Small Business Profile: McKay Photography
A career change can be risky, but when viewed in retrospect, such a move can also be the moment when everything in life falls into place. In the case of David and Charlene McKay, nothing could be truer. Their decision to become specialized photographers in 2002 has proven to be a truly rewarding leap of faith. Their work has become as fulfilling as they had always hoped it would: an inspired outlet for their creativity and artistic expression.
The husband-and-wife team owns McKay Photography, an innovative Roseville small business that takes portraiture to a whole new level, one closer to fine art than anything else. Indeed, a McKay image is recognizable by its style, color, and the emotional impact it has on the viewer. With regard to the essence of their photography, Charlene said, “One thing that’s important is that it is emotionally impacting, that it actually speaks something of the relationship or of the person who’s being photographed.”
Finding their artistic calling
Past subjects of the McKays include an expectant mother surrounded by her family, enveloped by their love; siblings and their newborn baby brother resting, all three at peace; and a modern-day Brady Bunch totaling nine kids, now a unit of one. A McKay photograph tells a story; it invites the viewer to listen. “What we want to do is, we want to look deeper inside people’s lives and tell a story through one image or a few images,” said David. “It’s the same idea as great paintings that have been done throughout history.”
Professional photographers since the age of 18, David and Charlene’s lives have revolved around photography for decades. In 1988, the couple started a business in Auburn called Photography Unlimited. It was a typical photo studio, with the usual sittings, backgrounds, poses, and photo packages. It wasn’t enough.
While Photography Unlimited was an acceptable pursuit at the start of their careers, the couple had always wanted to do more with their talents and ideas. They wanted to pursue work that would enable them to express their artistic vision, and in fine-art portraiture, they found their calling. For them, taking photographs is just one step of the creative process, as the post-session editing they do is just as important to crafting a unique narrative.
Opening up their homes
One of the major changes that the McKays made when they launched McKay Photography was setting up a photo studio in their home. This gave them the advantages of working from a home office while providing their clients with a more comfortable environment in which to be photographed. By opening up their home, the McKays made the entire photo experience more personal, as David explained: “We didn’t want to just photograph people for a record, but we wanted to photograph people and have our clients put those pieces in their homes as an art piece, as something that they could look at over time and be emotionally touched by over and over.”
The response they’ve received from their clients since day one has served as positive proof that they made the right decision in becoming specialized photographers. In addition, the recognition they have earned from the industry has also been a boon. They’ve been recipients of an AN-NE Award in Advertising, a Dottie, and David has been recognized as a Sacramento Valley Fine Art Photographer of the Year.
In short, the McKays may have taken a risk when they decided to change their career path, but they haven’t looked back since. Rather, the couple is happily focused on the future, determined to continue diversifying their portfolios by adding more unique stories and capturing more relationships and emotions. “For years, our work didn’t have any purpose,” reflected David. “And now, our work has a real meaning behind it. I love that.” Adds Charlene, “This is where our heart is.”
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