Today we’d like to introduce you to Makaela Skinner.
Hi Makaela, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Ever since I was little, I have always admired and loved movies and old films. It was one of the things my dad and I really connected on. Even when I was a little girl, he would read me stories or make them up, and I would sit in his lap imagining the world he was reading or creating. Every time I was out somewhere, I would always see scenes in my head of how I would direct or create a movie or film. I honestly never thought of it becoming a career or being able to photograph in a way that felt like a still from a movie.
Senior year of high school, I took my very first photography class, and it ended up being one of my favorite classes I had ever taken. Mrs. Probst was the first person to really introduce me to the world of photography, and she even took the time after my first shoot to show me Lightroom and how to edit. Teachers are so important in our lives and I will never forget how they have shaped me as I have grown.
From there, I started doing little shoots for my friends, and anytime I went on trips, I found myself constantly documenting and storytelling through photos. Even then, I think I was always more drawn to the feeling and story behind an image rather than just taking a “pretty picture.”
Fast forward to college, I majored in PR and advertising because it had photography and design classes, and I knew I could probably get a job in that field while still having a creative outlet. But honestly, I had never met a photographer or wedding photographer who had made photography or videography their full career, so it just never occurred to me that it could even be a possibility.
I started exploring shooting couples for free while I was in college, and I quickly fell in love. I am such a hopeless romantic, so being able to capture a real story for a couple to cherish forever felt so life-giving. But I still really thought I needed to build a career in the corporate world to make it. Again, I didn’t really have many creative entrepreneur friends, so I just didn’t see the opportunity.
Eventually, I moved down to South Florida in 2021, and I jumped around through different graphic design jobs. I quickly realized I could never make a life sitting at a desk. I attended my friend’s wedding that year and saw the photographer working it and how cool and fun she was. I remember thinking, “Oh, I think weddings can actually be fun, it just takes the right mindset, approach, and honestly the right couple.” So I asked her if she ever needed second shooters. That’s when I met Berkley McGaughey.
She was so sweet, down to earth, and said absolutely, and I shot with her the very next weekend. This is when it hit me. Even after being on my feet for 10+ hours, I came home feeling the happiest and most alive I had ever felt. It was like a new passion for life had been lit inside of me. She truly taught me the possibility within weddings and the type of couples you can attract. Having to go back to my 9–5 after that drove me crazy. Being chained to a desk for 8+ hours every day felt so draining. I knew I needed to find a job where I could grow my business without constantly feeling depleted.
Eventually, I was able to find the best graphic design job while continuing to grow my business and learn from incredible photographers in the area who quickly became genuine friends. I also grew so much within the creative community in Palm Beach, and my boss at the time, Rosemary Denney, truly gave me the opportunity to sharpen my skills as a creative while also growing my own business. Being surrounded by so many talented creatives truly gave me the confidence and drive to believe I could make it on my own as a wedding photographer.
Most people would probably just send it and go full time, but honestly, my whole reason for even getting to this point is my faith. I had to trust that the Lord had the right timing for me. That timing was June 1, 2025. Was I still so nervous, yes of course, but I had so much peace around the decision. It was a true leap of faith.
Taking that leap has been one of the most freeing, challenging, and rewarding decisions of my life. It has caused me to really trust and lean on the Lord while also pushing me to grow my craft and become intentional in the way I approach weddings.
To me, weddings are not just something you do when you want to build a life with someone. It’s so much deeper than that. I wanted to be a part of a union that is sacred and meaningful. The story that led to the moment of “I do” deserved to be represented in every aspect of every image. I wanted people to feel the atmosphere, the emotion, and truly connect with the image. I wanted my clients to be able to feel those exact emotions years later when looking back through their gallery.
I really began to fall in love with film and with editing in a way that married both digital and film together seamlessly. Something about the way film captures a moment feels so alive and beautiful.
Steven Spielberg once said:
“Digital photography is a science and film photography is a chemical miracle… And it always looks different, always looks real. There’s grain, number one, and the grain is always moving, it’s swimming. Which means that even in a still life, of let’s say a flower on a table, that flower is alive even though it’s not moving because the film itself, the image is alive. And that’s the difference.”
