Today we’d like to introduce you to Gretchen McKenzie.
Hi Gretchen , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
McKenzie Photo + Film began seven years ago with a camera, a big dream, and a whole lot of heart. While building my photography business, I was also pursuing my nursing degree—graduating in 2022 and beginning my career at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City. During the week I worked full-time as a nurse, and on weekends I captured weddings, slowly watching my business grow into something I couldn’t ignore.
As bookings increased, balancing both careers became harder—and eventually, I took a leap of faith to pursue my lifelong dream of photographing weddings full-time.
My husband Kenny and I met in college, Instead, he dove headfirst into videography —and five years later, that curiosity turned into something incredible. After getting married in April of 2024, we officially combined our talents and businesses to form McKenzie Photo + Film.
Since then, we’ve traveled all across the United States and captured love stories in Mexico and Italy, forming lifelong friendships with the couples we serve along the way. There’s something incredibly special about documenting love while working alongside the love of your life—and we don’t take that for granted.
As we prepare for a busy 2026 and 2027 season, we’re excited to focus on destination weddings and continue telling meaningful, joy-filled stories around the world. God has been so kind to us, and we are forever thankful for this journey.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Owning a business comes with its fair share of challenges, and Kenny and I have learned so much along the way. We are constantly growing—learning from our mistakes, continuing our education, and pouring time and effort into our business so we can best serve our couples. At the same time, we are intentional about keeping our marriage at the forefront of everything we do.
One struggles we face in this industry is comparison. Kansas City is filled with incredibly talented photographers, and it can be easy to question whether our work measures up. What keeps us grounded is staying creative and keeping our work personal and intentional. We are trusted to document some of the happiest days in people’s lives, and that responsibility is something we never take lightly.
Working with couples who invite us into a space of trust and creativity allows us to continue growing—not just as artists, but as a business and as people. It’s this connection and purpose that fuels everything we do!
We’ve been impressed with McKenzie Photo + Film , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
McKenzie Photo + Film is a destination wedding photo and video team based in Kansas City, serving outgoing, adventurous couples near and far. We’re drawn to love stories that feel intentional and free—think eloping in the Dolomites or celebrating with a small, intimate wedding on a cliffside in California!
We’re a husband-and-wife team, and McKenzie Photo + Film was born shortly after we got married in April of 2024. Together, we offer both photography and videography, allowing us to tell your story in a seamless, meaningful way.
While Kansas City will always be home, our hearts are happiest when we’re traveling. We love serving couples locally and around the world, and we like to say our love language is travel—it fills our cup and continually pushes our creativity to new heights. We’re especially excited to be heading back to Italy for our third wedding there this May.
We’re incredibly grateful to be living out our dream job and capturing love stories in some of the most beautiful places on earth.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
If I could tell myself one thing when I was first starting out, it would be to stay true to who I am. I would encourage anyone beginning their journey to write down why they picked up a camera in the first place—why they love capturing moments—and to return to those words on the hard days.
There will be long days and seasons that feel heavy, but you have to keep pushing. Growth takes time, and success doesn’t happen overnight. Staying rooted in your purpose is what will carry you through.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mckenziephotoandfilm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckenziephotoandfilm/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mckenziephotoandfilm
