Meet Mckindree Patton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mckindree Patton.

Hi Mckindree, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
In 2014, when I was 16, I underwent a bone marrow transplant for a rare bone marrow failure called Diamond Blackfan Anemia and an immune deficiency. This disease prevents your red blood cells from producing so I survived on red cell transfusions for several years up until my transplant. I underwent chemo and spent 10 months straight in the hospital.

During this time, Phoenix Children’s Hospital came to me with an opportunity to present Garth Brooks with a cowboy hat from the Child life Zone that children at the hospital had made. So when he was in town for his concert that year, I got to present it to him. Later that day, my family and I had the opportunity to meet Garth and Trisha. I came with a little DSLR camera around my neck because I wanted some pictures with the icons themselves. I was really interested in photography at this time and loved to document my journey and my life through the lens of my camera.

Garth took note of this and then invited my family and me to his concert the next night. That night we got to go to his green room and chat with everyone before the concert. We were all talking and then he invited his photographer into the room. He walked in with all new camera gear and then asked if I wanted to shoot Garth’s show with him that night. I was in SHOCK!

That night I absolutely fell in love with photography and I attribute finding my passion through the lens to Garth. It was really him who ignited that spark and without him seeing something I didn’t even see in myself, I wouldn’t be where I am now. He really inspired me to continue learning and growing in photography, and we still keep in touch today. I have shot three shows of his now and just started McKindree Marie Photography in September of 2022.

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?
My whole life has been a long bumpy road, especially health-wise. I had many complications throughout my transplant and almost died several times. When you go through something like that, you really figure out what truly matters and value things and relationships differently.

With photography, I knew I loved it, but I really struggled with the comparison game. This held me back from starting my business for so long and it took years of friends and family to convince me I was good enough to just go for it. It took a lot of courage but I am so happy I went for it and put myself out there. I have grown SO much within the last couple of months of doing photography full time and I love it so much.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I do photography. I specialize in portraits, families, and seniors, and just stepped foot into the wedding world.

I feel like my love for life and how I can capture people at whatever life stage they’re at is what sets me apart. I love capturing simple interactions between families, the candid laughs of seniors, and the pure, raw love of couples. I also love people and I pride myself in getting to know whoever I am shooting and taking the time to get to know them. People value relationships and I want all my clients to feel like I am a best friend or their hype girl.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and are any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I actually got married during Covid-19, and I said this earlier but I think many of us realized how important relationships are. It’s not the “things” but the people in our lives that matter. I love that photography can capture people and their relationships.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @mckindreemariephoto, @mckindree
• Facebook: @mckindree

Image Credits
@mckindreemariephoto