Meet Megan Burke | California Lifestyle Photographer

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

Hi Megan, what makes you happy? Why?
Being a photographer is one of the biggest joys in my life. I meet so many people every year and as a people person, I love to hear their stories while capturing a new addition to them.

From getting engaged, married, welcoming children into the world, graduating, or updating family portraits, this is just a handful of my most common inquiries. It always warms my heart to meet such wonderful people through a craft that I am so passionate about, especially when I think about my photos hanging on their walls, printed in scrapbooks, and posted for their friends and family to admire.

Not to mention, I love my boss and all the creative freedom she allow me to express in my work (yes, I am my own boss). I’ve also been lucky enough to have several of my clients turn into friendships. My photography has been one of my biggest blessings and has opened so many doors for me, so I am always eager to see where it will take me next.

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.
As a lifestyle photographer, I am open to a variety of different photography opportunities. Most commonly, I photograph graduating college seniors and couples.

As a grad photographer, I definitely pride myself on my unique approach to grad sessions. For starters, I offer to bring biodegradable confetti and a bottle of champagne to pop for each of my grads. So many seniors get caught up in the chaos of finals, projects, and job applications, that they forget to appreciate those last few weeks of school and don’t take the time to celebrate their graduation. I often have grads tell me that after they pop their bottle of champagne, it really sets in that they’re about to graduate.

I’ve been photographing college seniors for 4 years now, so I have definitely established myself as a “go-to” grad photographer in Southern California. I really attribute my ability to consistently grow my clientele each new school year to my consistency on social media (where I mainly advertise), as well as my ability to connect and communicate with grads who book me for their grad sessions, then end up referring me to their friends and families.

As a couples photographer, it was really important for me to learn how to make each session feel like a date for the couple. It’s difficult to be the person being photographed, so feeling comfortable is my number one priority. My second priority is to capture honest, candid moments between the couple I am photographing. No one wants photos of yourself and your partner posing in a way that doesn’t feel natural or true to you. My favorite way to get those natural and true moments are with unique prompts that relate to the couple, which is where communicating with them before the session comes in handy.

One of my favorite prompts that works for most of my Southern California couples is to have each person take turns whispering their In-N-Out order to each other in their most sexy voice. This creates a little laughter, as well as a funny moment for them to remember from their session.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a born and raised San Diego girl, so I take a lot of pride in our city and all that California has to offer.

If you’re visiting Southern California, here are my top recommendations:

The Taco Stand in La Jolla is a Taqueria with great food and super close to the beach!

La Jolla Shores is a must, especially to get out on the water for a kayak tour, to explore the kelp forest, or to see the leopard sharks that hang out in the shores.

For dinner, Piatti’s is delicious and has great Italian cuisine.

For wine, definitely check out the Rancho Bernardo Winery. It’s a beautiful spot with a great, warm welcome, especially for an afternoon tasting.

For a cocktail, one of my new favorites is Mission Pacific’s, The Rooftop Bar, in Oceanside.

And you can’t go wrong with a Padres game at Petco Park. Go Padres!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my family and my fiancé, Peyton.

My family is and has always been my constant source of encouragement, especially in my creative outlets. My parents made sure that I had all the tools I needed to explore photography, including many cameras, paper backdrops, lights, and computer programs.

My siblings (maybe reluctantly) agreed to model for me when I had new ideas, as well as encouraged their friends to model for me too. My parents spent many late nights helping me to understand editing softwares, as well as thrifting unique items for me to use during photoshoots, like suitcases, clothing racks, and wardrobe options.

In developing my business and learning how to navigate it, my fiancé has been a constant cheerleader for my success and the best assistant when needed. Peyton’s admiration of my work and ability to challenge me when my doubts are high has definitely attributed to the growth and success of my business.

For that and so much more, I am so grateful to each of you. Thank You Mom, Dad, Alexa, Reese, & Peyton.

Website: https://meganburkephotography.mypixieset.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganburkephotography

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsmeganburke/

Image Credits
Megan Burke Photography