Meet Jill Mueller | Owner of my company & Photographer

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

Hi Jill, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
As a parent, I think one of the most important things I’ve done is show my children that it’s never too late to grow, take risks, and build something you truly love. Watching my photography business grow over the years has become an example to my children that it’s possible to pursue your dreams, continue growing, and build something you truly love at any stage of life.
One of the most meaningful moments was reading a birthday card from my 21-year-old daughter where she told me how inspiring it has been to watch me grow my business and succeed while doing something I genuinely love. That reminded me that our children are always watching not just what we say, but how we live.
My son has impacted me as well. He encouraged me to push past my fear and earn my RPIC FAA drone license so I could expand what I offer to my clients. His confidence in me gave me confidence in myself.
I’ve also been lucky to have lifelong encouragement from my childhood best friend, who first pushed me toward photography because she believed I had “the eye” for it long before I fully believed it myself.
And honestly, none of this would have been possible without the support of my husband. He has always carried the financial stability for our family while I built my business, and that support gave me the freedom to grow, take chances and pursue a career I truly love. Building a business while raising children is hard, and having a partner who believes in you makes all the difference.
I hope my children have learned from all of this that growth takes courage, support matters, and it’s important to pursue work and a life that genuinely fulfill you.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Photography has always been a creative outlet for me, but over time I realized the true gift of it is being able to capture and highlight the beauty in others and in the spaces around us. Whether I’m photographing people, interiors, architecture, or nature, I love creating images that tell a story and make people feel something. I grew up on the East Coast in New Jersey and have lived all over the country since graduating high school. I attended the University of Maine and later graduated from Arizona State University. Along the way, I also lived in Virginia, Park City, Utah, and Chicago before eventually settling in Texas. Experiencing so many different places has given me a deep appreciation for the beauty, character and diversity found throughout our country. My husband, daughter, son, our two rescued Boston Terriers, and Rhodesian Ridgeback have now called Flower Mound home for more than ten years, we truly love Texas.
My company name, Ollian’s Photography, is very personal to me. My name is Jill, but growing up I always wished it was Jillian ~ which is still what my best friend calls me today. My daughter’s name is Lillian, and my son’s name is Olin (or “O,” as we often call him). Combining those names created “Ollian,” (sounds like Jillian :)) or “O.P.” for short. I love that my business name represents my kids.
I have found joy in photography ever since I got my very first camera. I still remember the excitement of dropping film off to be developed and anxiously waiting to see what moments had been captured. Technology has obviously changed tremendously since then, but honestly, that excitement has never left me. I still look forward to getting back to my desk after every shoot and pulling up the images to see the moments, emotion, and details I was able to capture.
Once my children became involved in sports, photography naturally became a bigger part of my life. I started photographing their games, team photos, and special moments. I even briefly tried coaching soccer, but quickly realized I was much better behind the camera than on the sidelines! Those early sports photos helped build both my experience and my confidence.
Today, during the week, I primarily photograph real estate, commercial spaces, and interior design projects. I also love photographing concerts, performances, dog races, horse shows, and portraits. One of the things I love most about photography is that no two days are the same. There is always something new to learn, a different challenge to tackle, or another creative approach to explore.
The journey definitely has not been easy. Building a business later in life after years as a stay-at-home mom came with plenty of self-doubt and challenges. I’ve made mistakes, had to adapt, and constantly pushed myself outside of my comfort zone. Earning my RPIC drone license was one example of that ~ something I was initially intimidated by but ultimately pursued so I could continue growing and offering more to my clients.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that growth comes from being willing to keep learning, even when it feels uncomfortable. I try to stay positive, learn from setbacks, and continue improving rather than striving for perfection. Photography has taught me to trust my instincts, connect with people, and appreciate details others might overlook.
What I want people to know about me and my brand is that I genuinely care about the people and businesses I photograph. Whether I’m shooting a luxury home, a concert, a senior portrait, or a sporting event, I want clients to feel seen and proud of what we create together. My style is rooted in authenticity, creativity, and storytelling. I never want my work to feel overly staged or disconnected. I want it to feel real.
And even after all these years, I still feel like I’m learning and evolving. Right now, my next challenge is diving deeper into video work and continuing to grow creatively in new ways.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to visit for a week, the trip would definitely revolve around good food, live music, fun energy and showing off some of the best parts of Texas. One of our first stops would be a day out on Grapevine Lake relaxing on a boat, followed by dinner, drinks, and live music at Big Daddy’s.
I’d also take her into Dallas for a night out with amazing restaurants, rooftop cocktails, and nightlife. Dallas has so much energy and so many great places to explore, whether you want upscale dining, trendy bars or just a fun night downtown. Perhaps stay at the Adolphus or at least pop in for some fun selfie shots.
Another must would be a trip to Fort Worth. I love the mix of history, music, and culture there. We would spend time wandering through the Fort Worth Stockyards before heading to Scat Jazz Lounge for live jazz and cocktails. If possible, I’d love for us to hit Hotel Drover, which is one of my favorite places to stay.
And if we had extra time, we’d absolutely head down to Austin for even more live music, incredible food, and that unique creative energy Austin is known for. To me, some of the best experiences in Texas revolve around music, great conversations, amazing food and soaking in the personality of each city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

Absolutely. My biggest shoutout would have to go to my childhood best friend, Karla Turk Fulmer. Her belief in my talent helped me believe in myself, and I truly don’t know if I would have pursued photography professionally without her constant encouragement.
I would also like to recognize Will Hume, who was my son’s soccer coach from years ago. He was one of the very first people to take a chance on me professionally and offer me a paid photography/design opportunity creating a soccer brochure for his company. Early support like that means everything when you’re starting out. He also trusted me to photograph his cousin’s Scottish wedding early in my career, which was a huge opportunity and confidence boost for me at the time. That experience also helped me begin building a real portfolio and gave me work I could confidently show future clients as my business started to grow.
And of course my parents!!! Through every stage of my life, they’ve been a constant source of encouragement, support, and reassurance. They have always celebrated my ideas, pushed me to keep going and stepped in however they could when I needed them. Having people in your corner who genuinely believe in you makes such a difference and they have truly been some of my biggest cheerleaders in both me and my business journey.

Website: http://www.olliansphotography.net/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/olliansphotography17

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Olliansphotography

Image Credits
these are all images that I have taken