Mike Glatzer is a famous portrait photographer from Atlanta. He is not limited to a single niche, as he enjoys the challenge of mastering all different styles of photography. His recent endeavors have led him to specialize in headshot & artistic portrait photography.
He is driven by his desire to create stunning images, memories, and scenes that inspire his clients and viewers to stop and say, “Wow!”
In this interview, we’ll explore the magic of artistic portrait photography as we delve into Mike’s unique perspective and techniques.
Q.1 What sparked your interest in photography, and how did tagging along with your wildlife photographer uncle influence your journey?
Ans. My uncle was the main spark! Like many 15-year-olds, I found my dad’s old film camera and started messing around with it. After getting invited to join my uncle in photographing osprey on the beach, I was hooked!
Not because my images were good, but because they sucked. Granted, it wasn’t fair to compare my newbie skillset (or gear) against a seasoned veteran, but after seeing the difference in the portrait style photos we created, I came away from that day thinking, “Damnit, I’m going to nail that shot!”
I lucked out tremendously because my uncle and I have a similar mindset when creating great images, so learning from him was a breeze and made sense. We approach artistic portrait photography from a process and technical standpoint.
Tagging along on numerous adventures, I learned so much about pre-visualizing the shot I wanted to create before picking up my camera. A key lesson was to get into the optimal spot, get everything dialed in, and have everything set up before I ask my subject to pose (or, in the case of wildlife, wait for the animal to walk to the target spot and turn their head to the light).
Being proactive and creating the image vs. simply capturing what’s there had a significant influence.
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Q.2 As someone with a background in engineering and occasional acting, how do these diverse interests influence your approach to artistic portrait photography?
Ans. a) Tremendously! If you’ve ever attended or performed in a theater, you know that lighting is everything. Big, bold colors. Harsh and targeted Soft and dispersed. Up, side, or downward directions.
They are permutations of one tool (light) crucial to telling the story, bringing the audience into the scene, and making them feel something. Because artistic portrait photography is a visual medium, lighting is one of the most significant components of creating WOW images.
After performing in dozens of productions, I’ve become a junkie for over-the-top lighting. Most of my work has a strong use of color, making it pop and stand out from other photographers.
b) My engineering background has helped me from a technical standpoint. Understanding why and how my gear works allows me to understand its limits and capabilities better, so I know what I can and cannot create.
The other benefit is that I can quickly find solutions during a shoot. I can keep shoots chugging along, whether it’s quickly manipulating my gear to alter settings or building makeshift props or fixtures for my equipment.
Additionally, engineering has helped reinforce the pre-planning aspect of my photography that I learned from my uncle. I specifically do new product development, which means we have to plan out a project based on constraints, goals, and a bunch of other factors in order to be successful.
I do the same thing with my photoshoots. There’s a lot of planning before the session to ensure we’re creating the images we want and having a blast doing it.
Q.3 What do you find most fascinating about the intersection of technology and photography in your work?
Ans. Probably because technology keeps evolving, which makes creating images more effortless while expanding creative possibilities.
For example, the “simple” advancement of making flashes remote-triggered without line-of-sight opened up enormous avenues for lighting a scene. We no longer need super-long sync cords or daisy-chained flashes triggering each other.
Just program a flash and set it where you want it! You’ve also got generative fill in Photoshop, which is incredibly powerful and controversial. I no longer need to be a master at compositing or have a huge budget to take images in exotic locations or integrate unique props.
It’s really exciting stuff. Technology making the capturing and creating of images easier means I can expand my creative visions and outputs. That’s amazing.
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Q.4 Moving from wildlife to portrait photography, what drew you to capturing people’s fleeting moments and stories?
Ans. I wish I could say it was some glorious purpose or calling. Instead, it was a practical decision. People are usually more cooperative than animals. I can sleep in and still create the best images I want to; the gear to be effective is way cheaper; there’s less travel; and animals don’t have bank accounts.
Having said that, I do love working with people. Learning someone’s story, what they’re passionate about, what makes them tick, or just bonding over something as simple as a good book series is really rewarding. I love that connection.
And selfishly, you can’t replace the thrill of watching clients see their images for the first time and fall in love. I also enjoy helping and serving people. Artistic portrait photography uniquely empowers someone to feel strong, sexy, confident, and just plain happy.
Sometimes, it’s not even about the images, but providing an experience that makes them feel on top of the world.
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Q.5 Could you describe a particularly rewarding or touching experience you’ve had while helping someone celebrate their uniqueness through photography?
Ans. I worked with a high school senior who was nerdy, theatrical, and a talented performer, whom I’ll never forget. She had a quiet confidence, and I loved discussing her interests and favorite sci-fi shows.
But what made it fun was that her whole family joined in on the shoot. Mom, Dad, little sister, and Aunt, and we had a blast.
