Hello, my name is Mike! I am a photographer based in eastern Iowa and specializing in live music, portraits, weddings, and analog photography.

My love of photography began when I was a teenager. My work is constantly evolving and I am always looking for new projects to get involved with.

I am currently focusing on two ongoing projects:

The first, is my Iowa music project. I have been building this body of work since 2009. Iowa music is very important to me and my goal is to share our very talented local artists with a broader audience. If you haven’t been to a local show, send me a message! I’d be happy to recommend a show— and you just might see me there.

The second, is my analog project. I’ve been working on this since early 2010. Originally it was a study of traditional processes and discovering if I was skilled enough to be a photographer in a pre-digital world. Now, mastering film’s limitations and using them to create one-of-a-kind pieces of art is my goal.

In addition to my personal projects I also do weddings, portraiture, and commercial work. I like to think of myself as a documentary photographer who emphasizes realism and accuracy in my photography— be it a concert, wedding, or anything in between. I don’t believe in overzealous editing; photography should be an extension of reality. Life, unfiltered.

I have always been drawn to photography. I got my first camera when I was 7, but it wasn’t until I bought a DSLR as a teen that I started to take photography seriously. Over the last 12 years, photography has slowly encapsulated my life and it informs who I am as a person. Photography is a way of life, not just a job, career, or hobby. I think this quote from one of my favorite photographers, Richard Avedon, sums up my philosophy for photography:

“And if a day goes by without my doing something related to photography, it’s as though I’ve neglected something essential to my existence, as though I had forgotten to wake up.”