Meet Valerie Mosley: Visual Storyteller

We had the good fortune of connecting with Valerie Mosley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Valerie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Photojournalism is my passion. I love creating connections and helping people understand each other and their community through moment-driven documentary photography. I felt lucky to discover a profession that lit me up that way. I went to grad school for photojournalism and was a full-time newspaper photographer for about a decade. Unfortunately, it was a sad decade for journalism. Newsrooms lost about half their staff through a neverending series of layoffs and became more depressing difficult workplaces. I felt like I would have to strike out on my own eventually and decided to take the leap instead of waiting to be laid off. When you’re shooting 3 or 4 assignments every day, you get good at all genres of photography and I knew that my visual storytelling skills would translate incredibly well to working with other types of clients. Living in Fort Collins, I didn’t think I would be able to get enough work by freelancing for publications exclusively. I followed my heart to focus on a few other areas: documentary family photography, business and personal branding photography and visual storytelling for nonprofits. I also still do freelance photojournalism and I love having this mix of clients.
 

Please tell us more about your career. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
It’s my moment-driven, documentary approach that sets me apart from other photographers. I believe that real moments connect with viewers and take you back in time in a way that posed portraits cannot. I’ve always been interested in people and sharing their stories honestly. I’m fascinated by the diversity of human experience, naturally empathetic and I’ve worked with people from all walks of life. I get excited about capturing emotion in my images, which can only happen when people feel comfortable. It has not been easy starting a photography business in a market with so many other photographers. I constantly have to remember what sets me apart and what I love about the work, and believe that there are enough clients out there who get me and love my work. Sometimes it’s easier to believe than others!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, in Fort Collins we’d have to start with a brewery tour! I’d book one with Magic Bus Tours to include New Belgium, of course, Odell, Purpose Brewing and Cellars, and Horse and Dragon. Assuming the weather is nice, we’d spend a day hammocking along the Poudre River and have lunch at the Mishawaka on our way to Glen Echo Resort. They have rustic cabins (no running water) along the river, and a restaurant and convenience store, so you don’t even have to be very prepared! From there, we’d go to Shambala Mountain Center to hike to the Great Stupa and have a vegan lunch (assuming they have reopened after the Cameron Peak Fire destroyed some of the property). On the way home we’d stop for lunch at Me Oh My Pie in Laporte. Back in Fort Collins, we’d spend a day at Horsetooth Reservoir, hiking the trails or renting stand up paddleboards, and include a stop at Masonville Mercantile. We’d also have to spend a day shopping and dining in Old Town to include Curiosities, Walnut Creek, Nuance Chocolate, The Welsh Rabbit Cheese Shop, and happy hour at Sunset Lounge overlooking the city.   

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Fort Collins is a wonderful community to start a business and I’ve had so much help along the way! I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to Amy Alcorn at Aspen Grove Marketing, Alisha Barnes at Goddess Boss Society and Melissa Kellogg Lueck at Avanti Creative Group. Amy helped me with a beautiful website and digital marketing support. Alisha’s mastermind is full of incredible, smart, and supportive women in business. And Melissa is a marketing coach who helps me keep my mindset strong.

Website: www.valeriemosleyphoto.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valmosley/

Image Credits
All photos are by me, Valerie Mosley, except the one of me with the cabbage–that one is by Tanya Fabian.