We were lucky to catch up with Mike Bartoszek recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Mike thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I’ve always had a love for visual media and music. I started as a stagehand working concerts, which flowed into theatre and eventually ended up placing me at a local PBS station as a production assistant for several TV shows. I learned most of my current skills through hands on trial and error paired with on the job training from countless stagehands and roadies.
Knowing what I know now, I would tell myself to take the risk, quit working for other people and focus more on my personal goals and growth in the media industry.
I think the most essential skills needed to be successful with photography and photojournalism is timeliness and personality. Making sure that your work is done on time, and making your client feel like they can trust your judgement, trust your work, and provide feedback.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was born In Las Vegas, my dad quickly joined the military and we hopped base to base for a few years until we settled in Killeen in 1996. I’ve worked as a PBS producer, Content Creator for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Journalist, and High School Teacher. I’ve got a family of 4 (1 boy, 3 girls) and a great partner in life (Andrea), whom I love to spend my free time with.
Photography has always piqued my interest. From shooting film in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, to getting my first DSLR and starting my work as a photojournalist. I’ve loved being able to share unique stories through still frames.
Through my work as a photojournalist, covering events and profiles and sports, I’ve become skilled in adapting to any shooting genre and situation.
Growing up as a military-brat and learning the ropes of shooting for news publications has now hardwired me to always be on time, over deliver, and never miss a deadline. I pride myself on being the most efficient photographer around town, capturing images that wow my clients, and delivering them faster than anyone else in town, typically within a day or two.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My creative journey has been long, spanning nearly 20 years now. Reflecting on that journey I think feel that my mission has always been the same, to tell stories. Stories that connect us all, from strange local clubs, community members trying to bridge racial divides, or traveling to capture ancient ruins, stories are what make us humans, and make our lives worth living.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
I took the hard road, I worked full time to save my money, to buy my equipment piece by piece often times buying lesser quality equipment (because that’s what I could afford). In that time my equipment costs outpaced my ability to repair and replace them. This cycle was one that I had to unlearn, especially because I wanted increase the quality of my work and the amount of clients I could work with. From that point I took out a personal loan from my bank to buy a professional quality DSLR and lens, my first business loan at about $15,000. I then educated my self more in accounting and learned how to set aside money for future equipment needs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mbphotography.pro/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikebartoszek/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556916852523
Image Credits
All images taken by me, @MikeBartoszek, MbPhotography.pro