Kennedy Bucko, GIVEN ’22

Please share a little about yourself – feel free to include a fun fact!

I was born and raised in Northern Virginia. My family was culturally Catholic, and for most of my childhood, the faith was nothing more than going to CCD once a week. As a teenager, I joined my parish’s youth group and since that moment the Lord has continued to draw me closer to His Sacred Heart. I studied public health and nutrition at Temple University with big plans to work in the field of maternal health or relief services – and now I work as a full-time Catholic wedding photographer. (More on this below!) I live in Bridgeport, PA (just outside of Philadelphia) with my husband, Jacob. I love making floral arrangements, hosting friends and family, and celebrating Marian feast days. My ideal Sunday consists of a morning walk, eating breakfast on my porch, walking to mass, and hosting my friends for brunch – which usually turns into everyone staying for dinner, too!

Describe your professional work. How were you led to this? What are you passionate about?

I am the owner and lead photographer of Merciful Love Photography, a Catholic photography business that I started after attending the GIVEN Forum. The spring of 2022 was a pivotal season for me – I graduated with my Masters in Public Health, was engaged and preparing for my wedding in September, and attended the GIVEN Forum. During this season, my husband Jacob and I photographed our first wedding together – as a husband and wife photography duo. When we left that first wedding, I knew I wanted to do it again. One of my favorite things about it was serving, supporting, and loving the bride (as well as the bridal party and family). Following this wedding, my professional dreams quickly shifted from working in the field of maternal health or traveling around the world doing relief services to working as a full-time Catholic wedding photographer. I started introducing myself as a Catholic photographer and my calendar started to quickly fill up with weddings, events, and family sessions. Just one year after starting my business, Merciful Love Photography, I officially pursued it full-time and have loved capturing the sacred moments of life!

What are the personal strengths that you’ve been given and how do you utilize them?

Patience, joy, creativity, and empathy are personal strengths that the Lord has highlighted through my work as a business owner. As I have grown my business, I have utilized patience each day while working with clients. But especially, being patient with myself and what I am capable of doing. My joy and creativity has inspired my work, especially when I am behind my camera. My enthusiasm has made my clients feel beautiful and comfortable in front of the camera – which for many people is not something they particularly love! As a wedding photographer, I am by the bride’s side for her entire wedding day. A bride often spends more time with her photographer than anyone else at her wedding. My empathetic heart unites me with the couples I work with as I pray for them and support them in their marriage.

What women inspire you, and why?

The faith, wisdom, and writings of many holy women have inspired the work I do each day. In particular, St. Therese, St. Faustina, Blessed Chiara Petrillo, and (of course) Our Lady have inspired me as a daughter of the Father. I am constantly in awe of St. Therese’s childlike joy and dependence on the Lord. St. Faustina has led me in my faith, taught me of Jesus’ mercy, and ultimately brought me closer to the Father. Blessed Chiara’s witness of sacrificial love has inspired me to be a better wife. Her story has increased my desire to turn my suffering into hope. Throughout my life, Our Lady has felt like a mother to me. Her fiat continues to inspire me to surrender my life with open hands and trust in the Father’s plans.

Are there friends and mentors that you depend upon? How do they support you?

As a business owner, I rely on the motivation, inspiration, and wisdom of the women in my life. My friends provide me with a new perspective on the challenges, victories, and ideas I have for my business. The women in my life celebrate with me, encourage me, and offer feedback in the work I am doing. I could not run a business without the support I have from the friends and mentors I have in my life!

Prayer is essential for everyone, but especially for women who are active in the life and mission of the Church. Do you have any favorite devotions or prayers?

I love sitting with the Lord, reading scripture, and praying with sacred art. The rosary is one of my favorite devotions. I love how we can journey with Mary through Jesus’ life.

Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?

“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” – Saint Francis of Assisi

What were your key takeaways from the GIVEN Forum?

My hopes and dreams are never too big for the Lord! GIVEN has empowered and encouraged me to let the Lord work through the gifts that He has given me in a unique way. Being surrounded by so many beautiful women, both lay and religious, was one of the most impactful parts of the Forum. It was inspiring to talk with women about their dreams and watch their faces light up as they shared what they were passionate about. Another key takeaway has been the sisterhood and community among GIVEN alumnae. GIVEN has introduced me to so many beautiful women who are now close friends and mentors in my business. I feel so lucky to be a part of the GIVEN alumna network!

What was your GIVEN action plan? Describe its mission, audience, and impact.

My GIVEN action plan was to start a wedding photography business to serve Catholic couples and families. The mission was to capture the sacredness of life in every season. Before attending the Forum, my husband (who was my fiancé at the time) and I photographed two Catholic weddings. I loved serving the couple, using my creativity to document the wedding day, and witnessing the nuptial mass while working alongside my spouse. While I was at the Forum, I was inspired to turn this passion into a business. GIVEN helped me to see how my gifts could serve others while also providing an income – something I had not considered before GIVEN!

Could you tell us a bit about what motivated or led you to develop this action plan? Was this something that you had on your heart prior to this past year or was it something you developed through the GIVEN program?

Starting a photography business was on my heart before attending the Forum, and I left the Forum feeling empowered to take the first steps to start an official business! The idea for this action plan was motivated by my own wedding planning experience. As my husband and I planned our wedding, we valued working with Catholic vendors who understood the sacrament of marriage and shared a deep reverence for the Mass. It was especially important for us to hire a Catholic photographer to capture the beauty of the Mass. I knew that prayer was going to be an important part of our wedding day and I wanted our photographer to feel comfortable capturing every sacred moment, especially the moment of consecration during the nuptial Mass!

How did you grow throughout this year as you worked with a mentor on your action plan? Were there any moments where you had doubts or felt like you had taken on too much of a challenge? If so, how did you overcome them?

For me, growing a business and growing in humility are synonyms! My own weaknesses, imperfections, and lack of expertise are highlighted in my work each day. As a small business owner, my to-do list can be never ending. Through mentorship, I have learned how to set necessary boundaries (especially on my time!), prioritize tasks, and be realistic about what I can (and cannot) do. I am constantly learning and leaning on the Lord to support me.

What were some of the fruits you saw from your action plan? What did you find most fulfilling in this process?

Working as a wedding photographer is both an honor and a joy. It is fulfilling to be trusted to document a couple’s love story and to capture the sacred moments of their wedding day. I feel so lucky to walk with so many Catholic couples as they prepare for marriage. I am constantly in awe of the ways that the Lord has continued to support my work as a photographer and the new opportunities that have come since my little idea became my full-time job!