From Venture to Picture(s)

Trading my investor hat for a camera strap

Mini Giants with Giant Dreams

You know that little pulse that starts beating faster when you’re onto something that energises you, that genuinely excites you.

That little pulse that triggers something in you, that makes you redefine the notion of time to a very abstract concept.

That little pulse that flirts with passion.

For me, that little pulse has been hiding behind photography. Analog photography to be more precise. In the context of travel photography to be even more precise.

Wit

And so, after 2 years at Cherry Ventures, 4 in Venture Capital and 7 in tech, I’ve decided to listen to that pulse and try to become a full-time photographer.

Roaring Cracks

Photography always was an inner passion, but one that had been hibernating. It would occasionally open up one eye or two without ever fully getting out of that sleeping mode.

Until Covid hit.

Repeated lockdowns and remote work got me to spend 2 months on my own in The Alps at the end of last year. These 2 months in a snowy paradise were the initial spark.

Narnia’s Triptych

The ball started rolling and photography became a real hobby, soon turned into a proper side project.

After having played around with my Olympus OM40 camera, I got myself the Rolls Royce of analog photography: a Leica M6. Built a **website. A dedicated [Instagram account](https://www.instagram.com/maguitte/). Sold my first prints. Developed my portfolio further in the context of remote work and went on to spend months in Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, Armenia, France and Berlin. Got 2 photos permanently exposed at WeWork Coeur Marais. Hosted my first photo exhibition** with a turnout of ~200 people each evening (!!) and 150+ photos sold (early stage founders reading this will recognize the excitement of the first numbers, albeit very small! You gotta start somewhere 🙂).

Breaking Point

Slowly, my guts led my mind to embrace concepts that were quite different from the ones I’d been exposed to over the last 7 years:

Analog versus technology

Traditional processes versus innovation

Grain versus pixels

Hardware versus software

Intangible outcomes versus tangible outcomes

Contemplation versus growth

Time capsule versus time pressure

There’s beauty in both worlds.

Tech is an amazing industry and I’ve been incredibly lucky to experience it from within the Cherry family. You get to meet fascinating entrepreneurs working on making the world a better and more efficient place, you’re constantly challenged to understand what’s next, most of the time you are the dumbest person in the room, and your curiosity gets a limitless playground. The Cherry on the cake was getting to work with such inspiring, smart and hardworking people that I’ve been constantly learning from. Thank you Cherry 🍒❤️

So this may seem like a very odd move. And it might not work out. But I guess if the VC industry has taught me anything, it’s that it’s okay to give it a try. It’s okay to fail. And who knows, maybe it will lead to some good stuff along the way :)

Feedback welcome!

Getting some support at the beginning of a new project is incredibly valuable. And I’d love yours.

If you know people I should be speaking to, inspiring artists I should check out, photograph collectives I should engage with, NFT platforms my work should be listed on, online marketing solutions I should test out… My ears are wide open 😊

If you feel like it, you can also wander on ️www.maguitte.eu or Insta. It’s very much Work In Progress, feel free to share your impressions or suggestions!

And if you haven’t been in luck with Christmas present ideas yet — you no longer are! ️🎞😉

See you on the other side,

Maguitte