We recently had the chance to connect with McKenna Zubke and have shared our conversation below.
McKenna, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, a lot of my joy has been coming from pottery, especially in my off-season. I’ve been exploring and having fun working with clay for about a year now and recently started my own private studio. It has been such a grounding and creative change of pace alongside my photography work.
I’m slightly obsessed with making mugs. There’s something really satisfying about creating pieces people actually use, and experimenting with glaze combinations and making mug sets has become my favorite kind of trial-and-error. No two firings ever turn out the same, and that element of surprise keeps it exciting.
Pottery gives me a hands-on way to stay creative when my schedule slows down, without any pressure or expectations. It’s playful, grounding, and a nice reminder that creativity doesn’t always have to be perfect to be meaningful and that honestly feeds right back into how I approach photography too.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m McKenna, the photographer behind 1828 Collective. I document weddings for couples who care less about perfection and more about how it all felt. Based in North Carolina and traveling throughout the Carolinas and beyond, my work is rooted in storytelling by telling the quiet moments, the deep belly laughs, and the pauses in between moments that end up meaning the most.
1828 Collective was built on the idea that your wedding photos should feel lived-in and timeless, like something you’d stumble across years from now and immediately be pulled back into the day. My background in photography and interior design shapes how I see light and movement, but what really drives my work is connection. I want couples to feel comfortable, present, and fully themselves, not like they’re performing for the camera.
At its core, 1828 Collective is about nostalgia in real time by preserving moments as they happen so they can be remembered honestly later. It’s less about trends and more about legacy, and creating photographs that feel just as meaningful decades from now as they do the day they’re taken.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One of the moments that really shaped how I see the world was losing my grandma. After she passed, I realized how few photos we actually had together. Not just the posed ones, but the everyday, in-between moments that show who someone really was and how they fit into your life.
That realization stuck with me. It made me acutely aware of how fragile memory can be, and how easily meaningful moments slip by if they aren’t preserved. Since then, I’ve carried a deep appreciation for the ordinary moments we don’t think to document at the time because those are often the ones we miss the most later.
It changed how I approach everything, from the way I show up for the people I love to the way I photograph weddings. I’m always thinking about legacy now and not just what something looked like, but how it felt, and how it will be remembered years down the line.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell my younger self to never lose that wild, curious way she sees the world. She jumped headfirst into new ideas, creative phases, and big concepts without overthinking whether they made sense or if she was “doing it right.” That freedom mattered more than little me knew at the time.
I’d thank her for the rose-colored glasses and for seeing possibilities everywhere, for believing things could be beautiful simply because they were, and for trusting her imagination before the world had a chance to make her practical. That openness shaped the way I create, the way I connect with people, and the way I move through life now.
I’d also remind her that she doesn’t need to trade curiosity for credibility. Growing up doesn’t mean shrinking your perspective or dimming your sense of wonder. Some of the most meaningful work comes from staying open, playful, and a little optimistic, even when it would be easier not to.
That version of me that led with creativity and belief is still very much here. And I’d tell her she was right to trust it.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
What matters most to me is helping people see the best version of themselves and actually enjoy their lives. I care deeply about confidence, being present, and noticing the moments that make life feel full instead of rushed. I’m always encouraging the people around me to slow down, lean into what ignites joy in them, and give themselves permission to enjoy where they are.
I genuinely believe everyone has goodness within them, and I tend to look for it everywhere. Whether that’s in people, in everyday moments, or in the way life unfolds. I think life can be incredible if you know what you’re looking for, and that mindset shapes how I move through the world, the relationships I build, and the way I show up creatively.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Photography is definitely what I was born to do. I’ve always been driven by creativity, curiosity, and the urge to make things feel meaningful even long before it ever looked like a “career.” Photography just happened to be the place where all of that clicked.
I don’t think you accidentally create a body of work that feels personal unless you’re following something instinctual. Even the playful, unexpected moments come from trusting that inner pull instead of what’s traditionally expected. I’ve learned that the best work happens when you let yourself follow what feels natural and genuinely exciting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://1828collective.com
- Instagram: 1828collective
- Other: Tiktok @1828Collective
Image Credits
1828 Collective
