From Camera Lenses to Editorial Pages: The Unexpected Path to Brand You Magazine

In a world where creativity knows no bounds, the journey from one art form to another can be both unpredictable and transformative. For Olivia Marocco, the leap from event photography to publishing wasn’t planned—it was a path that found her, driven by a deep desire to create, evolve, and empower. The result? Brand You Magazine, is a bold and inspiring platform for female entrepreneurs ready to amplify their voices. This is the story of how Olivia, a successful photographer with decades of experience capturing the world’s most dynamic events, ventured into the world of publishing—and built something that’s now shaping the future of branding, visibility, and female leadership.

Your career journey spans several creative fields, from photography to publishing. What inspired you to transition from a successful career in photography to founding Brand You Magazine?

I kind of stumbled into publishing, the same way I stumbled into event photography—it wasn’t something I planned, but more like a path that found me. My journey has always been guided by gut instinct and a deep desire to create, grow, change, to keep moving forward.

For 20 years, I built a life as a photographer in the south of France, carving out a reputation as one of the go-to photographers in the region. My focus was international corporate event photography, and it was a dream. I travelled the world, worked with some of the biggest brands, and got to combine my love of photography, my passion for travel and my fascination with the energy of events. It was everything I could have hoped for—until it wasn’t.

In 2016, I decided to return to the UK for personal reasons. It was a huge shift, but it also felt like an opening—an opportunity to try something new. I continued my photography business, flying back to France for events, but while I was back in the UK, I discovered something completely fresh: personal brand photography. It was almost unheard of in France at the time, but here in the UK, I could see its potential, and it fascinated me.

Now in my mid-forties, something inside me began to stir. I started questioning everything. Could I see myself running around with a camera at events into my 50s and 60s? Was this sustainable? Was it still lighting me up the way it used to? The answer, deep down, was no. I wanted more. —I needed more—I could do more.

So, I began to explore personal branding photography and started networking locally, putting myself in rooms with inspiring people. One day, at one of those events, I met a brand designer. We clicked immediately and started talking about this shared vision we both had—a space, a platform, a hub for all things branding. The idea was raw and undefined, but it was there, like a spark waiting to catch fire.

In late 2019, right before the world turned upside down, we launched a free Facebook group called Brand You 2020. I hosted interviews with business owners on what we called the Brand You Chat Show, and my friend managed the community. It took off. The group grew quickly, especially as Covid-19 forced so many business owners to pivot and rethink their brands. For a while, it felt electric, like we were onto something huge.

But then reality set in. The pandemic dragged on, and my friend couldn’t dedicate the time the project needed. Reluctantly, we decided to close the group. It felt like a loss, but I wasn’t ready to let go of the name and the essence of Brand You. I knew it had potential—I could feel it.

After months of soul-searching, I realised I didn’t just want to revive Brand You; I wanted to reimagine it completely. That’s when the idea for Brand You Magazine was born. It felt like the perfect way to channel everything I’d learned and everything I cared about—a creative, powerful and meaningful way to bring this vision to life. And here we are. It’s been a wild, beautiful, unpredictable journey and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Brand You Magazine has quickly risen as a leading authority for female entrepreneurship. What challenges did you face when establishing the publication, and how did you overcome them?

The first thing I want to share is that I knew deep down I wouldn’t have many more chances to start over. Anyone who’s been through a big professional pivot knows how much it takes—energy, passion, dedication—and let’s not forget the sacrifices. It’s not just a decision; it’s a leap of faith and one that you have to think through carefully.

With that in mind, I made myself a promise: if I was going to pour my heart and soul into something new, it had to be something I could stick with for the long haul. Something that would truly matter. Something with purpose and a clear plan for how it could evolve in the future.

I knew Brand You had incredible potential to grow, to transform and to really make a difference. My vision for it was so vivid, but if I’m honest, the scale of what it would take to make it happen felt overwhelming at first. So I did what I’ve always done when facing something big: I broke it down. One small step at a time. Because, as they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

The first step was creating the magazine itself—a bold move considering I had zero experience in publishing. But what I did have was a network of incredible people who believed in the idea and the creative drive to make it happen. I knew the first edition wouldn’t be perfect, and that was okay. I gave myself the grace to learn as I went—to figure out layouts, design and content; to uncover the magazine’s voice and refine its identity. Slowly but surely, the vision started coming to life. And as it did, Brand You’s reputation began to grow. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth every single moment.

