1: The Reboot

Around December 2024, I finally had a moment to reflect. Life had been good, and I was grateful — but I also felt stuck.

The past few years had been turbulent. A major life event 👶, along with three job changes in three different cities, left me craving certainty. I found myself clinging to meticulous calendars and tightly packed routines. My days became efficient but rigid. I was running on a virtual treadmill — and I was out of breath.

I knew I needed a reset. A way to catch my breath and rediscover something that felt like mine. That reset came through creating again.

I’ve always loved making things. It started with sketching and scrapbook clippings from Sportstar in elementary school. In high school, it was PowerPoint presentations and websites. After college, it was photography. Photography taught me to see the world differently — to frame moments through my own perspective and share that version with others.

That perspective became my creative identity: MKT Studios.

I started MKT Studios nearly a decade ago and created under that name for a few years. But life moved quickly, and I had to put it on hold. The desire to create never went away, and now, I’m rebooting MKT Studios — with new energy and intent.

At first, I turned to social media. It seemed like the easiest way to share my work and express myself. I created an Instagram page, uploaded some photos, and followed the familiar “post occasionally” pattern. It scaled easily — but it didn’t feel right.

Social platforms today are saturated. The way people consume content has shifted. It’s fast, fleeting, and driven by algorithms that reward engagement, not depth. A carousel of photos often gets lost in the scroll. I realized I needed a new strategy — one that respected people’s habits while still reflecting my creative vision.

So I explored. I found inspiration from graphic designers, motion artists, photographers, and videographers who shared not just their final work, but also their process. Many were generous with their knowledge, helping other creators learn and grow. I wanted to be part of that world.

The tools were intimidating at first. There were so many to learn — and I assumed I needed to master them before I could begin. But then I let go of perfection. I started learning on the go, using tools as I needed them.

I decided to center my content around photography. I’ve always shot thematically, so I began organizing my photos into “sets” — each set framed by an illustrated and animated cover that tells a story. These covers help communicate the theme of the collection. I then create short-form teaser videos to introduce each set on Instagram and YouTube, designed to spark curiosity and invite exploration.

Not every photo fits neatly into a set, though. Some stand alone. These become posters — visuals with their own narrative weight.

And like the creators who inspired me, I wanted to share what I learn along the way. This blog is my way of doing that — documenting insights, tools, and lessons from my creative process.

This website brings it all together: photography, design, animation, storytelling — and whatever else I create in the future.

Thanks for being here.