Trademark Photos by Tami McKenney
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
STORY BY KEVIN GREEN | PHOTOS BY TRADEMARK PHOTOS
Journey Through the Lens
In the realm of photography, every click of the shutter holds the potential to immortalize a moment, freeze a memory and tell a story.
For Tami McKenney-Molinaro, the founder of Trademark Photos in Tulsa, photography is not merely a profession, it is a calling — a mission bestowed upon her by a higher power. From her humble beginnings as a 14-year-old amateur photographer in Phoenix to becoming the visionary force behind Trademark Photos, McKenney-Molinaro’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of capturing life's extraordinary beauty through the lens.
A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST
McKenney-Molinaro’s voyage into the world of photography commenced in 1995 when she was just 14 years old. However, her story didn't unfold in a studio or a classroom.
Instead, it took root during moments shared with her mother in the vibrant city of Phoenix. The camera became a bridge between generations, a tool that allowed McKenney-Molinaro to explore her creative instincts and forge a deep bond with her mother.
“I actually started doing photography with my mom as just our ‘girl’ time,” McKenney-Molinaro said. “I grew up in Phoenix, and Phoenix is known for their sunsets. At the time, we lived in a development that didn't have a whole lot of houses around us, so we could kind of walk to the edge of our neighborhood and take beautiful pictures of the sun setting over the White Tank Mountains. That was our fun time, so we got into taking pictures of the desert and taking pictures when we traveled. She really was my enabler because she kept buying me film and getting it developed, and I kept shooting it.
“It just kind of continued into a love of mine.”
Little did she know, those early experiences would sow the seeds for a lifelong passion and a future in photography.
A PROFESSIONAL ODYSSEY
While navigating the corporate landscape of property management, McKenney-Molinaro's journey into real estate photography was an unexpected turn, a serendipitous fusion of corporate demands and creative pursuits.
About two decades ago, while deeply immersed in property management, she found herself straddling the worlds of business and photography.
“I was doing photography on the side, but it was still a business at that point, so it wasn't just a hobby,” McKenney-Molinaro said. “Honestly, I never felt strongly on which direction I should go or what I should be when I grew up, so I just kind of joined the corporate world. That's why I ended up in property management.”
Her venture into real estate photography unfolded when her boss, Tom Loughridge, presented an unforeseen opportunity: capturing images for a property featured in For Rent Magazine. Initially uncertain, McKenney-Molinaro embarked on this endeavor, photographing the property with a meticulous touch that would later become a hallmark of her craft.
Little did she anticipate that these images would become a lasting part of the property's marketing portfolio, adorning both the cover and interior pages until its eventual sale.
“This is so long ago, it was shot on slide film and digitized, so it was pre-digital for me,” McKenney-Molinaro said. “I did all that on film — photograph the clubhouse and the inside and the outside of the property.”
FROM SIDE HUSTLE TO FULL-TIME PURSUIT
Fast forward to a pivotal moment in McKenney-Molinaro's life — the birth of her second child.
It was during this chapter that her husband, Andrew Molinaro, became a pivotal force in urging her to embrace photography as a full-time pursuit. His encouragement became a catalyst for a paradigm shift, propelling McKenney-Molinaro to view her passion not merely as a creative outlet, but as a viable business venture.
“He was really the first person who encouraged me to do it as a business because up until that point, everybody had just told me, ‘Oh, it's a creative job, you’ll never make money on it’ or ‘You should just get a real job.’ So I never fully focused on it until I had that encouragement to do so,” McKenney-Molinaro said.
Torn between the security of property management and the allure of a fulfilling career in photography, McKenney-Molinaro faced a decisive moment.
The toxicity of her corporate role weighed heavily on her, prompting a quest for a more gratifying and harmonious lifestyle.
“My husband told me he was tired of me unloading on him when I came home, so I had to find something that was a little less toxic for our lifestyle,” McKenney-Molinaro said.
Photography emerged as the solution — a profession where every day brought new challenges, every session unfolded a unique narrative and each client had a distinct story to tell.
For McKenney-Molinaro, real estate photography was not just about capturing spaces; it was about unraveling the individual tales woven into each property. The variety of lighting conditions, diverse floor plans and the ever-changing backdrop of different homes became the puzzle pieces that fueled her passion.
McKenney-Molinaro found a sanctuary where creativity and business seamlessly converged, providing her with the fulfillment and joy that had eluded her in the world of property management.
