Today we’d like to introduce you to Makenzie Henson.
Makenzie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always been artsy person doodling, painting, and even sculpting as a child art allows me to express myself without limits. Though I never knew photography was an amazing medium to work with until during the before fifth grade I attended an arts summer camp. During that summer, I had an amazing time campers had the option of picking two creative mediums to learn about I chose chorus to work more with music. My second medium camp activity was photography I never thought at the time that capturing an image would be considered art so I chose it out of curiosity. I will never think twice about my choice back then as that year opened my eyes to the possibilities of photography learned basic things like composition, lighting, and a brief history of photography.
Towards the end of the camp, I had created a metamorphosis photograph, I was extremely proud of it after that amazing experience I decided to further pursue photography saving up money to purchase a small digital camera. I continued to experiment and take my small camera everywhere this medium had unlimited possibilities in my eyes. During my final two years of high school was the turning point for myself as there were many career choices but none of them felt right for myself. I wanted to do something that would make me happy that would allow for my colorful personality and creativity to grow but at the same people had said I need to be practical that being an artist wasn’t exactly a moneymaker. Those words made me doubt pursuing my passion, I tried thinking of a practical career like my classmates looking at colleges that fit the normal I honestly felt like I was suffocating till it became too much.
Finally, I told my family specifically my mother the woman who had always been there for though all the ups, downs, and twist of my young life, I expressed to her the empty feeling I had about the other careers and colleges how none of them fit who I am, that I understood where others were coming from about thinking practical but at the same time I didn’t care about working a high paying career. When I was done, she simply smiles, laughed a bit asking “Well, what is it that makes you happy? Because at the end of the day, it’s your life Makenzie, you don’t have to fit the norm live your life the way you want.” With those words, it was settled, I told her about my dreams of being a photographer and attending Savannah College of Arts and Design which turned into goals and are now my reality. Since starting at SCAD, my photography style has grown with the assistance of the remarkable professors who provide helpful feedback, instruction, and challenges to push a student’s potential. I currently do small jobs like class reunions, senior portraits, birthday parties, fundraising events, cosplay, and homeschool groups photography.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think the biggest challenge for myself was learning I do not have to work a normal career that at the end of the day I just need to make the best decisions for how I want to live. My advice to other young women out there is to not give up on your dreams that you don’t have to fit the mold. The first step of the journey is proudly saying who you are and what you want to do with pride and walking the path you’ve chosen with your head held high ready to work hard to reach your goals. I’ll admit that for myself there were some people who thought negatively about my choices making jokes at my expense and tried to scare me away from my goals but I chose to ignore them because at the end of the day, I fill fulfilled with the path I’ve chosen and no one can ever take away the joy I have walking down my road.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
My photography style is still developing and changing each day making it a little challenging to define myself. Though I do much commercial focus photography, I also mix it up with fine arts style as well. I enjoy experimenting with different mediums in my work, for instance, I’ve started using crystal balls and prisms to change views on perspectives and colors. When it comes down to it on any project/assignment, I bring an open mind to bring about creative beautiful set up for the photos, I’m very friendly so children are more open taking a picture, I keep in contact so there isn’t too much friction on what a customer would like.
It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
I love looking at old photographs as I sometimes use it to help inspire me.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 470-331-3647
- Email: makenziehenson97@hotmail.com
- Instagram: kenzie_majestic_moments
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