You’ve worked with senior professionals and corporate giants throughout your photography career. How did those experiences shape your understanding of personal branding?

At the heart of everything I do—events, photography and publishing—is storytelling. As a corporate event photographer, I wasn’t just snapping pictures; I was weaving stories. And when it comes to publishing a magazine? That’s all about stories too. It’s not as different as it might first appear—everything connects.

During my time as a photographer for some of the world’s biggest brands—IBM, McDonald’s, Unilever, and Mars—I had the incredible opportunity to learn from the best about what a brand is. My job was never just about capturing images; it was about telling the right story through every shot. It was about creating visuals that helped my clients communicate their message, whether that was for a marketing campaign or internal purposes.

The real difference between being a photographer and being an expert event photographer lies in understanding what your clients really need. It’s not just about making a pretty picture. Every shot has to serve a specific purpose. Sometimes, I was juggling multiple clients at once—working with the main client, the event agency and the production team, each with their own goals. Every photo I took needed to help them showcase their work in the best possible way.

Years of collaborating with these brands and agencies helped me understand the essence of branding—whether for a company or an individual. My job was to translate a need into a visual story, to capture an image that would carry a powerful message. But, it wasn’t just about taking pictures. I learned by being in the thick of it—listening to conversations, observing the team, paying attention to every detail and soaking in the strategy.

What being a professional photographer has truly taught me about branding is this: it’s all about perspective. The angle you choose, the story you tell and always keeping the bigger picture in mind.

SHOWTIME, your flagship yearly event, is an exciting opportunity for female entrepreneurs. What do you hope attendees will take away from the event, and how does it contribute to the larger mission of Brand You?

It feels like events were always meant to come back into my life—and honestly, I’ve missed them. But this isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while now, and it’s all part of the bigger picture for Brand You.

Earlier in this interview, I talked about the importance of taking things step by step and understanding where the business is at. After pouring my heart into growing the magazine for three years, 2024 felt like the perfect time for Brand You to take that next leap—into the world of live events.

Over the past few years, our community has blossomed, and it became clear to me that there’s so much more we can offer to our readers, contributors and fans. When I imagined SHOWTIME, it wasn’t just another networking event. I saw a real need—especially among female entrepreneurs—for a gathering that centres around branding, visibility and PR.

Thanks to the growing presence and reputation of Brand You Magazine, we’re in a place where we can bring in incredible speakers who genuinely offer value to our audience. SHOWTIME is all about bringing together a diverse mix of entrepreneurs, PR pros, media experts and brand strategists under one roof. My goal is simple: to give women the tools, confidence and strategies they need to amplify their voices, stand out and take their brands to new heights.

But it’s not just about the established voices—it’s also a space for emerging talent and brands to shine. With visibility as the focus, we’re creating opportunities for women to take the stage, showcase their work and products, and dive into unique sponsorship roles. Whether it’s hosting Brand You TV live at the event or stepping into the spotlight as a guest editor for the magazine, it’s all about making an impact and finding new ways to stand out.

And at the heart of it all? Having fun, connecting with other incredible women and making the journey just as meaningful as the destination.

In December 2024, you launched Brand You Connect, a new online networking platform. Can you share more about the vision behind this platform and how it aims to support aspiring female founders?

As I step into the fourth year of this amazing journey, I’ve realised that experiences are at the heart of what Brand You is all about. And nothing made this clearer than SHOWTIME back in May. The energy in that room, filled with all the incredible women who’ve joined our world—whether as readers, contributors or fans—was magical.

I felt this strong pull to create a space where our community could connect, learn and support each other beyond the pages of Brand You. By the time you read this, I’ll have just launched Brand You Connect. How it unfolds is still to be seen, but I truly believe it’s the next natural step for Brand You.

When I look at the talent, expertise and knowledge within our community, I’m blown away. I know my readers—I see who they are behind the scenes. And I see the limitless potential if everyone came together. The connections, the collaborations, the growth that would come from it—it’s all right there.

