NATCHEZ — At age 16, Morgan McCranie has accomplished what many adults wish they could — turning a profit off of a beloved hobby.

The enterprising and award-winning teen traded framed Easter memories for money Saturday at the Natchez Mall as the photographer for the Easter bunny backdrop.

McCranie, a Natchez resident who attends Pine Hill Christian Academy in Gloster, picked up photography from both of her older sisters.

One of her sisters, Melanie Mansfield, is a professional photographer in North Carolina.

The other, Maureen, died at age 26 from heart failure after years of complications with cancer and a stroke.

“She was so disabled and she went on doing everything — art, photography, painting,” McCraine said.

“I guess that’s why she is such an inspiration to me.”

Because she no longer sees either of her sisters these days, the family photography tradition is even more important to McCranie, she said.

McCranie said she enjoys interacting with people in addition to photographing them whenever a seasonal or TV character such as Santa, Sponge Bob or Dora the Explorer visits the mall John R. Junkin Drive.

“I love working with kids,” McCranie said.

McCranie hones her skills when she is not at school or working whenever she can.

“I don’t go anywhere without (my camera),” she said.

And when she does not have a camera at arms length, McCranie said she snaps photos using her cell phone camera.

McCranie recently won first place in a statewide photography competition, which advanced her to the regional competition that was two weeks ago in Nashville.

The Top Nazarene Talent competition, hosted by a network of churches, includes competitions in all areas, including sports, vocal, instrument, drama, art business and photography.

McCranie’s photograph of the Mississippi River Bridge at night won her first place in Mississippi competition, in which she competed against 400 other students.

McCranie took the photograph from the Vidalia riverfront in January.

“I like being able to give my perspective of things,” she said.

She said photography lets her frame things in a way that others might not see them.

When photographing weddings or other scenes, McCranie said she likes giving the photographs a vintage feel.

McCranie already has a photography career plan mapped out.

She will keep up her photography during college and major in business in order to take photographs on her own terms.

“I want to have my own business,” she said.

McCranie is the daughter of Angie and Roger McCranie.