We recently connected with Sammy Mckenzie and have shared our conversation below.
Sammy , thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Photography has been a passion I’ve carried with me for as long as I can remember. Any time I feel my creativity running low or I start doubting myself, I always go back to that younger version of me — the 13-year-old Sammy who would be absolutely losing her mind to know she grew up to become a full-time wedding photographer.
Growing up, I was constantly dragging my friends outside for photoshoots, crafting little “sets,” and taking pictures of anyone who would let me. It was the one place where my imagination could spill out without limits. I didn’t have many other outlets that made me feel that free, that expressive, or that seen. Those early days shaped the way I see the world now — with curiosity, with tenderness, and with a love for the small, in-between moments.
And honestly? Not much has changed. At 23, I approach every single wedding with that same sense of privilege and wonder. Every couple trusts me with some of the most meaningful moments of their lives, and that will never feel normal or routine to me. I still tap into that younger version of myself — the girl who saw magic everywhere — and let her guide me.
There’s a creative well inside me that started filling up when I was a kid, and it’s one that will never run dry. When I’m shooting a wedding, I’m not just documenting a day; I’m honoring the dream of the younger me and showing up with all the passion, playfulness, and heart that started this whole journey.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a Nashville wedding photographer and videographer specializing in 35mm film, true-to-color documentary storytelling, and genuinely loving my clients. My client experience is the heart of my business — I pride myself on showing up fully, building real relationships, and getting to know my couples throughout their entire journey.
I became a full-time wedding photographer right after graduating college in 2024, but my career truly began when I was 18 and photographed my first wedding in 2020. Since then, I’ve captured over 100 weddings, traveled internationally, and documented love stories all across the U.S.
To think that I’ve experienced all of this by the age of 23 is incredibly humbling. I’m so grateful for every couple who has trusted me and so excited to see how this career continues to grow.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Honestly, everything in my career comes back to relationships. They’ve always been the foundation of my business and the reason I’m standing where I am today. From the very beginning, every time I booked a wedding, I poured into truly getting to know the couple. I didn’t just show up to take photos — I showed up as a friend. Over the years, many of my couples have become real friends, and that has been one of the most rewarding parts of this job.
Word-of-mouth referrals have carried my business farther than anything else ever could. My clients go out of their way to share my name with their friends, coworkers, and family members, and I know without a doubt that I wouldn’t be here without them. You get out of this business exactly what you put into it. And as someone with a huge heart who walks into every wedding feeling honored and privileged to be invited into those moments, that investment has paid off in the most beautiful ways.
My biggest advice? Never get stale. Never get stagnant. Never forget that to each couple, this is the best day of their life. They only get one wedding day — and that mindset shapes how I approach every single one I photograph. I show up with excitement, creativity, and the same level of care and love that I would want from my own wedding vendors.
That perspective keeps this career meaningful, keeps my creativity alive, and keeps every couple feeling valued, seen, and celebrated.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is, ironically, someone who cares more about living their wedding day than posing for it. I’m a documentary-style photographer at heart — I’m drawn to the real, the unplanned, the in-between moments that unfold naturally. So the couples I connect with most are the ones who allow themselves to be fully present. They’re laughing, crying, hugging their people, dancing barefoot, and genuinely soaking in the day… so much so that they often forget I’m even there.
Weddings have become a little performative in recent years — everything is curated, everything is staged, everything is “for the photo.” But the couples who choose me usually crave the opposite. They want their gallery to feel like them — not a Pinterest board or a trend. They want their love captured in a way that’s real, raw, emotional, and honest.
With my ideal clients, the magic happens effortlessly. Because when people are truly themselves, the photos reflect something deeper than aesthetics — they hold memories, energy, personality, and truth. That’s what creates the best galleries.
I love working with couples who are genuinely excited to work with me, who trust me, and who give me the freedom to create. When a client believes in my creativity and my ability to deliver, it allows me to do the best work of my life. That trust makes space for art, for emotion, and for storytelling that feels timeless.
Those are the couples I connect with. The ones who don’t need to perform for the camera — they just need to live fully in their day, and let me quietly document the beauty of it all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sammymckenzie.com
- Instagram: @PicturesBySammy
- Other: TikTok: @TiktoksBySammy
Pinterest: @PicturesBySammy
Image Credits
Sammy McKenzie Photography
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