This month I have one of the greats in the photography world, the one and only Kirsty Mackenzie Photography – whose photography I adore. I have worked with her a few times in different capacities (check out this wedding we worked together on) and I’m lucky to now know her personally too 😊 And let me tell you, her professionalism and photography matches her fun factor. She’s a super friendly non obtrusive photographer who knows exactly what she’s doing – and the best angles, lights, and compositions to catch you in, for the best relaxed and fun photos. Plus she’s married herself, like me, so knows it aaaaall with empathy from both sides.
So, without fangirling any more, I’ll hand you straight over!!
Please introduce yourself:
Heya! I’m Kirsty, the Photo Ninja | Fancy Pants Lady Boss behind Hampshire Wedding Photographer Kirsty Mackenzie Photography. I’m a relaxed, down to earth, colourful wedding photographer. I’m very lucky that all my wonderful couples like to do things a bit differently. I live for the non-traditional, wild and free-spirited weddings.
When I’m not shooting weddings, you can find me in my little cottage binge watching Netflix and failing to keep our houseplants alive. I’m a crazy cat lady and after 10 years of dreaming of a cat we have finally taken the plunge and got Pablo! He’s a silver tabby kitten – he’s a handful but we love him!
Your business…
1. What made you want to set up your business?
I actually kind of stumbled into wedding photography. After studying it at Uni (and my lecturers advising that wedding photographers are sell outs!!) I tried working with lots of different kinds of photography work and found it all really boring. I loved to create and capture people, so I really was having a blonde moment not connecting the two. Then a friend was working a wedding and I helped him out and absolutely loved it. That was back in 2012 and I haven’t looked back since. The rest is history.
2. What’s the best part of your job?
Capturing people’s memories – it’s always such a huge honour.
3. What’s the worst part of your job?
Having to sit in a dark room editing when it’s super sunny outside! I love editing but it does get to the stage sometimes in the Summer that I don’t leave the house for 5 days straight and have been sat in a dark room for a lot of that time!
4. What’s the weirdest request you’ve ever had from a client?
Ummmm my couples are usually pretty cool, although one time I had to pretend I knew the couple and went to Uni with them because the couple were too polite to say they didn’t like their Uncle’s photography style! I got quizzed by a parent in the evening and had to slowly escape and try not to give the game away!
5. What’s been your favourite ever wedding you’ve worked on/at?
If I tell you I’d have to kill you 😊 haha – to be honest I don’t have a favourite wedding, all my weddings are awesome in different ways. I work on a lot of festival style weddings, or urban cool weddings and I love every one of them. My couples know how to throw a good party!
6. You’re surrounded by beauty in your job, what do you find beautiful?
Life amazes me in general… nature & human connection are probably the main beautiful things.
7. Best piece of advice to offer to those getting married?
Don’t sweat the small stuff. The day before my own wedding so much of the little details were either set up wrong or weren’t displayed correctly and it did not matter in the slightest! Sometimes you can get fixated on the small stuff and it’s worth just letting go at that point and enjoying it all!
8. Anyone you particularly admire in the industry?
Ahh there are SO MANY! People who inspire me include: Rebecca Carpenter Photography, Nadia Meli, Camera Hannah.
9. Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
The biggest failure is not to try something.
10. What was your career plan B?
I totally didn’t have one! I worked in an office while building up my photography business for a company called Emma Bridgewater and helped out with all kinds of stuff (including some photoshoots – but I wasn’t taking the photos!). I guess I would still be working there if the photography business didn’t work out, but I would be very miserable!
You…
11. Where do you call home?
I live in a cute little cottage in Petersfield, Hampshire.
12. What’s your favourite shop?
I like vintage and charity shops for clothes and house bits. It’s always so satisfying! I also love eBay for buying secondhand bits. I do also shop on ASOS (because, well who doesn’t?).
13. Favourite restaurant?
Don’t really have one because I love all kinds of food! When we lived in Putney there was a great independent Italian restaurant that I loved – fun fact; Greg took me there before he proposed. He was so nervous he spilt 3 drinks (including our limoncello) – sticky times! He also kept going on about how small my hands were haha.
14. Who would you have play you in a movie about your life?
Someone short lol – maybe Reese Witherspoon.
15. Cocktail of choice?
Mojito!
16. Your biggest extravagance?
Probably my cameras… that sounds really boring. I also spend all my money on doing things. I love to travel and see new things.
17. Do you collect anything?
Does colourful wacky leggings count? Every year I seem to collect more and more “out-there” leggings.
18. If you could buy any building, which would it be?
I’d love to buy a big greenhouse, like the Barbican or Kew Gardens – imagine just chilling it out there all year? That would be cool.
19. What’s the most romantic thing someone’s ever done for you?
I’m not the biggest romantic in general – I hate public romantic gestures..! For me, romance is in the little things, making breakfast in bed, tidying the house, running me a bath before I’m home when I’ve had a long day. It’s those things for me.
20. Where do you go to let your hair down?
My living room hahaha. I’m quite a home girl but I also love to go into London and see friends, I don’t have a favourite place as such, more favourite people to have fun with! I also love to go to music festivals, but I haven’t been in a few years as I’ve been mega busy with work.
And finally…
21. Tell us something surprising about yourself!
When I was younger, I was super clumsy and cut my head open more times than you can count! I’ve got scars galore!
22. Invisibility or flight?
Flight for sure, imaging being able to fly places!
23. Any regrets in life?
Life is too short for regrets!
24. Tell us your favourite Instagram accounts at the moment!
@colormecourtney – all the rainbow love | @rebeccacarpenterphotography (her stories are jokes) | @homebythestation & @estevancortez – for dream house inspo | @helenanderz & @calliethorpe for body confidence and lifestyle
25. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
God that’s a good but very hard question! I would probably say prejudice, stereotyping, & discrimination. It would be such a wonderful place if we could eradicate all those things. Oh, and COVID-19 can f*ck off too!
Thank you so much to Kirsty for taking part! I loved getting inside her head for this one! No wonder we get on so well….! Plus, any excuse to show off more of her gorgeous photography on the blog 😍
Find Hampshire Wedding Photographer Kirsty Mackenzie Photography on her website here, and on Instagram here.
Services
Portfolio
Testimonials
Please email any hellos or enquiries to laura@devinebride.co.uk
