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

Hi Zack, what role has risk played in your life or career?
My previous job was in finance, which is all about risk aversion, so I find it fitting that the biggest (and best!) risk I’ve ever taken is quitting that job and following my passion into photography! I had done photography as a hobby for 12 years and had a desire to do it full-time, but was trepidatious about taking the plunge. Leaving a steady paycheck for the uncertainty of small business ownership was a daunting proposition, to say the least. But I finally had to come to terms with the fact that the longer I put off pursuing photography, the more time I wasted in a career that I didn’t enjoy. The fear of my spirit slowly waning in a job that wasn’t my calling jolted me from my apprehension and I made the move to full-time wedding and portrait photography– and I’m so glad I did! Is there still risk involved? Absolutely. But in reality, there’s risk inherent in any career, so I might as well take a chance on doing something I love!

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.
I’m a very detail-oriented photographer. I always trace the inception of my love for the details to long summer days spent in the backyard of my childhood home looking for bugs and insects. I would carry around this little bug recognition field guide and a sketchbook, attempting to identify and draw each little creature I found. I found such joy in the small details of spiders, bees, beetles, and butterflies, and that love for intricate details grew and matured as I got older and moved into photography. As a photographer who documents the story of peoples’ lives, I find the details within the stories of humans to be so incredibly beautiful. I think in our fast-paced society, we’ve lost an appreciation for the details that make each and every one of us beautifully human. I hope my art counteracts that!

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.
First thing would be a trip to the Getty. You can’t come to LA and not spend at least half a day there. The exhibits are fantastic, the location offers amazing views, and the garden is perfect for a picnic. I would also take them to the Arts District, home to my favorite German restaurant: Wurstküche. Afterwards, I would take them to one of the many excellent coffee shops in the area. Whether it be Stumptown, Blue Bottle, Intelligensia, or Groundwork, you really can’t go wrong. Some other things we could do are catch a concert at The Wiltern, get birria at Papi Tacos & Churros in Santa Monica, and play retro arcade games while sipping drinks at EightyTwo on 4th. Oh, and a trip to Little Tokyo and SushiStop is mandatory.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Over the last couple years, I’ve made it a point to catch up on some reading. One book in particular sticks out to me as being a formative experience. It’s by Scott Erickson and it’s called “Say Yes: Discover the Surprising Life Beyond the Death of a Dream”, and I can’t recommend it highly enough–especially if you’re a creative. It’s uplifting, honest, and endlessly beautiful. Scott is an excellent follow on Instagram as well: @scottthepainter

Website: https://www.zmccoyphoto.com

Instagram: @zackmccoy_

Other: Zola: https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/wedding-       photographers/zack-mccoy-photography

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