That quote has always stuck with me. I wanted not only my film images to feel alive, but my digital work as well. That’s really where my approach of lived-in editorial with elements of documentary storytelling began to develop.
All weddings naturally have documentary moments, and I know that word can sometimes be overused, but I truly am always waiting for and anticipating the in-between moments, the moments where you may think to put the camera down, but they end up adding so much depth and meaning to the story.
I love prompting and guiding moments when needed because, rather than forcing a pose, it creates movement into something natural that you as a couple would actually do together. It allows everything to feel more honest and more like you.
One year into being full time, I have grown so much and I am still learning every day. I’m truly learning how to lean into what God has gifted me with and take that and run with it instead of constantly looking at trends or other people for inspiration.
At the end of the day, He is the author of the story, and I’m simply the tool in His hand capturing His stories.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It is never a smooth road. It always takes hard work, dedication, and trust.
The biggest struggle for me was waiting on when I should step out and go full time. It is scary knowing you fully have to support yourself, your rent, and your bills without a secure paycheck. But I knew that if God called me into this profession, He would not leave me.
I have always seen His provision in my life, even in the hardest seasons.
So yes, it has now been a year full time, and no, it hasn’t been easy. There have been months where I truly did not know how I was going to make it. But I never wanted to partner with fear or allow it to overtake my thoughts.
Instead, I constantly try to center myself in gratitude , praising the Lord for bringing me here and thanking Him in advance for the provision and the dream couples I get to work with.
Every single time I surrender, blessings come in ways that completely blow me away. And honestly, it amazes me every time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a wedding photographer based in South Florida, while also traveling all over the world to document love stories. I specialize in a lived-in editorial and documentary style with a film-like aesthetic. Alongside digital, I also shoot 35mm film, medium format, and Super 8mm.
I am really known for capturing moments that feel raw, genuine, and true to the couple. It almost feels like capturing stills from a romance film. I know how to truly draw out the personality of a couple and make them feel comfortable enough to fully be themselves in front of the camera.
One of the biggest compliments I receive is that most guys usually hate photoshoots, but the ones who shoot with me end up saying they had so much fun and would genuinely do it again.
I am incredibly intentional when it comes to couples and engagement sessions. I love incorporating aspects of what makes the relationship theirs, whether that’s surfing together, cooking, grabbing coffee, revisiting the place of their first date, or simply doing something that gets them out of the box and fully present with each other. I want sessions to feel less like a photoshoot and more like a memory they actually lived together.
When it comes to weddings, I really pride myself on capturing the feeling and atmosphere of the day. Every gallery feels different because every couple is different. The imagery should reflect not only what the wedding looked like, but what it truly felt like to be there.
When I get to work with couples who are genuine, down-to-earth, and deeply value family, connection, and atmosphere, I’m able to fully step back, be present, and honestly feel like I’m part of the family. That is when the storytelling truly comes to life.
I am so proud of the couples I get to connect with, and it genuinely brings me to tears sometimes thinking about the trust they place in me to document one of the most meaningful days of their lives. It is something I never take lightly, and I feel incredibly honored every single time.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I absolutely love the culture here. It is surrounded by wellness, creativity, and entrepreneurship, and being in Florida has honestly brought so much life to both my health and lifestyle. Being by the water, constantly getting sunshine, and spending so much time outdoors has changed me in the best way.
I’ve been able to meet so many incredible entrepreneurs, creatives, and genuinely inspiring people here. The food is amazing, there is always something to do, and I love how active the lifestyle is. Some of my favorite things are paddle boarding, running along the beach, and simply being outside near the water. There is something about living in a beach town that grounds you and makes you appreciate God’s creation on a different level.
Nature has always been one of my biggest creative inspirations, and what I love about this area is that even though I’m near a city, there is still so much nature surrounding it. I love that balance of both.
Honestly, I do not love traveling much farther south past West Palm. It starts to feel too crowded and congested for me. I really thrive more in areas like West Palm, Jupiter, and Tequesta because they still have that small beach town feel while also being close enough to larger cities and opportunities when needed.
That slower, more intentional coastal lifestyle is where I feel the most inspired creatively and personally.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.makaelaskinner.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makaelaskinnerphoto/
Image Credits
Makaela Skinner Photography
