McKinney Media
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The Story of McKinney Media

One team. One story.

A Bethlehem, PA creative institution, photo, video and marketing for businesses, McKinney Weddings, community events, and a school that teaches the next generation how to do it.

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Founded January 2021Bethlehem, PAPA · NY · NJ · DE · MD · VA
Watch

Why people choose McKinney Media.

Photo, video and marketing, and the people behind the work.

Watch on YouTube ↗

Chapter one

Built in Bethlehem, one yes at a time.

McKinney Media started in January 2021 as a photography business. It grew the way most durable things do, by saying yes to the next real need. Event coverage led to video. Video led to marketing. Couples asked for the same team on their wedding day, and McKinney Weddings was born.

Along the way the company started hosting: THEPHOTOPARTY for creatives, Headshot Happy Hour for professionals, and the Entrepreneurs’ Club, an online community for local business owners. In 2025 the McKinney School of Media & Marketing opened to teach the craft and the business behind it.

Today McKinney Media works across Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, and has been recognized by the City of Bethlehem, the Pennsylvania State Senate and the U.S. Congress.

In 60 seconds

What does McKinney Media actually do?

Watch on Instagram

Photo, video and marketing for families, businesses, weddings and everything in between.

We do not just create content. We teach it, and we show up for our community.

Recorded for the First Commonwealth FCU Business Spotlight.

Watch on Instagram ↗Follow @itscartermckinney
Founded
January 2021
Bethlehem, PA
Service area
Six states
Based in Bethlehem, PA
One team
Photo, video, marketing
Plus weddings, events and a school
Client reviews
4.9 on Google
From 257 reviews
Trusted by
KeyBankWind Creek BethlehemMorgan Stanley
B. Braun
NAACPMuhlenberg College
HID
City Center Allentown
Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of CommerceDa Vinci Science CenterUnity BankID LogisticsABC SupplyAdams Outdoor AdvertisingGreater Lehigh Valley REALTORS
iHeartMedia
Ameriprise Financial
Quaint Oak Bank
Moxy Allentown
ArtsQuest
Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley
Rich Mar Florist
What we do

Five things, one team.

Visual Content
Visual Content

Visual Content

Photography and video for businesses, events and brands.

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Marketing
Marketing

Marketing

Strategy, content, placement, web and design.

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McKinney Weddings
McKinney Weddings

McKinney Weddings

Photo, film, design and print for couples.

Explore →
Our Events
Our Events

Our Events

Headshot Happy Hour, THEPHOTOPARTY and the Entrepreneurs’ Club.

Explore →
School of Media & Marketing
School of Media & Marketing

School of Media & Marketing

Intensives, cohorts, mentorship and internships.

Explore →
Leadership

The team behind the work.

A small team in Bethlehem, PA with a bench of photographers, filmmakers, editors and event staff behind it.

Carter McKinney, Founder & CEO

Carter McKinney

Founder & CEO

Born in Pittsburgh, raised in Bethlehem. Carter started McKinney Media in January 2021 as a photography business and built it into a creative institution: photo, video and marketing for businesses, McKinney Weddings, community events and the McKinney School of Media & Marketing. He still shoots, edits and teaches. He has produced campaigns for Wind Creek, NAACP, B. Braun and Morgan Stanley, hosts The Entrepreneurs’ Club Podcast, serves on the African American Business Leaders Council through the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber, and speaks on creativity, entrepreneurship and community leadership.

Carter’s pageBook Carter to speakRecognition & Press
Tony Ortiz, Chief of Visual Content

Tony Ortiz

Chief of Visual Content

Tony leads visual content at McKinney Media as the main videographer and video editor. He also runs Tony Ortiz The Designer in the Lehigh Valley, a studio for branding, graphic design, web design and video, built on more than a decade of work as a designer and creative director.

Labrel Simone McBride, Chief of Events

Labrel Simone McBride

Chief of Events

Labrel leads McKinney Media’s events, from Headshot Happy Hour and THEPHOTOPARTY to the Anniversary Photo Gala and private events. She manages venues, vendors and the run of show. She also founded FabxCozy, a Lehigh Valley event planning company for weddings, celebrations and business events.

Ekene Diana Ekweonu, Executive Assistant & Business Operations Manager

Ekene Diana Ekweonu

Executive Assistant & Business Operations Manager

Ekene keeps the company running between shoots: calendars, inboxes, client follow-up, invoicing and the operating procedures the team works from. She coordinates hiring and internships, partner outreach and event logistics, so every inquiry gets an answer and every project has a next step.

Contract, internship and student roles

Join the team

Photographers, filmmakers, editors, event support and marketing assistants. We mentor through the McKinney School and hire from it.

See open rolesApply for an internship
Community

Part of the Lehigh Valley.

Bethlehem is home. Most of what we build gives something back to the Lehigh Valley, and the work travels across the mid-Atlantic.

Philanthropy

Free Haircut & School Supply Drive

Every year, backpacks, supplies and haircuts for Bethlehem students, powered by volunteers, donors and partners.

Learn more →
Community

The Entrepreneurs’ Club

A community of founders, creatives and emerging leaders: the Facebook group, the podcast and the room at every McKinney event.

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Leadership

Board service

Carter serves on the African American Business Leaders Council through the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

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Education

A school that trains working creators

The McKinney School of Media & Marketing, with internships inside live client projects.

Learn more →
Based in Bethlehem, PA · serving PA, NJ, NY, DE, MD and VA
NJPADEMDNYVABethlehem
Drive time

Select a market

Choose a pin or a name to see the estimated drive from our Bethlehem studio.

Estimates are typical drive times without traffic. Travel for a project is confirmed in your proposal, and we also work beyond this map.

Speaking

Keynotes, panels and workshops on networking, creativity and building a business in the Lehigh Valley.

Invite Carter to speak
Business address

306 S New Street, Suite 110, Bethlehem.

Visits are by appointment, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 7pm. Your confirmation names the exact place for your session.

Want to build with us?

Partner on a project, join the team, or invite Carter to speak.

Get StartedCareers

Still have a question?

Ask here. Answers come from how we work: timelines, coverage, and what is included. Your proposal confirms scope.

Or call 484.222.5062 · Mon to Sat, 9am to 7pm

McKinney Chatbot

Timelines, coverage, and what is included, answered from how we work.

Reviews

What clients say.

★★★★★
I had an excellent experience with McKinney Media at the Lehigh Valley Elite Network event. He was professional, approachable, and incredibly attentive to capturing authentic moments throughout the event.
Michael MaddenRealtor, RE/MAX
★★★★★
My first professional headshots. I saw McKinney Media on WFMZ and booked. The whole session was easy and the photos came out great.
Ajai TimmonsHeadshot client
★★★★★
McKinney Media captured our event beautifully. Carter and the team were on time, professional, and the photos were delivered fast.
Nyce JonezNyce & Bryght Events
★★★★★
Headshot Happy Hour at Jones was a great night. Great energy, great people and a professional headshot to take home.
Just Genevieve KMHeadshot Happy Hour guest
★★★★★
Professional, friendly and quick to deliver. Highly recommend McKinney Media.
Kaley JohnsonGoogle review
4.9257 reviews on Google
Read on Google ↗