Meet Kyle MacLennan | Director of Photography

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

Hi Kyle, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I always loved photography and film-making. I just didn’t realized it could be an actual possibility as a job/career form until I was in my mid/late 20’s. I always thought about the cool people that were able to photograph and film all over the world and that is what I wanted to do. So, I figured I would try to do it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
* I must preface, I hate labeling myself as one thing or another, because I really feel like it could limit you from doing something else. I love trying and doing everything. Learning, constantly evolving 🙂 However, I am primarily a Director of Photography and Still Photographer. I have focused on Lifestyle, Travel, Fashion, action sports, water unit.
I think a niche that separates me from some other photographers is that I love shooting in and around the water. I grew up surfing and being in the ocean and I’m totally comfortable bringing high quality cameras in and around the surf. I always wanted to be a Surf Film-maker, when I was a kid. I loved watching Bruce Brown surf films growing up. He was a big hero to me.
Being a freelance photographer is not an easy path. There is still even at the point I’m at, a constant hustle(which is something I truly love). There’s endless learning to do, with the technology, running the business, meeting new clients, working creatively on set. When I started, I remember PA’ing for a big time Director of Photography and all I did was run errands around LA. Picking up lenses here, dropping them off there, grabbing equipment, picking up crew from the airport and driving them to the studio or back to their houses. I actually learned a lot being in that environment, but I came to a point where I didn’t see an end to the tasks that they kept me doing. So, I went back to work for my Uncle at the time who ran a construction company and saved all the money I could that whole summer to buy some equipment to start shooting myself. I figured, the only way I would really become a Photographer is if I did it everyday. So, from that point on (I was 26). I never looked back and all I’ve done is shoot. It wasn’t easy, I was broke, my car broke down on the freeway one day coming home from shooting Timmy Curran Surfing in Ventura, and I wasn’t making any money. I literally sat on the side of the freeway wondering what I was even doing, but I just kept going everyday and am so thankful I did. I think some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way are #1 First and foremost If your passionate about something just get up and go after it. Don’t let people tell you that you can’t or it’s too hard. #2 Have a good attitude. It will change your life if you can keep that positivity going, even through hard times. People will gravitate towards the energy you’re putting out there. I can really say that from first hand experience. If you put good energy out there, it’s gonna come right back to you.
I want the world to know that I love to have fun. I love to work hard, because I love what I do so much. I never feel like I’ve had a job. I am about as easy going as it gets and think thats why people like to have me around in stressful production situations.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I were picking someone up from the airport and they were hungry, I would probably head over to Gjusta in Venice, then of course we’d hit the beach. I would probably say Venice Pier for a little surf followed up by Hinano’s for a cold pitcher of beer and probably a cheeseburger. Next day would be a little drive up to Malibu, depending on how busy it is we could go for a morning surf at Surfrider, then cruise over to Soho for some breakfast. Then probably head up to Zuma Beach or County Line for a nice coastal drive. Probably some Poke at Vintage Market in Malibu.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This is a very loaded question. There have been so many influential people that have helped mold me along the way, I could go on and on about it, but these three people helped me more than I can say to develop where and what I’ve been able to do. Marc Margulies (Camera Department): Early on, he gave me an opportunity to come work as a Camera PA, on big studio/ commercial productions and introduced me to contacts that I still work with today on a regular basis. He taught me about 35mm Film Cameras and always invited me to Panavision when he was prepping for shows.
Nathaniel Curran (Professional Surfer): I became friend with him while trying to break into the surf world and wanting to make surf movies. He was someone I always saw in the magazines, when I was a kid and couldn’t believe that we had become friends. He took me all over the world for a few years while he was on tour and introduced me to tons of people. It was a very fun time in my career as a photographer and it allowed me lots of time to practice and learn while being on the road.
John Jackson (Professional Snowboarder): I grew up knowing John since we were kids and he really gave me a huge opportunity in 2012, to come on board a huge project with Redbull Media House that he had pitched to them. We basically drove from Alaska to Chile and spent 6 months documenting it for an 18 Episode webseries called “Brothers on the Run”. After that job, I continued to work with Redbull on various projects and to this day and they are a very close brand that I still work with and for.

Website: kylemacvisuals.com

Instagram: kylemacvisuals

Image Credits
The photo of myself in the helicopter was shot by @silkymerman Benjamin Ono