The images we created were fantastic, but the most rewarding part was seeing how much the entire family worked together to help create beautiful portraits and then seeing them all light up and celebrate when I showed what we got.
Afterward, they were raving about how it was one of the most fun family activities they’d had in years. That meant a lot to me.
Q.6 Your mission is to make people feel like empowered celebrity models. How do you achieve this during a photoshoot?
Ans. It’s all about providing a stellar experience. From the start, I’ve instilled confidence in my clients by pumping them up and focusing on making them feel a certain way.
This means listening to their wants and crafting each session to achieve them. So I’ll play specific music to get them pumped up (Britney Spears radio can’t be beaten) during the session, guide them through every element of the session from wardrobe selection to posing, and get a HMUA involved so they feel pampered.
I’m also constantly talking to them throughout the shoot, showering them with compliments and praise.
Lastly, I use my lighting acumen to craft magazine-worthy images. The goal is always to make my clients feel taken care of, confident, comfortable, and at ease.
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Q.7 Can you share an example of a portrait session that was exceptionally fun, energetic, or imaginative, and what made it stand out?
Ans. There are honestly too many to count! One of my favorites was a session with a jazz singer. We were jamming out to Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole for the session and cracking jokes the whole time.
He brought along his girlfriend, and we ganged up on him a few times with jokes. It was hilarious. The last look of the session was a complex, organized chaos backstage set.
We spent thirty minutes building that set on the fly using various elements from the studio: a ladder, spare fabric, cabling, a mannequin, and an old spotlight. It was wild, and it came out so good.
Checkout: Boudoir & Portrait Magazine Issues Bundle
Q.8 What are some of the most common misconceptions people have about portrait photography that you’d like to dispel?
Ans. You don’t have to be a model or a master at posing. That’s my job as a photographer. This also extends to people who claim that they’re not photogenic.
That just says they had a bad experience or still smile like a 1st grader on school picture day. There’s also the myth of, “Oh, you can just Photoshop that out later, right?” No, you can’t.
Sometimes, clothing patterns, complex backgrounds, and other nuanced things significantly reduce what Photoshop can or cannot alter while still looking realistic. Lastly, there is the myth of “Oh, I’ll wait until I lose 20 pounds before doing my photoshoot.”
From my experience, clients hardly ever do. And this shouldn’t be a major factor in stopping or postponing getting great portraits of themselves.
Purposefully selected clothing, a great photographer with clever posing ideas, and a good makeup artist can easily make someone look 20 lbs thinner.
Q.9 What do you like to do in your spare time?
Ans. I’m a huge book nerd. And I’m always reading murder mysteries, spy thrillers, fantasy, or books on self-help, human behavior, management, communication, and leadership. I’m also a big sports fan.
I’m usually attending Georgia Tech football games, lacrosse games, and the occasional hockey match. You can also find me attending lots of theater productions.
I don’t have time to perform like I used to, but I still love going to shows. I also have a pretty consistent game night with my friends; that’s a blast. Lastly, I enjoy traveling, both locally and internationally.
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Q.10 What are your plans for the next 6 months?
Ans. Sleep more! I’m a busy guy, which usually means my sleep schedule suffers.
My bigger goals are to try some new marketing strategies for the photography business, hopefully teach a flash photography workshop, and maybe get closer to making the jump to being a full-time photographer.
Q.11 Considering your journey and experiences in portrait photography, what message or advice would you like to share with individuals who are passionate about pursuing a career or hobby in capturing portraits?
Ans. Be different. Just being good isn’t enough. You have to take images that are different from everyone else. I also recommend having a niche or specialty.
You’ll hear more No’s, but you’ll get better Yes’s who will pay more because you’re the specialist. Additionally, know your numbers. That means your cost of goods and your cost of doing business. What do you need to charge for products and per shoot to pay for the lifestyle you want to live?
You’ll quickly learn if you need to shoot more sessions or get better clients so you can charge more. Lastly, don’t stop learning and experimenting. I do a personal portrait project every month to push myself.
Try a new lighting technique, force yourself not to use a favorite piece of gear, build a shoot around a prop or theme, and play around. It’ll make your heart happy and help you continually improve as a photographer.
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Conclusion – Mike Glatzer Photography
Mike’s passion, skill, and dedication to capturing the essence of individuals shine through in every word and image shared during our interview.
It’s evident that artistic portrait photography is more than just a visual medium for Mike. It’s a means of storytelling and connecting with the souls of his subjects.
As we step away from this conversation, let’s carry with us the newfound understanding that behind striking portrait photography lies a unique story waiting to be told, and thanks to artists like Mike Glatzer, these stories are told with unparalleled grace and artistry.
Check out more of Mike Glatzer’s work here.