From where I stand, it’s so clear—it’s like I have a bird’s eye view of this incredible network of powerhouse women. That’s why I knew it was time to create and host Brand You Connect.

Having worked along the French Riviera and now back in the UK, how has your international experience influenced the global perspective of your business, particularly with Brand You Magazine?

This is such a thoughtful question! As someone who’s both English and French, with a life that’s been shaped by both countries and my travels, I’ve always had an international perspective. But when I started Brand You Magazine three years ago, my focus was on building something strong here in the UK. I wanted to lay the groundwork before thinking about going global.

That said, I truly believe that the magazine needs to be a space for every woman in the world. Not just for diversity on our pages, but because we live in such a connected world now. We’ve already had the pleasure of featuring incredible women from all over the world, and offering the magazine digitally has allowed us to reach readers in places like South America, the US, Switzerland, Australia, Poland, France, and Spain.

Now with Brand You Connect, we’re opening even more doors for women from all over the globe to join our community. I’m not chasing a global empire (yet!), but I do believe as we continue offering both in-person and online ways to engage, our international presence will grow naturally. It’s an exciting journey and it feels like a beautiful reflection of our mission to empower women everywhere.

Brand You Magazine has become a top platform for female experts to amplify their visibility. What advice do you have for women looking to increase their presence in their industries?

Visibility is everything in today’s business landscape, and I like to think of it as a puzzle. Sometimes, you’ve got to take a step back, zoom out, and look at your business from a wider angle to see how all the pieces fit together.

Every piece of that puzzle matters, and each one plays a role in building your big-picture strategy. With so many ways to put yourself out there—social media, the media, your mailing list, speaking on stages, publishing a book or even showing up in person at events—it’s all about choosing the right channels for you and your goals.

Each platform has its purpose and its vibe. And when you’re intentional about where and how you show up, it creates a ripple effect. Suddenly, you can see how all those pieces come together to position you, make an impact and tell the world who you are and what you stand for.

As a multi-business owner, how do you balance the demands of running multiple projects, including the magazine, the online platform, and large-scale events like SHOWTIME?

Oh, balance isn’t a word I’d use to describe my life right now—and honestly, I don’t think many business owners in their first 4-5 years would either. Those early years are all about figuring it out and perfect balance just doesn’t feel like part of the deal. I’m incredibly lucky to have an amazing editorial team by my side to help bring the magazine to life, but let’s be real—the workload is heavy. The to-do list on my desk is long, but thankfully, we live in a time where there are so many tools, and services available, that can make working smarter (and faster!) a little easier.

I’ll admit it—I’m a workaholic. My business is woven into my life and it just flows around the things I love. I don’t draw a hard line between personal and business—it’s all one big, beautiful life, and I manage it based on what feels most important in the moment. But here’s the thing: I do make space for downtime. Holidays, travel, family dinners, time with friends—those things matter just as much as the work. The beauty of running my own business is that I set the hours. I’ve found a rhythm that fits me and I think that’s the key.

As someone who has been recognized for your achievements, including being named #ialso100 woman by f: Entrepreneur, what does success look like to you, and how do you continue to evolve as a leader in your field?

I’ve never measured success by fame or money—they’re not what drives me. For me, success is about the meaning behind what I’ve accomplished and the impact it creates. Sure, fame and money have their role in the mix, but they’ve never been the end goal.

As a creative, what lights me up is the process—the act of bringing something to life—and seeing the ripple effect it has on others. When I step back and look at Brand You, I see it as a long-term journey, not a sprint. I set goals that guide me toward a place where I can stand back and say, “Yes, I’m proud of this. I built this.”

It feels a lot like being a painter—success is the completed canvas, something deeply personal that reflects talent and passion. It’s about creating something that matters, not just chasing quick wins or fleeting recognition.

As a business owner, I approach what I do with heart and purpose. Sure, it’s about building a profitable business, but it’s also so much more than that. It’s about creating something meaningful for my clients and community—giving them a real reason to connect with and feel part of the brand. It’s about making bold moves, steering growth in the best way I can and showing up authentically. A big part of that journey is building my brand—being seen, being trusted and taking my place in the industry alongside my peers.

Pursuing success can be risky, but striving for meaningful accomplishments makes the journey truly worthwhile.