Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mackenzie Fulcher. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mackenzie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later?

If I could go back in time, I do think that I would start my business earlier. I graduated from MSJU with a social work degree, then from UC with a masters in social work. I worked in hospice and absolutely loved my job, but it only fueled half of me. I love serving my families and patients, but I wasn’t also serving my creative side. With wedding photography, I still serve others (in a different capacity) but ALSO serve my creative side at the same time. At one point, I was doing both at the same time, and then my wedding business started getting too busy but I was so nervous to make the jump as it wasn’t as “reliable” as a 9-5. I drained my battery doing both for too long before I finally quit my job to pursue photography full-time and I wish I trusted my gut earlier to go for it! A lot of people in this industry start super young, so I do feel like I’m on the “older” end and that also makes me wish I started earlier so that I could’ve started saving and investing earlier as well. Overall, I’m so grateful for where I am and my journey here, but starting earlier could’ve opened even more doors for me!

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 back background and context?

When I first started, I was shooting mainly shooting families while my husband was in the military just as a side job. One couple took a chance on me shooting their elopement in Florida, and they are still some of my favorite images to this day. It snowballed from there and when we moved back to Ohio, I just started shooting more and more weddings until I could do it full-time. Most people think wedding photographers just take pictures and leave, but I do so many things on a wedding day people would never know about. A lot of times I’m keeping the day on schedule (when there isn’t a planner involved- highly recommend one!), i’ve gotten stains out of dresses, blotted tears, fixed makeup, bustled dresses, ran to get food and drinks for my couples, played in the rain with the kids, fixed hair, steamed dresses, etc. I don’t see any of that as “extra work.” I see all of that as an honor that I get to be such a part of my couples’ days. It’s more of the human connection side of the job which is a bonus to the creative aspect of it. Most of my clients feel like friends and family at the end of the day. I’m always proud to go the extra mile for them, and I’d do anything to make their day perfect.

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

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative, is capturing someone’s memories and making them “permanent” for them to have forever. I do not take for granted that I may take the last ever photo of someone’s loved one. A hug from grandma, a mom wiping tears after seeing her daughter as a bride, a mom turned to look at her son waiting for his bride while everyone else’s eyes are on her. I love capturing little moments during the day that my couple didn’t see, so they get to relive their day from all different vantage points. Getting my couples’ reactions from seeing their gallery and looking at the best day of their life so far is such a cool thing and another reason I love this job.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

When I was first starting, I wish I knew more about mentorship’s from other photographers as well as styled shoots and education. There is so much to learn from others who are willing to share their experiences and knowledge. Styled shoots are no where near a normal wedding day, but it’s also great practice for making a couple feel comfortable, shooting from different angles with different lenses, and being creative. Second shooting is still the best hands on learning tool because you’re actually getting real life chaos and necessary adapting that comes from a wedding day, but they’re great tools to build off of!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mackenziefulcherphoto.showit.site/?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwLLfU1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpx36U3bMTmz3-vOd7w-L_6fBUlsUR0eU9Ec2YyXMcLei0iCoN3RFAsyKt3t5_aem__TRpaUhF3t_4uq9QsoZPfg
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/mackenziefulcherphoto