Meet Sean Michael Corcoran

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Michael Corcoran.

Sean Michael, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Having grown up as a Southern California native/resident, my interest in photography was shaped by many things. But mostly, it was defined by my love of music and my passion for racing motorcycles.

On the music side, I remember hearing all kinds in our house. My mother loved everything from The Supremes to Steppenwolf to glitzy Vegas entertainers, while my dad gravitated toward the grittier side of music — John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and other jazz greats. As I acquired my own early music favorites, I discovered The Beatles, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. By the time I turned 16, I started getting into the LA punk scene. My friends and I would drive up from Orange County to see high-energy bands like The Germs, Black Flag, and Circle Jerks. In the OC music scene, we caught bands like T.S.O.L., Sublime, and The Offspring. We frequented the Starwood, The Whisky A Go-Go, and concert halls that bands rented to put on punk shows. I was also singing in a band that was once invited by Jack Grisham from T.S.O.L. to play a house party.

Sports-wise, my father introduced me to motorcycles at age nine and soon, we were riding in the California deserts. By the time I was 18, I’d progressed to high-level racing competitions at Saddleback Park and Carlsbad Raceway. Racing is what taught me about determination and being in control of my own destiny. I used instinct, skill, training, and hard work to advance to a professional level. But due to sports injuries, I had to quit. My passion for racing motorcycles and being on two wheels lead me to bicycle racing — and eventually, I started my own line of bicycle racing clothing called Mon Systeme.

Basically, I lived for these SoCal experiences — from being in the thick of a mosh pit to ripping full-throttle through a racetrack. So, in the early-2000s, I had a revelation: I decided that instead of just immersing myself in these amazing moments, I wanted to capture them. There were only a handful of photographers shooting the music scene in those days — so many moments were missed. Influenced by the DIY punk ethic and my parents’ belief that I could be anything I wanted to be, I picked up my first Canon point-and-shoot digital camera and taught myself how to take photos. I started shooting the LA music scene, my friends, nature, sports… anything that caught my interest. I followed and shot bands in Europe. I captured death-defying moments in extreme sports. And gradually, I built up an impressive portfolio of photographs from shows and events from all over the world — which launched my photography business.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
One of the most dramatic challenges in my life happened in ‘98: I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) — a type of arthritis that causes inflammation of the joints and ligaments. Besides causing severe, chronic pain, it was also mentally taxing on me. I now had to deal with living the rest of my life with this disease. The thought of this made me depressed, which depleted my energy level. Fueled by determination and motivation, I eventually learned to push past the barrier of having this disease so I could carry on with my life normally — including traveling globally to take photos.

Another obstacle I faced occurred when I first started out as a photographer: Because I wasn’t traditionally trained at photography, I was afraid that I wasn’t good enough. But through the support of my family and friends, I overcame that fear and doubt. Gradually, I garnered regular praise from strangers and those whose approval I never expected to receive — which reassured me that I was on the right path.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Sean Michael Photos – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My passion for music and my experience as a professional motorcycle racer allows me to immediately relate to bands and athletes. I’m also personable and easy to talk to — so I’m good at making bands and athletes feel comfortable in front of the camera.

As far as my style, I take sort of a “fly on the wall” approach to photography — meaning that I respect the band’s space, while still being able to capture them in these stunning moments. I use the latest camera technology to shoot photos and videos. So often, bands don’t even notice I’m shooting them. And I love using a color saturation technique to make bands and athletes appear almost larger-than-life in the photos.

I’m truly thankful to get to do what I do. These bands and individual sports athletes have given me the gift of music and adventure, so I want to reciprocate by capturing them doing what they love. Currently, my focus is on up-and-coming bands and athletes who are on their journey to greatness. I want my photography and videography to amplify their social media presence and ultimately, help catapult them to the next level in their careers.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
As far as the future, my plan is to continue experiencing various cultures through the eye of my camera lens and staying on the pulse of music and extreme sports scenes all over the world. I also hope to nurture my daughter’s interest in photography and inspire her to follow in the footsteps of other notable photographers.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.seanphotos.com
• Phone: (714)260-1573
• Email: sean@seanphotos.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmichaelphotos
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seanmichaelphotos
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sean1mon
• Other: www.1mon.com

Image Credit:
Sean Michael Photos

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