We recently connected with Michael Gladkey and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.

The wedding industry has transformed dramatically over the past 30 years, evolving from a collection of personal celebrations into a full-scale business ecosystem. Today, couples looking to plan their big day are met with an industry built around specialization—wedding planners, wedding makeup artists, wedding caterers, and, of course, wedding photographers. Along with this specialization has come a steep rise in prices, leaving many couples struggling to afford the very services that define their special day.

A sentiment I often hear from parents is, “My child’s wedding is so much more expensive than mine was!”—and they’re right. The costs have soared, pricing out many couples from capturing their wedding memories professionally. Some rely on smartphone photos taken by friends and family, while others cut videography entirely—an unfortunate reality when these once-in-a-lifetime moments deserve to be preserved.

That’s where my philosophy as a wedding photographer comes in. I believe every couple deserves the chance to remember their wedding, regardless of budget constraints. For intimate events under four hours, I offer an alternative pricing model: donations. Couples who might not otherwise be able to afford professional photography can book me under a “pay-what-you-can” system. I capture their wedding with the same artistic care as any other event, and at the end of the day, they contribute what they feel my photography was worth—whether immediately or when they’re financially able.

Skeptics might say, “Isn’t this impractical? Won’t people take advantage?” But time and time again, I’ve found that people are grateful and at the end of the day, the joy I provide is worth all the work I do. Almost every couple asks about a typical donation range, and in my experience, I can’t recall a single time someone has forgotten to contribute.

I may not have the time or money to serve my community in traditional ways, but I give back the best way I know how—with my love for photography.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Michael.

Since I was young, i’ve been attracted to taking pictures. Something about the camera, and the power of the photograph brings joy and peace in a way few other things could.

Almost exactly 7 years ago, I made an important decision: to turn my love for photography professional.

One night, in the middle of a flash flood, on a dark narrow alleyway in Thailand – with my first professional camera in hand.. something clicked. Not just in my camera, but in me. Every photo I captured brought a joy I couldn’t put into words. Photography became my escape, my joy, the one passion that lifted me out of difficult times.

That night, I made a decision: to share the joy I found in photography with others.

When I began my career, I gravitated toward working with couples and weddings. There’s something magical about being part of a love story. Over the years, I’ve had the honour of photographing hundreds of weddings—sometimes more than 25 a year! Each one holds a special place in my heart, and every couple has left me with memories I’ll never forget.

This journey has taken me all over my province, introduced me to incredible people, and surrounded me with a community of talented artists—photographers, videographers, and creatives—who inspire me every day.

As my life and career continue to evolve, I’m excited for what lies ahead: new adventures, new stories, and new faces. My goal remains the same: to bring joy to others through my work and preserve the beauty of love in every frame.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I find that word-of-mouth is so useful – going the extra step for the people you work with, and sharing your love and your passion for what you do has an impact on customers. People are naturally good at reading other people. When people see you putting all your effort and passion into their wedding day, they’ll always share your details with their family and friends.

Do you have multiple revenue streams – if so, can you talk to us about those streams and how your developed them?

In terms of growing a business, like event/wedding photography, it’s never a bad idea to consider alternative means of income, or even add-ons. Videography, photobooths, secondary photographers, basic coordination services, drone work can all be positive income boosters, with varying degrees of complexity. You can see if there’s something you have a personal interest in (say.. you’ve always wanted to fly drones), so you have the personal motivation to find out more, listen to what others have to say, and maybe even pull the trigger and go for the additional thing! If it works well, it can become an additional source of income at events.

Contact Info:

• Website: ghttps://www.gladkeyphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gladkeyphotography/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgladkey/
• Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11164303/