Michael Imus is PhotographyConnect’s Featured Photographer for the month of February. Being as such we thought we’d get some inside information on this man, his life, his art and even a pet project named “LuluBelle”.

Tell us about yourself?
Well, I am 42, I have a wonderful wife and three beautiful children. I love grilled cheese sandwiches and cheesecake (although they don’t love me very much). I have a very dry sense of humor. Most things I joke about no one else finds funny, which makes me laugh even more. I also have a pet project called “LuluBelle” that I work on in my spare time. Those who know me personally…know LuluBelle.

How did you get started in this business?
I started later in life with photography, but the “artist” side of me I have been exploring since the age of two. I always excelled creatively growing up. As a kid I was always called Michael. I spent 12 years in the Infantry and was never called Michael, just Imus. I went into the corporate world and climbed the ladder, but was always called Mike. But the Michael side of me was always inside demanding to be let out. So in 2002, I let Michael out and jumped head first into this industry.

What makes you unique?
I create a lot of client specific images. These are images that tell a story deeper than most, all about the client. And since everyone is different, I end up with a lot of different images. I also tend to put a lot of myself in the images as well.

Who or what inspires you the most?
Ansel Adams has always been an inspiration to me even though I am not a landscape artist. His images are not what inspires me, but his method. He first created the images in his mind and then went out to “get the shot” as well as documenting how he created them. I am also inspired by all my surroundings. Different things I see and feel, I put into my work. TV, Magazines, Movies, Stories people share, these all inspire me.

What kind of goodies are in your camera bag and how do you shoot?
I have a ton of stuff in my bag; all Canon, but not what most assume. I use my lenses like painters keep paintbrushes. There are some good expensive ones and there are some that are super ugly, but do the trick. I nick name all my lenses as well. Everything from “fishy” my 15mm fisheye, to “ol’ trusty” my 70-200 2.8, to “pepe the wonder lens” which is a 50mm 1.8 super cheapo lens that I can make sing. It is funny when I shoot with a group of photographers, I will have my 5D with a battery pack and jam on there, little bitty “pepe the wonder lens”. They usually laugh until they see the end result. I also get a lot of looks because of how I hold my camera sometimes. I can handhold a 70-200 2.8 without IS one handed and still get some great images. I also like to cradle my lens over my elbow with my hand on my shoulder to steady aim.

Care to share a few of your favorite images and maybe tell us something about it?
I always loved this wedding couple. Their theme for the wedding was very outdoors. The butterflies had a deep meaning to them, and was used in everything. I saw the image in my head, had them act as if they were holding a butterfly, and took a butterfly from another shoot I did in Seattle and blended it together. The lighting is not perfect. It is not that dramatic of an image compared to other things I do. But to this couple, it is the most perfect image that will still be on display long after I am gone. It reminds me of why I am in business. It makes me remember that one single image can speak an entire novel.

 
I love this image because minus some color correction it is straight out of the camera. When the light hits, you can see the individual particles of sand blowing in the wind. It changes all the rules; sometimes you have to get sand in your camera and clothes to get the image. It reminds me that you can’t shortcut what comes from your heart.

How about a favorite quote that would help others in this industry?
My Dad has always told me from a young age, “always remember who you are”. This used to bug me, because I could never figure out what he was trying to say. I would always try to over analyze the meaning. And then finally about three years ago it just hit me. The more I tried to follow others and do what I thought my clients wanted, the less I became me and my sales decreased. When I did what I was good at, and what I enjoyed, my sales increased. I finally figured it out.