We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Makenzie Evans a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Makenzie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
The decision (and risk, let’s be real) to go full-time with photography was terrifying. I was always afraid of getting burned out from the thing I loved so much. In 2018-2019 my life took an unexpected shift and I had to make the choice to either get a desk job and despise it, or jump into photography full time. So I leapt! At first, things were very, very slow. I took on a couple of odd jobs in addition to pursuing photography, to make ends meet, and eventually my passion slowly turned into my full-time gig. While I’d been side hustling for years with this craft, I didn’t consider myself truly full-time until 2022. I was finally making a livable wage and absolutely loving my job. From the beginning, the photography culture and “right business move” was to pursue one lane and stay in it. But I didn’t want to focus on only weddings or only families; I enjoy the variety of everything I photograph. I get to capture everything from newborn babies, to weddings, to families, to branding sessions and real estate. Homes to pets to commercial product to food and beyond. I love it all. It’s never boring and I meet so many incredible people from all walks of life every day. I’m so thankful for the incredible photography community that helped me get where I am today, without them I wouldn’t be successful and ever-improving.
Makenzie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My junior year in high school I needed another elective class, so I signed up for photography thinking it would be a breeze and easy A. It surprised me by being challenging and so much fun. From then on I knew I’d found my passion, but never thought it could turn into a career. That was almost fifteen years ago! I’ve considered myself a truly full-time photographer since 2022, but I’ve been “side-hustlin’ for years” as I like to say.
The most common question I’m asked is “What is your favorite thing to photograph?” I LOVE photographing families, from the chaos of kiddos to the sweet love of a couple who’ve been married for decades. The relaxed and intimate moments that come from those sessions are some of the purest and most genuine, and so much fun to capture. I also get to know people a lot quicker that way, and look forward to photographing them every year. Weddings are beautiful and fun, but not what I primarily shoot. I only book ten weddings per year to keep my weekends open for other shoots, and to be 100% present for my clients by not over-booking myself. Something surprising that I used to dread were newborn sessions. Initially these were super intimidating but over time they’ve become some of my favorite moments to photograph. I get so excited to watch families grow and couples step into new roles as parents, and watch kiddos become siblings. It’s truly the best.
Branding sessions for realtors, life coaches, small businesses and fellow photographers are so much fun and push me creatively more than other bookings. Learning how to capture so many different people has made me a more thoughtful, detail-oriented and creative person, and it’s so fun bouncing ideas back and forth with clients during our time together.
Something that’s always been important to me is accessibility. I believe everyone should be able to schedule portraits for whatever event is happening in their life and I try to price myself in a way that serves my clients and myself as best as possible. I’ll be honest, I’m not a great business person; but I am a people-person. Charging for something that’s so fun and so rewarding is HARD. But, it is my job and over time I’ve learned how to offer different packages that is attainable for everyone. Growing up, we didn’t get family photos taken often because they were so expensive. In 2021 my dad died suddenly and photos are all you have left of someone when they’re gone. I wish we had more but I’m so thankful for the ones we do have. That’s why it’s so important to me to be able to serve all walks of life because yes, this is an investment but it’s also a memento of your loved ones that you can share forever.
I’m really proud of how far I’ve come as a photographer and woman in business. I truly never thought I’d get to do this full-time, and it is such an honor every time someone books me to capture their memories. I’ve made so many friends who were clients first and getting to see their families or businesses grow year after year is so special and rewarding. I don’t take this gig for granted!
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Starting out, I knew absolutely nothing about running my own business. Without the help of friends, family and mentors, my CPA (who is also my incredible grandmother) and YouTube I would be lost. I really didn’t know where to start when it came to learning all the things that go into starting a business. From taxes to licenses to expensing and all the other things, it’s intimidating being self-employed.
How did you build your audience on social media?
If you follow me on social media, you’ll see that I don’t have a ton of followers or even post consistently. Why? I’ve never pursued this job for the following, and honestly I’m not one to put myself in front of the camera either. I know this goes against everything social media stands for these days but it’s just not my personality. I do book a ton of clients through social media regardless of how active I am on there. I believe if someone has a good experience with me, that means so much more than my social media presence. I actually get most of my business through former clients referring me, which means the world!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.makenzieevans.com
- Instagram: @makenzieevansphoto
- Facebook: Makenzie Evans Photography
Image Credits
Makenzie Evans