We recently connected with Makayla Boyd and have shared our conversation below.

Makayla, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been one of the most interesting investments you’ve made – and did you win or lose? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

My best investment as a business owner has been building my creative studio, BGM Studios. More than just spending money on equipment or décor, this was an investment in creating a physical home for my business and a space where creativity could fully come to life.

Back in October 2023, the space was far from what it is now. It was basically a blank canvas with a lot of potential and a lot of work ahead of us. At the time, I knew I wanted more than just a place to shoot photos and videos. I wanted a true brick-and-mortar creative studio where clients, creators, and collaborators could walk in and immediately feel inspired.

My business partner and I spent months renovating the space ourselves. We drywalled, painted, designed, and built photography sets from the ground up. Now the studio includes multiple photography sets, a changing area, a makeup station, and we are currently working on adding a podcast space as well.

What makes this my best investment is that it gave my business legitimacy, flexibility, and room to grow. Instead of constantly adapting to rented spaces or temporary setups, I now have a location tailored specifically to the services I offer. It has also opened doors for more professional productions, collaborations, and future expansion opportunities.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I’m Makayla, a photographer and filmmaker operating under my brand, MCB Cinema. Storytelling has always been at the center of what I do, whether that’s through photography, film, or digital media.

My journey into the creative industry started early. In elementary school, my father bought me my first camera, and from that moment I became fascinated with capturing moments and telling stories visually. What started as curiosity quickly became a passion. Later, during my freshman year of high school, I took a video production class that introduced me to filmmaking, and everything clicked into place. I realized I didn’t just enjoy being creative, I wanted creativity to become part of my everyday life and career.

Since then, I’ve built my work around creating visual experiences that connect with people emotionally and authentically. Through MCB Cinema, I provide photography, videography, filmmaking, and social media services. My work ranges from cinematic productions and branded content to photography sessions and digital storytelling projects. I also work on independent film and web series projects that allow me to push creative boundaries and create stories that resonate with audiences.

What sets me apart is that I approach every project with both creativity and intention. I don’t just create content to look good, I create work that tells a story, captures emotion, and leaves an impact. Because I come from both photography and filmmaking backgrounds, I’m able to think visually in a way that blends cinematic storytelling with strong imagery and branding.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I met my studio business partner during my freshman year of high school. We were both involved in the theatre program at Winton Woods High School, and we connected almost immediately through our shared creativity and love for the arts.
What started as a friendship built around theatre eventually evolved into a creative partnership over a decade later. Even after 13 years, we both found ourselves pursuing many of the same goals, especially our passion for photography, filmmaking, and creating a space where we could continue growing our skills and supporting other creatives.

As our conversations about the future became more serious, we realized we shared the same vision: building a professional creative space that could serve as more than just a studio. We wanted it to be a place where ideas could come to life, where creators could collaborate, and where we could continue expanding our craft. That vision ultimately led us to go into business together and create BGM Studios.

Looking back, it’s pretty incredible that a friendship that started in a high school theatre program eventually turned into a business partnership rooted in creativity, trust, and shared ambition.

Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?

My business has developed multiple revenue streams over time. While photography and filmmaking are at the core of what I do through MCB Cinema, I’ve expanded into several related areas that all connect back to visual storytelling and media production.

In addition to photography and videography services, I also work on independent film and web series productions, social media content creation, and creative marketing projects. I’ve built experience managing digital content and branding, which allows me to help clients not only create visuals, but also strategically use that content for promotion and audience engagement.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mcbcinema.blog
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcb_cinema?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mcbcinema_

Image Credits

Images provided by Jack Crowne (instagram: @jackcrowncamera)