Meet Mike Swain | Photographer & Videographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mike Swain and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mike, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My entire working career was spent working for others. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, I just knew that I didn’t want to do it forever. School was never really my greatest ally, I wasn’t a bad student by any means, but I wasn’t a great one, either. I knew pretty early on that whatever I chose to do, wasn’t going to come from the classroom. I knew that my path wasn’t going to be traditional, which was scary but also, always left a lingering feeling of excitement!

I started my first business 2019. It was a coffee company that I had started with a friend of mine. It was a lot of work and a huge learning curve, but in return, I gained so much hands-on knowledge that would help me tremendously in my next/current business.

My passion wasn’t tapped into, until high school. My neighbor at the time was a seasoned and successful professional photographer. He had a studio in his home and I got to learn from him. Though, I may have only dabbled in photography from there on, I knew deep down that I had a knack for it and loved every aspect of it. It wasn’t until my mid/late thirties, that being a professional photographer for my own brand was the path I wanted to walk.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I don’t know if I could say that my work is unlike anyone else’s work, or that I’m set apart from others in my industry. I think the reason I may stand out is that my portfolio is really spread out. I don’t stick with JUST portraiture or events or products. I think it’s important to try new things, especially within your craft. With time, humility, discipline and an open mind, you can really achieve anything. I am where I am today, because I worked my ass off in every job I ever had. People knew that I was somebody that worked hard and could deliver. No, it’s not an easy process but it made me a better person and who I am today.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Nick Panos – He’s a childhood friend of mine and we are still close friends, to this very day. Nick is also an entrepreneur and has his own company and brand. He too, didn’t find his passion in the classroom either, which made our friendship stronger over the years. We both have supported each other, no matter what the odds were.

Jon Vigil – Jon is another long time friend. We’ve known each other since high school and have gotten closer over the years. He is also an entrepreneur and has been quite successful over the years, growing his business.

Joshua Waldron – Josh was the neighbor I had when I was in highschool, we was a professional photographer and a successful one at that. I learned a lot of him over the years and without him, I don’t know if I ever would have had the confidence to follow through.

Website: www.mikeswainphoto.com

Instagram: MikeSwainPhoto