In 2012, she took a leap of faith, following an inner calling that urged her to turn her beloved side hustle into a full-time vocation. Armed with 17 years of experience, a passion for visual storytelling and a divine sense of purpose, Trademark Photos became her lone occupational venture.
McKenney-Molinaro’s decision to embark on this entrepreneurial journey wasn't just about creating a business; it was a commitment to a mission — a mission to help people relive the joys of their lives, to encapsulate the raw beauty of emotion and to craft visual narratives that endure through time.
She has since won 18 international-level portrait awards with Portrait Masters and is considered in the top 10% of headshot photographers nationwide. McKenney-Molinaro was also one of two photographers chosen in Tulsa for the 10,000 Headshots event — a free headshot day during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic for those affected by job losses as a result of the shutdown.
She says much of that success and recognition came thanks to her mentorship under Pete Hurley, who is considered one of the world’s best headshot photographers.
“I have been described by previous employers as having the type of mindset of never say die,” McKenney-Molinaro said. “I am too stubborn to quit, and I think that has been my key to success. Logically, there have been many times in the past 20 years where I probably should have just hung up my hat and called it good, but I operated out of pocket because I love what I do.
“I can't imagine doing anything else.”
REAL ESTATE PHOTOGRAPHY TAKES CENTER STAGE
About five years ago, a serendipitous encounter with fellow professional Kelly Kilmer marked a pivotal juncture in McKenney-Molinaro's photography odyssey.
At the time, Kilmer, engaged in real estate ventures, found herself in need of a reliable photographer, for her current collaborator was grappling with scheduling constraints.
In the intricate dance of professional networks, Kilmer turned to McKenney-Molinaro for a solution. This seemingly routine request, capturing a listing for Kilmer, proved to be the catalyst for a significant evolution in her career trajectory.
The real estate photography assignment acted as a catalyst, prompting a decisive shift in focus.
“It was like a hard right turn from there,” McKenney-Molinaro said. “Everything was real estate photography after that point.”
The success of that initial collaboration with Kilmer became a harbinger of change. Word spread, and McKenney-Molinaro found herself inundated with requests from other clients within the real estate domain.
What started as a single assignment transformed into a burgeoning stream of opportunities, solidifying real estate photography as a cornerstone of her business.
“Now it's most of what I do,” McKenney-Molinaro said. “I do mostly headshots, branding and real estate photography. I didn't plan to be in real estate photography, but because I already had that background in property management, I was familiar with what angles people were looking for and how to make a room or house look the best. Because I was also familiar in different aspects of photography, I knew how to light it or not light it or just tell the story in a dynamic way.
“Those two skills together just kind of created this animal.”
PRESERVING MOMENTS AND CREATING LEGACIES
For McKenney-Molinaro, photography is not merely a craft.
It is a divine mission — an avenue through which she can weave the stories of people's lives, capturing the essence of their journey with authenticity and the heart of God. The greatest gift bestowed upon her by this visual artistry is the ability to tell these stories, becoming an unexpected yet integral part of her clients' lives.
In her lens, family narratives unfold with a genuine resonance, capturing moments that are not staged for artificial appeal but are authentic, congruent with the heartbeat of each individual and their unique story. McKenney-Molinaro’s approach goes beyond the superficial, delving into the raw emotions and lived experiences that define her subjects.
Being an introvert by nature, photography has been McKenney-Molinaro’s unexpected bridge to building relationships.
Through the lens, she forges connections with her clients that transcend the boundaries of a typical professional engagement. Family clients return not just for a photo session but for the continuation of their unfolding story, knowing that McKenney-Molinaro will encapsulate their moments with the same care and authenticity every time.
“It's created a community for me that I never expected,” McKenney-Molinaro said.
Beyond her clientele, she extends her openness and generosity to fellow photographers in the industry.
Teaching and sharing her knowledge, she creates a community that goes beyond competition. In an industry where knowledge can be guarded, McKenney-Molinaro chooses a different path — freely imparting her insights while providing feedback and fostering an environment where everyone can learn and grow together.
“It was very hard to get a hold of my knowledge and to build it, but I don't see a reason to guard it,” said McKenney-Molinaro, who teaches photography to kids two times a week at Good Life Music & Media Lessons. “So I share what I know, and I'm very open with that. I think a lot of people really appreciate that.”
