We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mackenzie Schwen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mackenzie below.
Mackenzie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you manage your own social media?
I manage my own social media! I like having the control to be creative with my social media pages. There are so many trends and new ideas that give an artist like me the ability to express myself and grow my business through social media platforms and outreach.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Mackenzie Lane, I’m a 22 year old self taught photographer based locally out of St. Augustine, Florida! I do travel often for sessions and love exploring the world! I got into the industry professionally, almost a year ago. I grew up with a lot of artistry in my family. My love for photography began when my aunt got into the profession. I remember being about 8, maybe 9 years old and always asking her if I could use her camera at family get togethers or birthday parties. I’d always tell them how to pose or stand. I feel like I’ve always had a keen eye for getting the right shot. I take a lot of pride in my craft and working on it every day. I feel like with photography, you are constantly learning. Learning new skills, techniques, angles, lighting, approaches, designs, poses. There’s always room to grow and learn more to contribute to your craft every day. My services include couples, portraits, and lifestyle sessions. I also offer wedding packages for clients that are ready to tie the knot! I believe my niche though, has been capturing the magic between couples or individuals who look to have portraits done, during the sunset/golden hour. Especially on the beach. The colors, the lighting, the magic, it’s all so dreamy and beautiful. I think what sets myself apart from others is that I like to make my clients feel like we KNOW each other. Especially if we’ve just met. I want my clients to feel as comfortable as possible, and the best day I feel to do that, is to be personable. Nobody wants to get in-front of a camera and feel awkward, and not know what do to. Connecting with your clients to ensure they have a memorable experience is key. I
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Pivoting. Going through changes in your personal life can definitely have an impact on your professional life within your career. I ended a long term relationship of 4 years, and packed up my life and moved. Began a fresh start. I had to learn how to manage real life with my career and how to give myself a break. I had to remind myself that it’s ok to take a step back to focus on myself, but that there’s a balance. I also dove in head first into my business. I started looking more into education and what else I could learn and how to gain more skill sets throughout my career. This pivotal moment for me, has given me the ability to want to grow more as a photographer. I’m now looking to dabble into videography as well!
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
I feel as though the best, most effective strategy for growing your clientele as a business owner, is to be relatable. When potential clients feel like they can relate to you, and feel as though you have similarities and like they would be comfortable with you, they’re more likely to book a session.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mackenzielanephotography.mypixieset.com/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ
- Instagram: mac.kenzielanephotography
- Facebook: Mackenzie Lane Photography