We recently had the chance to connect with Mackenzie Madriaga and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Mackenzie, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Who are you learning from right now?
Lately I’ve been learning the most from the people I photograph. Whether they’re friends or someone I’ve just met, I try to pay attention to how they show up, how they hold themselves, and what they choose to share. It’s not always about the photo itself, but what happens around it.
I’m also learning from the people around me. Other artists figuring things out, experimenting, making things without needing everything to be perfect. Watching them trust their own process helps me trust mine.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Yes, of course! My name is Mackenzie Madriaga, and I’m a photographer working between San Diego and Portland, OR. I first fell in love with the camera back in middle school. I was really drawn to the way light could shape a feeling. When I was 14, I showed in a group exhibition at the San Diego Museum of Photographic Arts, and that experience really set me on the path I’m still on today. My work focuses on portraits and candid moments in public space, images that feel soft, and sometimes a little lonely.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Honestly, it was my parents who saw me clearly before I could see myself. My dad owns a tattoo shop, so having another artist in the family who recognized my passion early on meant a lot. And my mom’s really open-minded and supportive, which made it easier for me to follow my creative path. Their belief in me has given me the confidence to keep going, even when there’s doubts.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me that it’s okay not to have everything figured out. Success often feels like it’s about control and having all the answers, but pain showed me that uncertainty and struggle are part of the process. It’s in those hard moments that I learned to be patient with myself and to keep going even when things don’t feel perfect. That kind of growth can’t come from just winning or getting what you want.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe I had to do everything on my own. I felt uncomfortable to ask for help or even to reach out to people to model for my photography because I felt anxious and worried about imposing. But over time, I realized that isolating myself only made things harder. Opening up and letting others be part of the process has made my work richer and my creative journey more fulfilling. It’s taught me that collaboration and connection are essential, not optional.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
For a long time, I believed that as long as I was proud of the work I created and the relationships I built from it, I didn’t need anyone else’s praise or recognition to feel fulfilled. To me, the value has always been in the process and the connections, not in leaving a legacy or seeking approval.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/driiaga
