Passions, People, and Photography - Introduction
Korbyn McKale created Passions, People, and Photography to showcase the intimate and authentic details that drive our humanity by sharing stories that connect small business owners to their local Central Texas community and to inspire that community to find and follow their own passions. Every person has a passion– a deep and innate calling that compels them creatively, socially, or productively. This project aims to spotlight those who followed that calling, started a business, and pursued their dream of doing what they love every single day. Small business owners are the foundation of our local communities, and they deserve a place where their stories can be told in meaningful and authentic ways. Passions, People, and Photography will exist as a platform where all voices can be heard, legacies recorded, inspirations shared, and lives connected.
In an age of hyper-connectedness through social media, it’s actually quite easy to feel disconnected and lonely. Often these days, we are so quick to review products and experiences, always in perpetual search of The Best of The Best. While this quest can yield efficient results, real connection tends to get lost in the endless scroll. Passions, People, and Photography aims to help us slow down and build a real relationship with the human behind the screen. This project will serve as the hand that peels back the curtain of performance, the highly-edited final product, and takes a detailed look at the individual. We will find out what inspires them, the things they do when no one is watching, how they are like us and how they differ from us, who they truly are deep down, and who they want to become. This project is more than just another blog entertaining you with distractions. It exists to connect you to real people in Central Texas, to inspire you with authentic stories of everyday triumphs, failures, and lessons hard-learned, and to encourage you to grow and nurture your own passions, and cultivate a life you love.
As the author of Passions, People, and Photography, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Korbyn, I’m a newly-engaged, golden Retriever loving, Georgetown local connection seeker. I am a self-employed writer and photographer who has run my own small business, McKale Visuals, for three years now. Small businesses hold a special place in my heart. I was raised in a small town called Perry, Oklahoma by a hard-working mechanic that bought his own shop the year before I was born. I grew up on the concrete floor of that steel building and learned many of my greatest life lessons there. The first and most powerful success story I know is that of my father’s, who still to this day runs his ever-expanding mechanic and tire shop that never ceases to serve and uplift his community. Twenty-seven years of business and he is still service-first. My father inspired me to start this project and center it on hard working small business owners like him. Passions, People, and Photography will feature and share the stories of small business owners in Central Texas. The focal point will be Georgetown, Texas, my new hometown, and surrounding areas. My hope is that you might run into our weekly feature strolling the downtown square or while grabbing a sweet treat at Frozen Flamingo. Our local business owners pour their hearts and souls into serving their neighbors, and they deserve a place where their stories can shine. I hope this project serves as a platform to introduce them to individuals like you— people who love their community and want to see it grow and flourish, and have a preference for hand made, locally sourced goodies. Supporting small and keeping our dollars local is the lifeblood of a thriving community, and I hope Passions, People, and Photography can help support that growth.
My goals for this platform are simple–
Uplift small business in Central Texas by giving them a platform to share their story.
Inspire readers with authentic conversations about overcoming hardship, dream chasing, and hard-earned success.
Stop the scroll and encourage community.
If I can do all that while getting to know incredible new people every week and creating art that brings locals together, I’ll have the best job in the world.
Along with a weekly article about our chosen feature, Passions, People, and Photography will also have updates on all the biggest social media platforms– Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and eventually maybe even a podcast! If you’d like to follow along with me on this journey of discovering local diamonds and hometown heroes, follow me on social media @mckalevisuals on every platform. You can also sign up to receive each week’s new story straight in your inbox by submitting the form below. This will sign you up for my once-weekly newsletter, which will include the Passions, People, and Photography story along with local news, photography updates, and general Central Texas things. I hope you enjoy the stories to come.
Apply to be featured in Passions, People, and Photography below!
Thanks for reading! Love y’all.
