We’re looking forward to introducing you to Mackenzie Berger. Check out our conversation below.
Mackenzie, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
Would I hire me? Absolutely. I know the kind of energy and heart I bring into every session, and that is exactly what I would want if I were on the other side of the camera. I create an environment where people can relax and be themselves, and I think that is such an underrated part of getting great photos. If you are tense or unsure, it shows, but if you feel comfortable and encouraged, the magic happens naturally.
I would hire me because I know the final photos are not just going to look good, they are going to feel good. They are going to tell a story, spark emotion, and bring me back to a memory every time I look at them. I trust myself to capture moments that feel real and alive rather than stiff or overly staged. I bring excitement and ease to my sessions and I know how to make the process feel fun rather than intimidating. I would walk away not only with photographs I love but also with memories of feeling confident, cared for, and celebrated.
I also know that I never stop pushing myself creatively. I am always finding new ways to play with light, movement, and environment. Sometimes that means chasing a sunset, sometimes it means experimenting with film or embracing imperfections that make an image feel timeless. I would hire me because I know I would get a mix of artistry and authenticity.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Mackenzie Ryan, and I run Mackenzie Ryan Photography here in Nashville, TN. I’m a full-time photographer who specializes in capturing people in a way that feels authentic, creative, and alive. My work spans from weddings and elopements to portraits, musicians, and family sessions, and at the heart of all of it is the same goal: to tell stories that feel real.
What makes my brand unique is that I’m not just focused on the posed, picture-perfect version of a moment. I love leaning into candid interactions, movement, and even the little imperfections that make photos feel timeless. I often mix digital, film, and even Polaroids into my work because I believe each medium captures a different layer of emotion.
My background is in sociology and film, and I think that combination has given me a special perspective on how people connect and how stories can be told visually. I’m drawn to moments that are raw, emotional, and a little bit messy, and I’ve built my brand on making people feel comfortable enough to show up as themselves.
Right now I’m focused on both growing my work with couples and expanding further into the music industry, which is such an inspiring part of Nashville’s culture. I want my photography to feel like more than just pretty pictures. I want it to be an experience that leaves people feeling empowered, nostalgic, and connected.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
One of my earliest memories of feeling powerful was in elementary school when I used to direct movies with my friends. I would write full scripts, hold auditions at recess, cast everyone in their roles, and then direct our little productions like it was the most important job in the world. The best part is that I would bring the finished “films” into class and show them to everyone completely unprompted, which still makes me laugh to this day.
I grew up just outside of Los Angeles, so being creative never felt strange or out of reach. People were always encouraging and willing to play along with my ideas, which gave me this confidence that my imagination mattered. Looking back, that was probably the first time I realized that I had the ability to take something that lived in my head and make it come alive for other people.
That same spark is what drives me now in my photography. It is about creating an experience, telling a story, and letting people see themselves in a new light. Even though the medium has changed from childhood movies to professional photography, the feeling of being able to share a vision and have others feel something because of it—that’s the same power I first discovered as a kid.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes. There have definitely been times I almost gave up. Photography can feel gloriously creative and deeply lonely at the same time. Everything I put out into the world is made by me, down to the smallest decisions, and when you run your own business that also means you are the marketing team, the accountant, the editor, the scheduler, and the person who answers the late night emails. That pressure adds up. Add in imposter syndrome—the little voice that whispers you are not as good as you think you are, that you do not deserve the gigs you booked, that someone else will figure this out faster—and some days it feels heavy enough to quit.
I remember nights of editing until my eyes burned, watching the inbox sit empty, wondering if I was chasing something that would never actually stick. There have been shoots where I left feeling insecure and convinced that every photographer in town was doing it better. Those moments make you question everything, and yes, I have wanted to walk away more than once.
What keeps me going, though, is the same thing that started all of this. I love the work. I love the people I get to meet and the tiny, private moments I get to witness and help make permanent. I think about the couples who tell me they felt like themselves in their photos, the musician who uses my portraits for the first press shot, the parent who cried when they saw their child’s portrait. Those reactions remind me why I do this. I also remind myself that feeling unsure does not mean I am failing. It means I care.
So when the doubt creeps in I trudge on. I show up to the shoots, I keep learning, I lean on friends and other creatives for perspective, and I let the work itself be the tether that pulls me forward. It is not always easy, and I still have hard days, but I also know how much I wanted to get to where I am now. That belief makes it worth fighting for.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, the public version of me really is me. I have to be my authentic self in order for my clients to feel comfortable enough to be their authentic selves too. If I showed up trying to be polished and perfect all the time, it would put a wall between us. Instead, I want people to see all of me—the messy parts, the awkward parts, the happy parts—because that’s what gives others permission to relax and just be.
For me, photography isn’t about staging a flawless version of life. It’s about capturing the real laughs, the real tears, the little moments that happen when no one is overthinking it. Those are the memories that stick with us, not the perfectly posed shot where everything looks “just right.” I want my clients to look back and remember how it felt, not just how it looked. Being my true self is the only way to create that space, and it’s the reason the photos feel real.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I truly believe I am doing what I was born to do. Nobody told me to be a photographer or pushed me into this path—it is something I kept gravitating toward on my own. From a young age I was always creating, whether it was directing little movies with my friends, writing scripts, or experimenting with cameras. It has always felt like second nature to tell stories visually.
That being said, pursuing a creative career is not the easiest or the most straightforward path. There were plenty of times when it would have been simpler to choose something more “traditional.” But the pull I felt toward photography and storytelling never went away. It was too strong to ignore.
Now that I am living it, I see how aligned it is with who I am at my core. I get to blend my love for people, my curiosity about their stories, and my creative eye into something that leaves behind lasting memories. That feels like purpose to me. So yes, I believe I am doing what I was born to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mackenzieryanphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mackenzieryanphoto
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mackenzie-ryan-media-nashville
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mackenzieryanphotography
