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

Hi Zack, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
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!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
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!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
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.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
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

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.