Meet Marlana Semenza

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marlana Semenza.

Hi Marlana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I was actually a photography major in college, so that’s what my degree is in. The summer before I graduated, I was offered a job with the Director of Photography for WWE. (A job they held for me while I finished my degree.) Once I graduated, I climbed onto a tour bus and started a three-year adventure. (Not a bad first job!) I learned so much from that experience and am still in touch with people from that time of my life.

Fast forward and I also worked as an artist for a cartooning and animation company. (My minor was in illustration.) We worked on the Munsters comic book, the Tom & Jerry comic strip, limited edition animation cels, and several jobs for Warner Brothers. I was also brought out to Comic-Con in San Diego to interact with the talent guest appearing for us at the show.

Fast forward once again and I worked as a freelance designer and set stylist for Ethan Allen, This Old House, Woman’s Day, and Taunton Press. During this time, I worked on training videos for designers, style books, magazines, and NY Times Ads.

But, photography was always in the mix. I have photographed what seems like everything in my career. Families, kids, weddings, professional auto racing, college football (an experience that awarded me a black eye…lol). Now, I focus on personal brand photography. It allows me to take all of my experience (the various genres of photography, storytelling, advertising, set design, location scouting, etc) and wrap it all up into one nice neat bow. I can draw from all of these experiences to pull the stories out that need to be told and then tell them visually in their most effective and powerful way.

I help my clients be seen, create a new level of influence, and show up on purpose…and I LOVE what I do.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I had an ongoing struggle with self-confidence and self-doubt for the early years of my career. I always knew I wanted to make a solid name and reputation in my industry. But, things like comparison and fear of being too visible always seemed to pump the brakes for me. That is why I understand and appreciate when my clients experience it. What I learned is this…

Your brand is not about you, it’s about the people you serve, and only you are uniquely qualified to serve them the way only you can. Instead of comparison, I look to others whose work I admire and see what I can learn…and I never stop learning. Bruce Lee once said ‘take what is useful, reject what is not and make it uniquely your own.’ That is what I’ve learned to do. I’ve developed my own style and my own way of creating images. I also stay in my lane. I do one thing…brand photography…and only one thing…for people who are looking to create that new level of influence and be power players in their space.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a personal brand photographer and visual strategist.

I’m a minimalist when it comes to my work. Whenever possible, I love for it to just be my client and me. I think it puts them at ease, we can laugh and joke (having fun during these sessions is so important) and we build a different kind of rapport.

When I was in college, I only wanted to work for two places…Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair. WWE was close to a rock tour, so that took care of part of that for me (although I’d still love to photograph musicians). And I am the official brand photographer for the titleholder of Miss North Carolina. One of her sessions is strategically centered around fashion, so that scratches that itch a bit. In the end, I think all of my images have the magazine influence I experienced for most of my career.

There are a few things that set me apart :
1. The layers of my experience
2. The business I’m really in. While I work in the medium of photography, I’m not in the photography business, I’m in the reputation business.
3. That I can (and do!) work with clients virtually. I have photographed clients in Australia, Portugal, and the beach in Malibu, all while sitting in North Carolina. (www.photographerinyourpocket.com)
4. I also am a visual strategist. I have a process called Your Iconic Image (and a podcast by that name also). This is not about just creating images, it’s about finding your unique story and telling it.

I’m most proud of the people I work with. I get to watch them grow and soar. The fact that they trust me to tell their story and help them steer their brand, that’s such a gift. I’m grateful to be a part of their lives and for them a part of mine.

What are your plans for the future?
My future plans are to serve my clients, push myself professionally and creatively, and play with some personal projects. I have one involving parachutes and airplanes that got put off because of Covid. I’d like to see that come to life.

Contact Info:

• Email: marlana@marlanasemenza.com
• Website: https://www.marlanasemenza.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marlana.semenza.photo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Marlana-Semenza-Photography-129332310573483
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3wRcnYROOe3qO4b-_KK3kQ
• Other: https://your-iconic-image.captivate.fm/listen