Meet Mitchell Meech” Manley | Photographer & Videographer “

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mitchell “Meech” Manley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mitchell “Meech”, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
My pursuit of artistry, and specifically photography & filmmaking, can be traced back to my early days as a child, as well as my education. My parents bought me a Flip Video Camera when I was about 5, and from then on I just started to make home videos, recording and capturing the world around me with excitement. As an elementary school student, I was one of only a few students involved in the after-school film club and would make ‘documentaries’ that I entered in state-wide contests, some of which won awards at the time.

When I moved on to a liberal arts middle and high school, I was not as technically involved on the artistic side of things, such as working with cameras and making films, but it was here where my foundation and appreciation for true artistry and beauty was built. As I studied ancient Latin and Greek texts, artwork, and more, I began to see that there was a way in which one could seek out that which was true, good, and beautiful, and potentially, even replicate it. It was also in this time when I became a Christian, another moment which admittedly, has heavily influenced my decision to pursue an artistic career.

As I progressed to college, I once again sought out a higher form of education, choosing to pursue a degree at The King’s College, a Christian liberal arts college in the heart of Manhattan, NYC. However, I did not start out intending to have a career as an artist, I instead was focused on the workings of the world, on things like philosophy, politics, and economics. My time spent studying the liberal arts seriously had left me feeling like that was my sole purpose, to be a great thinker, a mover and shaker, hell – maybe even a politician. It wasn’t until my third year in New York that I picked up a camera again for the first time. I switched my major for the third time and was set on studying Media, Culture, and the Arts with a concentration in Film and Media Studies. I took as many classes as I was able to that had to do with the visual arts, photography, filmmaking, the history of filmmaking, the history of animation, and more. Throughout this time, I began to see the world around me differently. As I explored New York with my camera, I fell in love with the canvas that was the city. Street photography became my driving passion, and I was destined to build out a life as a New York Photographer. COVID-19 hit soon after, and as such, I was forced to return home to Arizona, putting my dreams of becoming a street photographer on pause.

This detour, instead of deterring me, expanded my perspective on artistry. I realized that geography isn’t a constraint to success in art; it’s the vision and purpose behind the creation that matters. Now, with over 4 years of experience, my mission is to highlight the beauty in our world everywhere I go. Our job on this earth is to glorify the Creation that has been laid before us, and as an artist, that is exactly what I am trying to do in my daily work, on every shoot, and with every client I have the opportunity of interacting with. The best art in human history, in my opinion, has been divinely inspired in some form or fashion. That’s not to say you can’t make good art without divine inspiration behind it, I just know that for me, it’s been a driving force in my decision to pursue art full-time. My faith ultimately called me out of politics, and into artistry full-time. And I couldn’t be happier.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Answering this is a challenge. In today’s world, where our art’s value often seems tethered to likes, followers, or algorithms, it’s occasionally hard for me to take unabashed pride in my work, and I pride myself on humility. That being said, when I take a moment to reflect, I am in fact proud of where I’ve come and the artist I am today. But like many, I’m still evolving.

Far too often today it seems as though we are forced to prioritize one specific thing to remain relevant, or find success. “Pick a look and stick with it,” they say…

But, today I might capture a serene landscape, tomorrow could be about street photography, and by week’s end, I might be encapsulating the electric energy of a concert. And who knows? Saturday might find me behind a DJ deck, mixing music for an hour with friends. My point is, in my journey as an artist, I leave myself open to anything and say yes to practically everything. That and the fact that I have a camera in my hands has unlocked doors I never even knew existed.

Some people will say I am too broad in my scope, however, I feel like as artists we can never be boxed into one look, style, or idea. We, artists, have always been the anomalies in society, we break labels and can’t be understood at times, and that’s okay. I’m able to rest in the fact that my worldview and approach to this life, my purpose behind creation, is what drives me whether I’m shooting a product, a show, or a landscape, and that purpose is to seek out and showcase the ever-present beauty that is hidden throughout this world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d start the week with a trip out to Hole in the Rock / Papago Park to watch the sunset, and later on in the week get lunch at Happy’s Hamburgers before catching a film out at the Drive-In Movies in Glendale. If we had time, Tempe Town Lake and Superstition mountains are fun too, but as the weekend approached, I’d likely get tickets to a Techno Snobs warehouse show and get my dancing on, before ending the week with some Bosa Donuts and attending church at 29:11 in Tempe!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Honestly, as wild as it sounds, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the multiple digital communities I’ve been lucky enough to have been a part of. Do you remember those digital monkey pictures that people made millions of dollars off of back in 2021? The NFT craze? Well, photographers were also minting their photos into NFTs during that time, and while most of us didn’t strike gold and make it rich, the community of photographers that was created in this process is what I owe much of my success to. It was during this time that I not only became connected to some of the best photographers in the world, many of whom I looked up to and idolized at the time, but I also began to realize that it WAS possible to ‘make it’ as an artist full time. Every day I logged onto Twitter and sat in spaces for HOURS with hundreds of full-time. brand-endorsed, photographers who were making some INCREDIBLE art. Seeing others do the things I had only dreamed of, and having the access to be able to jump in and talk to practically any of them whenever I wanted to was something that truly brought me to where I am today. If it wasn’t for the degen spaces with the Twitter photo homies, I do not think I’d have ever considered a career as a full-time artist.

Continuing on, in more recent days, the group No Travel and the Discord server they host has been a MASSIVE asset for me, specifically as I build out my brand as a concert photographer/videographer. No Travel is a diverse community for artists, managers, creatives, and crew in the music industry; focused on increasing knowledge and community throughout. They believe in spreading positivity and equality for all while actively providing a safe and comfortable space for everyone, and I truly wouldn’t be where I am today without everyone there.

I do also have to shout out my college professors Dr. Kinlaw, Dr. Wilkinson (both Tom and Alissa), as well as my Arts Professor Dr. Bleattler, as I would not have the outlook on the world that I do today without their influence.

And, last but not least, my Dad for always supporting me in everything I do.

Website: https://mindofmeech.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindofmeech_/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindofmeech/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mindofmeech_

Image Credits
‘Declan RMC’ for the photo of myself