Check Out Ty McKenzie’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ty McKenzie

Hi Ty, 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?
I started my fashion photography journey in 2018. I dropped out of college mostly because of my father’s passing in 2017 that struck me for a while. I was lost and didn’t know what i was doing career wise. I feel like my ADHD had always had me interested in so many different hobbies, photography, modeling, videography, culinary arts, traveling, roller coaster/thrill enthusiast. Fast forward into my photography journey a few years later i moved to California for a while and made a lot of networking connections. I photographed for magazines such as Paper, Notion, V Magazine, Nude Mag, Sicky, and Sticks and Stones. I’ve photographed artists such as Vincint, Austin Mahone, Sasha Colby (RuPaul drag race winner of s15) Marc Bassy, DUCKWRTH, amongst others. I moved out of Los Angeles in 2022 realizing I was a trans woman. I started my transition in Wilmington not too later after that and have been reciding in Wilmington until the end of 2024 when i finally decided to leave that ghost town and move to a more creatively free city (Raleigh). I love it here and im so excited to continue photographing models and diving myself more into the drag scene and being an advocate for mental health and trans people all across my platform on Instagram where i hold more than 10k followers.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think some of my biggest struggles came with being lost within who i was a person internally. I let a ex boyfriend in LA control like half of my life and at one point i was homeless in Los Angeles couch crashing at different friends houses with one suitcase until i saved up enough to buy a plane ticket back home. My best friend at the time let me move in with him when i got back to NC and we both worked at papa John’s running two different stores until we finally saved enough to get our own place.

When i first started transitioning physically with HRT at the beginning of 2024 I lost a few people’s relationships along the way including losing touch with my photography because of focusing on my transition. I knew when i decided to be my true authentic self i would have to absolutely stop caring about what other people thought of me. And to this day that’s what keeps me going.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a fashion editorial photographer. I specialize in all fields! I’ve taught myself how to direct, style, do makeup and hair and shoot my own creative concepts without the help of an entire team. I try not to rely on anyone for anything that i need in this creative industry. I’m known for my jaw dropping vivid images and also known for being one of the only trans femme photographers on the east coast that photographs such raw material. I’m most proud of myself for breaking boundaries and “rules” that have seem to be set in place for people like me.

What sets me apart from others is my free will and advancement to not be constricted to any rules or walls that have been put up for women like me or even just a creative person in general.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I would love to host my own art gallery, and photography / modeling class. Me and my boyfriend want to move to a new city soon and make even more connections. I want to leave an imprint on this earth!

Pricing:

• 350 for one outfit one location
• 500 for two outfits one/two location
• 650 for three outfits / two locations
• 800 half day rate
• 1250 full day shoot rate for you, your business or client

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pleasedontcallmemommy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pleasedontcallmemommy