Meet MacKenzie Hennessey | Action Sport and Lifestyle Photographer

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

Hi MacKenzie, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I grew up in the small town of Rutland, Massachusetts with my parents and older sister. We had 20 acres (mostly wooded) and I remember my afternoons were almost always spent outdoors; either walking the wooded trails, hanging out in the barn (we were lucky enough to grow up horseback riding), or playing catch with my dad in the backyard.

When I was in middle school I remember watching Travis Pastrana on TV and realized I had an interest in dirt bikes. My dad would take me to local freestyle shows at the DCU center and pick up copies of TransWorld Motocross. He grew up riding motorcycles, so he was thrilled and supportive of this new interest of mine. In no time we were surfing Craigslist and The Want Ad for used dirt bikes – it didn’t take long to find the perfect one, a 1988 Honda XR100 for $300. It didn’t run when we bought it but after a quick visit to the shop, we were in business. That summer I learned how to ride the wooded trails around home and I thought it was the coolest thing ever.

My dad almost always had a camera or camcorder in his hands. We have so many family memories that were captured through his lens and I think seeing him documenting even the smallest moments with my sister and I made a huge impact. I remember getting my first camera for Christmas – just a simple Canon point and shoot, but it caught my interest quickly and there was no looking back. Little did I know that those two childhood interests would cross paths and lead me to where I am today.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Photography has been an evolving craft for me over the years. As a female photographer who has found most of my success in the action sport realm, it’s been a challenge to stand out and get noticed. I work in marketing full-time and the work-life balance has been tough to juggle. New England is not a standout for the motorsports industry and our snowfall turns to ice within the matter of days. Things get tough out here – if you’re not in the right place at the right time, you kind of miss the boat. My success has come in waves and I think that’s been the biggest mental hurdle I’ve dealt with. It hasn’t always been easy, I have failed, but I’ve also had some “holy shit how did I get to this point” moments that keep me coming back for more. Winning the X Games Zoom Gold Medal for Photography in 2018 was one of those moments that I’ll reflect on for the rest of my life. The winning shot with Brody Wilson was a star-aligning capture. Timing was right, focus was right, the sunset was right, the strobe lighting was right, the lens choice was right. Those are the moments that keep me hungry and wanting more.

My photos feature bold, contrasting tones with rich colors and intentional lighting. I think sculpting a landscape or scene around an athlete is so important. Good lighting is everything – I don’t know if this is the right way to do it, but that’s typically my first priority. How can a capture this shot in a way that will move the viewer?

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Even though I’m from MA, I’d send it to Portland, ME for the week! I’ll admit – I am not well-traveled (it’s something I know I need to prioritize more), but you really can’t go wrong with southern Maine. Must visit places include Holy Donut for breakfast, followed by a quick walk through Old Port, land at Allagash Brewing for beer and a lobster roll (and then proceed to visit alllllll of the other breweries in that neighborhood), followed by dinner and drinks at Batson River or Liquid Riot. I’m a huge craft beer fan and let me tell you, that city is 10/10 for beer lovers. Maine has amazing beaches and so many ways to enjoy time outdoors – it’s an easy choice.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Based off my first response, I definitely need to shoutout my dad and of course my mom. Their unwavering support and reminders to always put my best foot forward and try even when things got tricky has set me up for success. They’ve always told me not to settle, so I keep pushing forward.

Brody Wilson (his entire family actually) has also been a huge factor in my success. I’ve been shooting at his compound for 7 years and if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have half of the insane shots I have, or half the insanely talented friends. His openness to working with me has been an absolute game changer.

Website: https://mackenziehennessey.mypixieset.com/athletes/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mackhennz/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackhenn

Image Credits
The first image with me in the lower left was taken by Tyler Chatigny – everything else was taken by me.