We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mallorie McBride. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mallorie below.

Mallorie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

Oh gosh, my parents did so many things right! I’m very lucky and that’s not lost on me.

Growing up they were always encouraging me to try new things, give my all to them and to always see things through. Along with this, they also did an incredible job of instilling confidence in me – I credit my drive and ambition to that, wholeheartedly.

I will never forget the day I came to them and said I was leaving my 9-5 corporate job to pursue photography full time; I remember thinking I would judge how “bad of an idea it was” based on their reactions, but both looked at me with so much excitement and said “do it!”

There was no doubt in their minds that this wasn’t something I would be successful at and having that support has been a huge backbone not only for my business but for my personal life as well.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Howdy – I’m Mallorie! A full-time wedding and couples photographer and creative entrepreneur. That last label is important because it’s easy for people to forget that I do more than just take and edit photos – I run a full-blown business! Taxes, bookkeeping, contracting – all that ‘fun’ stuff.

I’ve been shooting for just about 10 years. I started in high school with senior and family photos primarily as a way to avoid having to work a serving job. Later on I graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Strategic Communications with the hopes of working in beauty or fashion marketing but, much like many people in May of 2020, covid caused me to pivot.

I found myself at a creative agency here in KC who had a bridal boutique as a client and simultaneously fell in love with the wedding industry while coming to the realization that a traditional 9-5 lifestyle was not where I thrived.

So, I made the decision to niche down my photography – no more seniors and families – and completely re-brand. In the fall of 2020 I dove head first into networking with local vendors, building my wedding portfolio and establishing good business practices.

I eventually decided that there would never truly be a “right” time to take my business full-time, so I set a date and told myself no matter what I would be leaving my job. My second month full-time is still, to this day, my highest-grossing month. Clearly, it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

I like to say that people inquire with me because they like my work, but they book me because they like ME. Connecting on a personal level with my couples is the most important thing to me – it allows them to get comfortable and me to capture true authenticity. That’s what’s different about me and my photographs – they come from a place of connection and, honestly, friendship. At the end of the day I want my couples walking away feeling like I gave them all that I could and I made them feel like a million bucks.

I’m most proud of my ability to not only capture a great image, but to confidently direct and maintain the flow of a wedding day. I’m the daughter of a teacher and an oldest child so leadership skills are not something I lack. I hear from a lot of couples after a wedding day that I kept them at ease and it gave them confidence to know I could handle anything thrown at me.

It’s important to me that my couples and clients know that I truly care for them and will do anything in my ability to give them the best wedding day possible.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Three things – being kind, going the extra mile and never being afraid to put myself out there. This goes for both my clientele and also my peers.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Under-promising and over-delivering. Example: when I say you’ll get your wedding photos back in 6 weeks – I aim for 4. Going the extra mile for the little things are what make current clients say “wow, she’s a rockstar” and those clients then, in turn, send people my way.

Showing up on social media and allowing my audience into a bit of my personal life has also been essential in gaining clients. By the time they submit an inquiry I want them to feel like they already know me. I do this by talking in my stories, sharing personal life updates or just being candid and open about how I’m feeling at any point in time.

Doing these things have allowed me to gain like minded clients who truly appreciate me and my work and who are so excited to work with me!

Contact Info:

• Website: malloriemcbride.com
• Instagram: @mcbride.photography

Image Credits
Personal Photo of myself: Delaney Hady