Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Lynch.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Michael. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up on a farm in Ireland and from an early age, I knew that my passion was creativity. I always loved drawing and crafts. When my mother was finished reading through her magazines, she would give them to me. I would flick through each page and study each picture. Whenever a picture caught my eye I would cut it out and place it in an old biscuit tin. Later I would browse through all the pictures I collected and study them in detail. Sometimes I would try to recreate them using charcoal because I could blend in the lights and dark. I was drawn to color and light.
In high school, my passion for art and drawing grew even stronger. I would spend
lunches in the art room and if I ever had a free period, the art teacher, Mr. Shehan would allow me to drop into his art class. I absolutely loved it. It’s from Mr. Shehan that I learned all about composition, lighting and he encouraged me to view the world from unique perspectives.
I went to the Limerick School of Art and Design in Ireland and completed my Bachelor of Arts there. I loved Art College. It was more like a hobby to me than a college course. I felt like I had found my calling. I would wake up every day, excited about what I was going to learn and I loved being surrounded by so many creative types. I studied contemporary art and focused on installation art, sound art, and conceptual art.
Throughout Art College, photography remained a true constant. I would borrow camera equipment most weekends and take it home to capture photos of everything and anything. That was back in the days of film, so I had 24 chances of taking a good photo!
Back to college, I would head to the dark room and process the photos. The entire method of having a white blank canvas where the image slowly comes into view was almost magical. Once the photo was processed, then it was a moment captured in time.
This is what excited me and still does today. Capturing a moment in time that can live forever. When I moved to America I continued to take photos. California contains an abundance of creative minds and diversity. I have been fortunate to work with a lot of amazing and talented people, from actors, actresses, models, dancers, make-up artists and hair stylists. My interest still lies in capturing a moment in time. The day, the light, the make-up, style, hair, and environment all lead to a unique moment that can only be created once. Sometimes it’s more about the experience, creative process rather than the end result.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Photography for me has been a smooth and natural transition of my creativity. It’s something I love and am passionate about. For the most part, my clients have been great to work with. Some of them I have worked with more than once. As per any business, there have been some clients who cancel last minute or show up really late. I like to pride myself on professionalism, whether a photo session is paid or free. I am always respectful of people’s time and commitment.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Michael Lynch Photography – what should we know?
Michael Lynch Photography is a way for me to express and showcase my creativity. Wherever I go I find beauty. Whether it is insects, animals, humans or landscape, and architecture. There is a uniqueness in each and every one. I like for people to see the world through my eyes. My photos can be characterized as clean and rich in color. I try to place emphasis on the subject matter by minimizing outside or external factors. I prefer to make little edits to a photo as possible and use Photoshop sparingly. I always have fun in my shoots and when I work with people I try to capture the true essence of their personality. Therefore, I don’t provide too much direction other than setting the scene. My hope is that photos are not too choreographed or staged. I want the viewer to get a glimpse into the person behind the image.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Attention to detail is the most important aspect to my work. It has taken me a long time and lots of practice to truly appreciate that. I would rather spend a long time working on the composition and details of one image, rather than trying to churn out as many images as possible. It’s quality over quantity. It’s so exciting and satisfying when I go back to my desk after a shoot to browse through the photos and come across that one shot that makes me pause, smile and feel excited. There are so many factors that result in a perfect shot. Sometimes it is hard to explain or even truly know why a particular shot works, but when it does, it’s so exciting.
Another vital component in my work is to connect with my client and really get to know them. The more comfortable people are with me, the more they will let down their guard and be themselves. It’s important that clients feel comfortable, so spending time to get to know them is central to a photo’s success.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.michaellynchphotography.com
- Phone: 626-817-2178
- Email: michael.lynch@yahoo.com
- Instagram: michaellynchphotography
Image Credit:
Kristen Shelby
Dan Noll
Jessica Kemejuk
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