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Conversations with the Inspiring McKenzie Bigliazzi

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Today we’d like to introduce you to McKenzie Bigliazzi.

McKenzie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As I grew up, watching my grandmother fall victim to Alzheimer’s disease, I slowly watched her lose her memories. I developed this obsession with photography and how it documents time. Having several influences, such as my aunt and my high school photography teacher, my hobby snowballed into a full-on career. It took me a while to realize that photography was my true calling because there was so much doubt around the fact that I would actually make money. Financial security was a concern of mine but I was determined that this is where I need to be.

I attended the University of Illinois at Chicago (’16) majoring in Photography, then went on to Illinois State University for a Master’s in Art Education. While I was in undergrad trying to navigate the Photography Industry, I realized the photo industry wasn’t incredibly welcoming. Education was kept “secret” and professionals in the industry weren’t helpful. I think this is unacceptable and quite selfish, so I went on to get my Master’s degree in education to change the photo industry. I now shoot weddings but also created an educational foundation for photographers called Cultivate. Cultivate provides a safe space for the photographer to ask questions but also opportunity to invest in affordable classes to move their businesses forward.

Has it been a smooth road?
This is the most challenging journey I’ve ever been on. It wasn’t like I just woke up one day and had a reputable, successful business. I photographed for free and made lots of mistakes. My sweet friends let me do their photos for free and I learned through trial and error. It just took one couple to have faith in me to shoot their wedding (which I did for free) to completely change my world.

I still make mistakes and I still shoot for free, it’s how you learn. The biggest thing I did for my business was invest in mentorships and learning. Find a photo community you really connect with and be active. Make efforts to reach out to other photographers and invest in learning opportunities.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into McKenzie Bigliazzi Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
I am a traveling wedding photographer that is honestly just an extension of your wedding party – meaning, I am there to provide a fun and stress-free wedding photography experience. Whether you’re getting married on a mountain top alone or throwing a huge banger for your friends and family, I’m there to make sure your wedding is about YOU and not your photos. More often than not, photographers are so focused on getting the shots they need for their social media. They allot hours between events to get photos while the wedding guests are waiting and couples aren’t able to fully enjoy their day and be present. That’s where I come in.

I blur the lines between photographer and planner, making sure that all my couples are able to enjoy their wedding day and their guests. I am there so they can focus on being present. It’s hard to choose a stranger that will be responsible for your wedding photographs and I think that’s incredibly overlooked. As a wedding photographer, I am there with the couple for the entire day. Most vendors are not there the entire day. I pride myself on being just an extension of the wedding party – using the planning process to get to know my couples as one of my closest friends, so I can photograph their wedding for THEM, not me.

Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
Do lots of research. Start with someone you look up to and ask them if they offer mentorships. Unfortunately, education and workshops in the photo industry is trendy right now. Coming from a formal education in teaching, I will be the first to tell you that just because they’re a successful photographer doesn’t mean they’re going to be a successful teacher. Always look for reviews. If there aren’t reviews, ask them to connect you to one of their mentees so you can ask them questions directly about what you will be paying for. There’s a lot of education out there, but it’s not always helpful.

Find groups on Facebook and join them. Be active and reach out to members to get to know them. Cultivate offers a free online group via Facebook to ask questions and move business forward. Cultivate also offers affordable classes and mentorships.

Pricing:

  • Cultivate Classes Start at $90
  • Wedding Coverage starts at $2800 with Free Engagement photos

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
McKenzie Bigliazzi Photography
Self Portraits: Tarmine Guichette Photography

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