Hidden Gems: Meet Michael Harris of Mike Harris Photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Harris

Hi Michael, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey into photography on a professional level started when I moved to LA from Atlanta 6 years ago. I was looking for work and customers in real estate and fashion. I took everything I could get my hands on and started learning studio lighting at the same time. I saw studio work as a way to stand out in a crowded field. It worked and, most importantly, I met many people in the fashion industry who would go on to recommending me to various entities in fashion/runway circles. Without a doubt, word of mouth was my greatest driver for new business. And for real estate photography, I shot through covid as the industry was deemed essential in CA so again, I was able to develop a base of contacts in the industry.

Alright, 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?
It’s been a long, slow process with Covid being the biggest hurdle. Perseverance and commitment are pillars of success in the field. I’d say that I was lucky in life overall and that I’ve experienced more ups than downs in life. Photography has always been a passion and I’ve been told that I have a good eye for it but sometimes life requires attention to different things. I was a single parent and, while challenging, it was the most rewarding time in my life too. I tell everyone to take a lot of photos because they become pathways to memories as time moves on.

We’ve been impressed with Mike Harris Photo, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’ve been in business for 5 years. All in the LA area. I specialize in fashion/runway and real estate photography, residential and commercial. I have over 300 properties in metro LA and some as far away as Bakersfield. I have done everything from studio apartments to 25 mil houses in the Hollywood Hills. I also shoot automotive and do 360 tours.i have a substantial background in product photography as well. My product experience is largely in fashion, primarily in fashion accessories and clothing. I also shoot e-commerce fashion primarily live model but some lay -flat and turn-table. I ran a street photography Meetup group called the LA Street Ninjas for 4 years. It had 5000 members, and I held 0ver 120 events. I own a complete set of studio lighting which I can set up at showrooms, studio spaces and properties for clothing brands in LA.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was really interested in live music and let me tell you, the 70’s was a great time to be a teenager! I ushered rock shows at the Municipal Auditorium in downtown Atlanta from the age of 13-16 and saw every band that toured. I just missed Hendrix. He played there 2 weeks before I started, but I saw and heard live everyone else. As a teenager in Charlotte I was first exposed to photograhy by my father . He was an avid hobbyist who had built a darkroom-yes film!!- in which he developed negatives and made prints in black and white and in color.It was he who showed me how to operate camera and how to do darkroom work. He told me that he thought I had a real eye for photography and that always stuck with me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mikeharrisphoto.com
• Instagram: @mikeharrisphotola
• Facebook: @MichaelAdHarris
• Youtube: @mikeharris4226