We recently connected with Mackenzie Frank and have shared our conversation below.

Mackenzie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I have been very fortunate to be able to earn a full-time living from my creative work. Obviously we all start from somewhere and I started with free shoot after free shoot. I did this for a few months mainly to get comfortable with my couples and models and to slowly start to get my name out there. This was while I was still working at Target full-time. I became more confident with my shooting and finally had some good content to share (thank you, Instagram and word of mouth for catalyzing all of this). I created my website and the inquiries started to come in. I photographed everything: real estate, restaurants, couples, families, newborns, small businesses and for the Cincinnati Business Courier. Your name gets out there pretty rapidly when you shoot everything but obviously I didn’t have a strong love for all of those types of photography. I was shooting multiple shoots every single day so after a year or so I began to niche down. I mainly started to shoot weddings and real estate and finally I have it narrowed down to weddings and boudoir! I found what truly fulfilled me. Right now I think my biggest advantage is word of mouth and and the trust that my couples and clients have for me!

Mackenzie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have always been more creative than anything, so I knew something “artsy” was in my future. It was senior year of high school and everyone was choosing if they were going to continue their education, where they were going go, and what they were going to study. Photography began as a hobby for me so I wasn’t entirely sure if I could even study it or if it was a viable option as a career. A friend said I should go for it and luckily got full support from my parents, which I am very blessed it unfolded that way.

One of the biggest challenges for me was and still is to this day is my anxiety. It was definitely way worse in the beginning when it came to shoots, meeting new people and trying to make them comfortable when I was nervous myself. I have grown a lot in that department so I am proud of myself for doing something that scares me every single day.

I simply want those who are in front of my lens to know how much I care and how badly I want their session to be a positive, successful experience and put so much effort and energy into that.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a photographer is the response I get from my couples and individuals. When I get an email or text after they received their photos and they’re telling me my work brought them to tears, they’ve never felt more beautiful, or thanking me for making them so comfortable, it makes my day. I always save screenshots of messages like those because they are good motivation to keep doing what I am doing. It it the most rewarding and fulfilling career that I can imagine for myself but it doesn’t mean it is easy or not time consuming. Messages like those remind me why I do it and easily outweigh the more difficult parts. I also appreciate the friendships I have gained with my career!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I would say what helped build and strengthen my reputation was the trust that my couples and clients have in me. They know going in that I have their best interest at heart and will give them my all. I’ve had several people tell me they can see how much I care and they are right. The happiness of those I work with is my number one priority and that starts from the moment I get that initial email. I try my hardest to respond efficiently, arrive on time to meetings and shoots, communicate well, make them feel comfortable, and take time with editing to deliver quality photos.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mkfphoto.com
• Instagram: mkf.photo