer, I brought my little point-and-shoot camera around everywhere and would document everything around me. I started a photography club at my high school, and a series of gallery shows around town for other students to display their work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marlamakesphotos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marlaolivia/
Image Credits
Copyright Marla Olivia Photography (all images)
