We were lucky to catch up with Michael Carter recently and have shared our conversation below.
Michael, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
I’ve worked on several different projects over the years. It would be hard for me to put one above the others because each shoot is unique in it’s approach, concept, and motivation. Some work that means a lot to me personally would be shoots that I’ve done with a good friend Max Gorman. Max had a concept that was breaking down barriers and stereotypes of women in the corporate workplace.
Being raised by a single mother who was an electrical engineer this concept resonated with me. My mother worked hard and wasn’t one to complain, however somedays she would tell me about some of the mistreatment she would experience based on her being the only black person and only woman in her professional spaces.
I was excited to help Max shoot this concept which was a part of a larger campaign and performance she was ultimately working on. The photos from that shoot are some of my personal favorites.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was always creative as a kid and was fascinated my films and photography. I was in undergrad when I finally decided to pull the trigger and purchase my first camera. It was a used Sony a6000 which is a super entry level mirrorless camera that could fit in your pocket. This was perfect as I wanted to take pictures of anything and everything, I basically had the camera with me everywhere I went.
I had initially started out trying to take pictures of landscapes, architecture, and abstact patterns I would find while out and about. Once winter set in I spent less time outdoors and more time indoors with people, and that’s when I realized I could shoot portraits of people. The most exciting part of portraits is the look on the subject’s face when they see the final result and how blown away they are with the final image. It brings me joy to build confidence in people and capture some of their most important memories digitally in a photo.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I had to unlearn being a people pleaser when it comes to my artistic expression. When I first started shooting portraits of people I would often lean on the ideas and themes that were trendy or popular at the time. The issue with chasing what’s most popular is you are constantly chasing a moving target. In the long run I felt unfulfilled in my work and the results of my work, which really takes the fun out of it for me.
Now I know to always be yourself and be unique! No other person has your specific thought process, experiences, or point-of-view. That is what makes art great, and for me I enjoy trying to create something brand new when I shoot now. The clients and myself can be happy with the results which is a win-win for both parties.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
There was a short period where I was focusing on shooting full time instead of focusing on studying or working a regularly scheduled job. I dove head first into the starving artist lifestyle which was exciting, risky, and a very valuable life experience for me.
I was finding clients, booking video and photo gigs, and making ends meet but the instability of the work I was booking just was not sustainable in the long run for me. I had to pivot into working a full time job and pivoting to something more sustainable. I ended up finding a 9-5 job that would cover all my bases, and switching to shooting part time and taking on more paid gigs instead of doing shoots just for fun.
Ultimately this pivot was important to my long term success and I wish I would’ve pivoted much earlier on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mjcvisuals.com/
- Instagram: @grilledcheesesnyeezus
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-carter-51889b126/