We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michael Evins a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Michael , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you manage your own social media?

I have managed all of my social media accounts on my own. Balancing this with a full-time job can be challenging, but I believe it’s essential, especially when starting out. Managing my own platforms has allowed me to gain firsthand experience in understanding my audience, tracking engagement, and recognizing what content resonates most.

One of the biggest benefits of handling it myself is staying in tune with market trends, both the short-term viral moments and the longer-lasting industry shifts. It has also given me the flexibility to experiment, refine my content strategy, and develop an authentic voice that goes along with my personal brand.

For business owners considering whether to manage their social media themselves or hire a team, my advice would be to start by learning the ropes and processes. Even if you eventually outsource, having a solid grasp of content creation, engagement strategies, and analytics will help you communicate your vision more effectively. Social media is a powerful tool, and the more hands-on experience you have, the better equipped you’ll be to leverage it for growth.

Michael , 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?

My name is Michael Evins, and I’m originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but I now currently live in Ohio. My creative journey began with graphic design, which I’ve been doing professionally for over 15 years. While design has always been a passion, I found myself taking photography more serious around 2020. It started organically by taking photos of my desk setup in my apartment and sharing workspace inspiration on social media. Over time, that passion evolved into product photography as I refined my skills I started to begin to attract the attention of larger brands.

Today, I specialize in creating high-quality photo and video content for brands in the tech, personal care, and lifestyle industries. From workspace items, cellphone accessories and camera equipment to home care, personal care products and cookware items. I help companies showcase their products in visually compelling ways that connect with their and my audiences. Moving forward I want my work to go beyond just taking aesthetically pleasing shots and focus on more storytelling, brand identity, and creating content that enhances a brand’s presence in an increasingly digital marketplace.

What sets me apart is my ability to balance technical precision with creative storytelling. I approach each project with a deep understanding of both design principles and marketing strategies, ensuring that the content I create isn’t just beautiful but also effective. I take pride in the relationships I build with my clients, some of whom are well-established, multi-million-dollar brands.

One of the things I’m most proud of is how I’ve been able to turn a personal passion into a thriving side business, all while remaining self-taught. I am continuously evolving and I want potential clients and followers to know that my work is rooted in authenticity, creativity, and with a commitment to created the best quality I can. Whether it’s a startup looking for polished content to launch their brand or an established company seeking fresh visuals, I strive to deliver work that elevates their presence and tells their story in the best possible way.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I started my journey in 2020 things were going really well. I gained a following quickly and built a lot of momentum in the social media space. But what many people don’t know is that when I was at just over 15,000 followers, my Instagram account was maliciously attacked by bots and taken down. Despite countless attempts, I was never able to recover it, with no way forward I decided I had to start over completely from scratch.

It was a devastating setback, but I refused to let it stop me. I knew that photography was something I truly wanted to pursue, so instead of dwelling on what I lost, I focused on rebuilding. Little by little, I put in the work, stayed consistent, and continued creating content. Now, I’ve not only surpassed where I was before, growing my audience to over 27,000 followers, and I’m also working with brands I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to collaborate with.

Losing everything could have been the end, but instead, it became proof of my resilience. No matter the obstacles, if you’re truly passionate about something, you have to keep moving forward.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Something I haven’t shared with many people is that before finding my niche, I experimented with five or six different ones on Instagram. I tried everything from lifestyle photography for influencers, portrait photography, street photography, and more. I explored multiple styles and approaches before I finally discovered the one that truly resonated with me.

Building an audience isn’t always a straight path, it often takes trial and error. My advice to those just starting out is to be open to experimentation. Don’t be afraid to try different things, pivot when necessary, and pay attention to what excites you the most. Sometimes, you have to explore multiple directions before you find what truly works for you. Stay consistent, keep refining your craft, and most importantly, create something that you genuinely enjoy, it’ll make a world of difference in the long run.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://themichaelevins.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/themichaelevins
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelevins/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@themichaelevins