Meet Mackenzie Martinez | Adventure Elopement & Intimate Wedding Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mackenzie Martinez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mackenzie, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’ve been an artist all my life and always knew I thrived whenever I had the opportunity to be creative. I knew how badly I wanted to build a happy and fulfilling life for myself and my family, and I was going to do whatever it took to achieve success in a field that helps me be my happiest, healthiest, most loving, and most authentic self. I’m much better at expressing myself visually than verbally. I’ve loved taking photos since I was a kid, and I’m a fairly sentimental and passionate person, so I naturally found myself drawn to photography. When my daughter was born in late 2021, I was constantly photographing her, like any new mother. My passion for photography skyrocketed from my love for her, and I was particularly drawn to the aspect of photography of capturing precious memories happening in the blink of an eye. We don’t realize how valuable time is until it’s already passed, and this became even more apparent to me watching my daughter grow so quickly. Looking back, I feel even more grateful to have taken so many pictures of her. I’m very fortunate to have preserved so many memories from her earliest days.

Before I ever even thought about starting my own business, my husband and I eloped in February 2020. We had never even heard of adventure elopements before, and I was amazed and relieved to have found out there were exciting and meaningful ways to get married for those of us who don’t relate to the traditional wedding scene for a multitude of reasons. It was the greatest decision we could’ve made, and when I started entrepreneurship, I knew my “end goal” was adventure elopement photography, even if it was gonna take ten years.

What should our readers know about your business?
I got my first camera in 2011 and experimented with photography throughout high school. I never considered the possibility of making a career out of it; I just loved it so much and wanted to learn everything. When my daughter was born in 2021, I became more ambitious and creatively inspired, so I started taking photography more seriously. I upgraded my camera gear, invested in education to expand my knowledge of photography, and filed for my LLC. I built a solid portfolio with the help of my friends and model calls, and it quickly turned into a full-time job. At the time, 75% of my bookings were for families. I was very grateful, but I knew I needed to start transitioning out of family photography because it wasn’t my end goal. I set up more model calls for couples, particularly with a hiking/adventure theme. From there, I exclusively branded myself as a couples & engagement photographer.

I booked my first elopement a few months later out of the blue. It was 4 hours of coverage outside of Aspen, CO, and I had less than 24 hours’ notice because they had an emergency with their last photographer. They knew it was my first time, but they trusted me. It wasn’t a perfectly smooth and organized day at all, but I’ll never forget how unbelievably happy I was afterwards. I had a lot in common with the couple, and we got along so beautifully. Watching them get married in a way where they could be so comfortably themselves in nature, no stressing or judgment from family; just them honoring their love in a way that felt authentic to them, made me more certain than ever before that this was for me. I slowly started booking more elopements, and then got my first big wedding. I continued to book more big weddings because I do love wedding photography as a whole, and I had an easier time booking them over elopements before I niched down. I’ve photographed a wide range of weddings, ranging anywhere from 0-300 guests. I’ve loved it and am grateful to have gained the experience rather than never known. However, nothing compares to the grasp elopements and intimate weddings have on my heart and how they immensely empower me creatively. Towards the end of 2023, I decided to stop taking on big weddings. I booked the last of my big weddings throughout 2024. It’s bittersweet, but it makes me treasure them even more.

When I first started my business, I had no idea how much it would change me as a person, as well as how detrimental that is for success and growth in entrepreneurship. If you find yourself simply desiring entrepreneurship, it’s no accident, and it’s a sign that you already have it in you. All you need to do is decide to actively pursue it, trust yourself, and don’t stop moving forward. I think what impacted me the most was learning to focus on myself and what makes me unique. I’ve admittedly had a really hard time letting go of self-doubt and comparing myself to other photographers. But you really have no idea how much it’s holding you back in life until you do. Don’t pay attention to what everyone else is doing because it only distracts you from seeing your own greatness and unlocking the beauty and creativity in yourself. Your voice, vision, heart, experience, outlook, and approach are what make you unique. Find what makes you different from everyone else and keep moving forward. I believe that’s one of the greatest things you can do for yourself, not only as an entrepreneur, but overall as a person. Your authenticity cannot be copied or stolen. They can try all they want, and they will, but trust me- it’s only going to continue setting them further and further away from the growth and light they seek and admire in you.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d probably start by taking them up to Boulder and walk down Pearl Street Mall. I love Boulder so much for many reasons, and there are so many great businesses worth checking out on Pearl Street. Afterwards, we’d head over to Chautauqua Park for the Flatirons. Royal Arch is gorgeous and a really fun hike (one of my favorites). however it is considered to be one of the most difficult trails at Chautauqua, so make sure you’re prepared. Next, I’d take them up to Lost Gulch up Flagstaff Mountain. It a very popular and busy spot, but for good reason. The views are unreal (and even better at sunrise). Then all the way to the top of Flagstaff, I’d take them to Artist Point next. It’s a little hidden and not very obvious unless you’re looking for it, but it’s also one of my favorite spots in all of Boulder. It’s a lovely spot to just relax, maybe with some food, or even just admire the peace and quiet of the mountains. Another spot in Boulder I’d recommend is Boulder Falls. It’s beautiful, and especially nice for how easily you can see waterfalls without going far into the mountains.

I’d definitely take them to Red Rocks. The concerts are, of course, amazing, but I really love watching the sunrise from the steps of the amphitheater. It’s even more incredible hiking the park before ending your workout on the stairs as the sun rises.

Garden of the Gods is also a must-see. The park is completely free, super accessible, and not very difficult to navigate at all. There are so many trails to explore too, and the views are unreal. You can see so much in one day. While in the springs, I’d take them over to Cave of the Winds in Manitou Springs as well, less than 10 minutes away from Garden of the Gods. Not only is it breathtaking, but it’s one of the highest caves in the world at 7,000 feet above sea level, and one of the oldest tourist attractions in all of Colorado.

And of course, we’d need to go deeper into the mountains to truly experience Colorado. It’s one of the greatest feelings in the world. A week isn’t nearly enough time to experience the best of Colorado, but I’d probably take them to Mount Blue Sky (formerly Mount Evans). It’s an unforgettable experience and one of the most memorable to me. The mountain goats and bighorn sheep are a huge plus. The Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway is also the highest paved road in North America, fun fact.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband, Tristan, most definitely. We met in college in 2017, and his unwavering love and support over the past seven years we’ve shared helped shape me into the person I am today, as well as how I view love. He’s always believed in me and has been there every step of the way, and we’ve accomplished a lot because of each other, both together and individually. Our own elopement is what made me fall in love with elopements.

I also want to mention Megan MacPhail, my business coach. I’ve gained a wealth of valuable knowledge, compassion, and support from her and her team in growing my business since joining The Elopement Photographer Mastermind, and it’s changed my life. Megan’s an incredible educator, and she genuinely cares about helping photographers not only succeed but also feel fulfilled and continue to dream big. I highly recommend her coaching, as well as her podcast, STOKED with Megan MacPhail. 

Website: https://mackenziemartinez.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mackenziemartinezphoto

Facebook: https://facebook.com/mackenziemartinezphoto

Image Credits
Mackenzie Martinez Photography