Daily Inspiration: Meet Kasey Makal

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kasey Makal.

Hi Kasey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been a photographer for 10 years, and I’ve dabbled in nearly every genre. I initially started in high school, teaching my peers how to use cameras and taking my friends’ senior photos.

Once in college, I took a lot of cosplay portraits and moved on to focusing on live music photography, and found myself shooting for Gasparilla Music Festival and various online publications, like ConcertUpdater. After graduation, some back injuries made concert and especially festival photography difficult; I moved into what I do now: artist press photos, portraits, and fashion.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road! Financial hardship, imposter syndrome, learning as I go, and having to fight to earn a seat at the table are challenges that have long been part of the experience for freelancers, especially women. However, the biggest obstacles I faced were the injuries and illness I struggled with over several years. By 2025, I had largely recovered from these health challenges, but my body never fully returned to the condition it was in when I was 19. I’ve had to adapt my approach to work to avoid further injury and protect my long-term health.

Looking back, I now see this as a blessing in disguise. The work I do today not only fulfills me creatively, but also allows me to continue pursuing my passions in a way that is more sustainable for my body and reduces the risk of further injury.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a fashion and portrait photographer specializing in artist press photography, creating imagery that captures an artist’s identity, energy, and creative vision. I’m probably best known for my artist press photos, but I’ve also been investing more of my time in music video stills and behind-the-scenes photography, which has been an exciting way to explore new ways of documenting artists and their creative processes.

I think what sets me apart is my ability to connect with the people I work with. I want my clients to feel comfortable, understood, and involved in the creative process so that the final images feel authentic to them. My goal is always to create work that both my clients and I feel genuinely proud of, and I think that collaborative relationship is a huge part of what makes my work special.

One project I’m especially proud of is the album cover for *Heaven Waits* by @zahira.sirena, which I photographed and co-creative-directed alongside one of my friends, @madelinejuliettadavis. Having the freedom to fully explore an idea, experiment creatively, and bring a shared vision to life was incredibly rewarding. It gave me the opportunity to really play with the creative direction and create something that felt intentional, personal, and true to the artist.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
One book that really helped me reconnect with my creativity after spending three years working in finance was *The War of Art* by Steven Pressfield. A friend recommended it to me during a difficult period of my life, and it helped me get back into a creative mindset, work through self-doubt, and rebuild confidence in myself and my work. It’s a relatively quick and straightforward read, but I find myself returning to it often as a reminder to keep showing up, even when inspiration or motivation feels out of reach.

On a more personal level, *The Let Them Theory* by Mel Robbins helped me work through a lot of emotional and personal challenges. While there are parts of the book I don’t necessarily agree with, its core message really resonated with me: we can’t control other people or every circumstance we encounter, but we can take responsibility for our own actions, reactions, and choices. It’s helped me shift my perspective away from asking why something happened to me and toward asking what I can learn, what I can do differently, and how I can move forward. That shift in perspective has been valuable both in my personal life and in my creative career, where resilience, self-awareness, and the willingness to keep growing are so important.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kaseymakal.squarespace.com/work
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kase.jpeg
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaseymakal/