The self-assembly of copper(ii) complexes with two Schiff base ligands: L1 = N and L2 = N and octacyanidomolybdate(iv) ions yields two discrete molecules of odd nuclearity, namely pentametallic [Cu(L1)(py)][Mo(CN)]·14HO (1), CuMo and trimetallic [Cu(L2)][Mo(CN)]·9HO (2), CuMo. Both molecular systems have been characterised structurally and magnetically, revealing a photomagnetic effect. In the case of (1) a metal-to-metal charge transfer (MMCT) mechanism is proposed. The analysis of magnetic interactions in the photogenerated state of (1) assumes the formation of the metastable cluster CuCuMo where metal centres in Mo-CN-Cu linkages are ferromagnetically coupled with J = 104(3) cm. In (2) the increase in the magnetisation is due to the singlet-triplet transition on the Mo centre leading to the formation of the metastable CuMo. The presence of the paramagnetic Mo (S = 1) centre linking the Cu (S = 1/2) centres allows for effective ferromagnetic interaction of 3 paramagnetic centres with coupling constant J = 20.2(7) cm.