Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mike Uko. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mike , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.

If I were to start over today, I would have psyched myself out to have more faith in my work and to believe in myself no matter what. Coming from a Nigerian household and pursuing a career in something creative or artistic, it was frowned upon. I was always told to do photography “on the side”, which forced me to pursue careers in things that I was not passionate about.

I was and still am today, always in a constant battle between working a 9-5 and pursuing my passion of being a full-time photographer and videographer. Whether I should do both simultaneously or take the leap and pursue it full time, the answer has never been a clear or easy one. If I can go back in time, I think I would have blocked out all of the noise and advice telling me to work a 9-5 and I would have been setting my business up for success.

Mike , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was first introduced to photography around 2009/2010 but I never really took it seriously. I never looked at it as something that I can create a life or business around, so I was always one foot in and one foot out. I first fell in love with portraiture and catching candid moments of pretty much anything. I’ve had several period where I hit roadblocks, faced financial hardship and resulted in selling my camera and equipment or just times where I’ve experienced burnout.

More recently, I’ve been doing more videography work and its sparked my passion for being creative again. After taking another hiatus, I knew I wanted to put all my energy into a field of photography & videography that I really enjoyed and didn’t feel like work, something that actually solved a problem for clients and just wasn’t something fun to do – which inspired me to pivot into sports photography and videography. More specifically, within the sports world, my aim is to tell the stories behind the athlete in front of the camera and highlight their journey. I want to create pieces that feel nostalgic and stories that can live on forever.

Although my business may still be in the infant stage, despite my experience with cameras, Im proud that I am finally believing in myself and doing what I said I would do. Im proud that I haven’t given up on myself despite the hardships I face pursuing my dream. I don’t have it figured out but Im proud that I’m being consistent.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that I genuinely enjoy being behind the camera. I don’t think there are many things that I naturally enjoy doing more. I really enjoy meeting other creatives, sharing our journey and working/ collaborating together. Its a great feeling when people love your work or when you can create something that people use over and over or in years to come – because this is something you created from your own idea, and made it tangible and enjoyable for your client (and possibly others as well).

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of new clients has always been word of mouth for me or from genuinely networking. When you can give great service to people, they generally will promote you to their network of people. Nothing beats face to face, in person interactions, where you can make a real impression on people. Even when I gain new clients from social media or online, they somehow are still tied or connected to people I may know in person too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mikeuko.com
• Instagram: mikeukoshoots
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeluko/

Image Credits

Tatyanna Chamere