Based in Minnesota, available worldwide.
I’m Molly Williams, a photographer and filmmaker based in Duluth, Minnesota. I believe life is fragile and photos are more than just photos. I live my life guided by the poem The Dash by Linda Ellis, which I have tattooed on my wrist (along with many of my friends & family members):
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning…to the end.
He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
— Linda Ellis
Where it all started (2017 Women's March)
My first business branding shoot with CCBoyle Photography (2022)
Spending my birthday telling stories abroad, a dream come true! (2024)
UMD college graduation #rolldogs
My girls! We celebrate every occasion, big or small.
Making friends in Cuba (2025)
Brogan, my life partner & biggest supporter
Off to document research in Morocco (2025)
Lucky to call Lake Superior home
A big fan of wedding dance floors
Things worth knowing
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I’m the kind of person who travels with a backpack and a loosely defined plan. Some of my most formative experiences have come from being in unfamiliar places and learning how to navigate them, like working at a community center in Costa Rica or hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
My entrepreneurial spirit & relentless ambition led me to start a photography business in college, all while I triple majored in Spanish, International Studies, and Political Science. My original plan was to become an immigration lawyer…but my love for creating led me to ditch law school and join AmeriCorps, where I used my photo/video experience to boost nonprofit storytelling in the region.
My work has since taken me to Guatemala, Czechia, Cuba, and Morocco to document stories and communities. Each place has shaped how I understand the world and my responsibility within it.
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Whether I am working with a family, a nonprofit, or a small business, I approach every project with care and curiosity. I believe stories should be told with consent, context, and dignity. The people most affected by a story should always have a say in how it is shared.
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I am a certified Sexual Assault Advocate through the State of Minnesota. This training has given me a strong foundation in trauma-informed, consent-based, and survivor-centered practice. Locally, I also serve on the board of the Duluth Center for Women and Children, where I support programs that work to interrupt cycles of trauma and poverty.
This work informs how I show up behind the camera, how I listen, and how I create environments where people can choose what they share and how they share it.
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My work has been trusted by organizations and communities including:
CDC Foundation, University of Minnesota (Twin Cities & Duluth), Board of World Mission, Girls On The Run, Mentor North, Duluth Center for Women and Children (Nourish), Pronto Spanish, Lao Center of Minnesota, Brico Works, and Studio Café.
My documentary work has also been featured at Carnegie Mellon, Zeitgeist Zinema, Shorts in Winter Film Festival, and Ely Film Festival.
Let’s collaborate.
But enough about me—let’s focus on you! Your presence here already brings a smile to my face, and if you connect with these values, it’s about time we meet.
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Photography for people & families
For all my fun-loving folks who want to document this season of life. Life is fragile, friends. And these are more than just photos.
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Photography for nonprofits & small businesses
We’ll collaborate to create images that highlight the people behind your work.