We had the good fortune of connecting with Mackenzie Ortiz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mackenzie, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Before I had my son, my life was more balanced understandably. I would work a wedding and within the next month I would often have the photos ready to send to the client. I really enjoyed having the extra time to put the finishing touches on a project. Now, things look a little different. I love being a mom and an entrepreneur! Becoming a mom has pushed me to carve out specific time for editing so that I get my projects done and also have time for family. Right now I use my son’s naps as work time and it’s working well so far! Balance is so important because too much of anything would drive me crazy. I’m so grateful that I get to capture and edit amazing wedding pictures and also play with my son on any given day.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started out with a simple Canon camera in high school photographing my friends. I never thought about photography as a career. More importantly, I never thought I would end up in wedding photography. It sounded so stressful to me and in the competitive Atlanta market, I really didn’t believe that I would make it. In 2016, after my husband and I got married, I shadowed the photographer at our wedding, a dear friend of ours, Caroline Whitehead and she really helped me understand wedding photography. She offered me to shadow her to see if weddings were my thing. Turns out I loved it. After that, I second shot with Caroline for a bit and then ventured out into my own business. I’m not going to lie, it was not easy getting where I am now. My husband was in church ministry for many years, so obtaining the equipment I needed was often difficult and delayed. During this time of building my brand, we lost two babies and struggled with infertility. I didn’t know how to process that grief and so I channeled a lot of my pain into my craft. I feel that that time only grew me as a skilled professional. It helped me not only in my ability as a photographer, but it also made me more relatable to some of my clients who were struggling with loss as well. I see my struggles in life as an opportunity to help someone else who’s where you are. My brand is still developing. I have a lot to learn but have also learned a lot along the way. I have learned that authenticity is the key to my business. Clients invest in me on the most special day of their lives and they deserve to know who I am and what I’m about 100%. I have learned that mistakes are opportunities for growth and a chance to strengthen credibility in your brand when handled with honesty and forgiveness. I have learned that while my craft is my own, it does not own who I am as a person. I have seen many people but themselves behind a brand because they are afraid to show who they really are. Don’t be afraid, you have so much to offer this world. Finally, I have learned that it is so important to continue fanning the flame of creativity as an entrepreneur. Even entrepreneurs need to take time to go do what they love for fun for free once in a while. It’s what keeps us sane.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I enjoy nature and a lot of my friends enjoy it as well. If a friend came to visit me in ATL I would first take them to Piedmont Park if they hadn’t been there before. I just love it. I feel like it’s a central hub to so many different areas of Atlanta. Not to mention that it’s beautiful. I would take my friend to eat at Canoe, which is absolutely delicious. And make sure to visit Heirloom Market BBQ as well. I would take them to East Pole Coffee and Land of a Thousand Hills Coffeehouse to enjoy fine craft coffee.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Honestly, over the years I have been very blessed to have a tribe of people supporting me. I’m so thankful for the family and friends that pushed me to get to where I am today. But my husband, in particular, has been my rock, He sees something in me that I don’t even see in myself and he motivates me towards being the best version of myself I can possibly be. I don’t think I would be a successful entrepreneur without his support and encouragement.

Website: mackenzieortiz.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mackenzieortizphoto_/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/mackenzieortiz
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/macotphoto
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/MACOTPHOTOGRAPHY/