Mike Pittman Photography
About
I pride myself in my customer service, and ensuring to the best of my ability and means that my clients are happy. Many photographers have great style and artistic skill, but ruin the vibe by having poor personality, or lacking customer service.
At the end of our session, I want you to leave excited to see the results, because that's how I leave all of my sessions. No joke.
I was introduced to photography in 1996 starting in nature and landscapes. For months I read books and magazines, spent hours walking around Raleigh, NC taking photos and making notes. I fell in love with the art of making images, and the science appealed to my technical side. To this day, that hasn't changed.
Over time, my interest in photography expanded to weddings and portraits. I'm a self-taught shooter and a camera geek. I purchase new cameras just to learn how to use them, or to take one particular photo with one special camera.
After shooting my first wedding in 1999, I swore off wedding photography forever. The set photos, posed "candids," and lack of creativity I was afforded just wasn't my style. I left dismayed. A few years later a coworker informed me I was shooting her wedding; I wasn't given the option to say "no." I had full creative control, and ran the show from a photography standpoint. As the day went on, I got more and more excited because I knew the photos were going to be awesome. To this day, I shoot with the same zeal and approach - I don't follow a set of guidelines, and cover the day as it unfolds. When I make my last image, I leave excited to get back to my desk and see what I've captured.
Aside from photography, I also enjoy bowling, snowboarding, golf, and good beer. I have a soft spot for animals, especially my SPCA rescue, Memphis, whose happy-go-lucky attitude defies his Chow-Chow-ness.
Highlights
No reviews (yet)
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
The process of choosing a photographer is very similar to an interview process. You will meet with many photographers in order to determine which one you want to work with. This decision is going to be tough, as you will inevitably see many photos that look the same, packages that contain the same offerings, and prices across the board. When you're making your decision, you will probably go with the photographer whose personality you like the most.
Going back to the interview analogy, the photographer should also be taking this time to get a feel for your personality. Any photographer who is simply in this business for money isn't going to do this. When we meet, I want to make sure we can get along, and I like your personality as well. I love being a photographer; shooting an event or portraits is fun and exciting for me. Just as you don't want a photographer with a poor personality to ruin your day, I don't want my day ruined either.
My Scoutmaster once said something to us that has resonated with me through the years: "If you are doing something that isn't fun, why are you doing it?" While it may sound harsh, just as you have the right to say you don't want to work with me because you don't like my personality, I reserve the same right. In the end, it's better for everyone involved if we all like each other, and get along. Your day will be memorable for the right reason, and your photographs will turn out better.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Early in college, I picked up my first SLR camera, and never looked back. My afternoons were spint wandering the campus, taking photos, and learning how this new gizmo worked. Realizing that I had found my passion, I changed my course of study to Photojournalism, and have never looked back. While I no longer work for a news publication, my passion for photography is as strong as ever.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your services? If so, please share the details here.
Wedding rates start at $1700. Event photography is $250 / hour with a minimum of $500 required. Portrait packages begin at $375. Headshot sessions are $195 for individuals, and $300 per day for corporate clients plus $50 per person.
How did you get started in this business?
I was introduced to photography in 1996 starting in nature and landscapes. For months I read books and magazines, spent hours walking around Raleigh, NC taking photos and making notes. I fell in love with the art of making images, and the science appealed to my technical side. To this day, that hasn't changed.
Over time, my interest in photography expanded to weddings and portraits. I'm a self-taught shooter and a camera geek. I purchase new cameras just to learn how to use them, or to take one particular photo with one special camera.
What types of customers have you worked with?
I have worked with clients ranging from graduating high school seniors to Fortune 100 companies.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
In 2013, a friend referred me to a coworker of his as a photographer for her daughter's christening. I'd never shot a christening before, and both the client and I were nervous for the results. The day I delivered the photos, she called literally in tears she was so happy with the results.
Flash forward to July of 2017, and I was called back by the same client to take photos of her family once again. Knowing that my client went from being nervous about my first christening job, to telling me "I'm not hiring anyone other than you" got me all worked up that afternoon.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a pro in your area of expertise?
Talk to more than one photographer, and actually talk to that photographer. Personality matters, and you have to be able to work with your chosen photographer.
What questions should customers think through before talking to pros about their needs?
How much time do you really need? If you're hiring for a wedding, consider the little things that will sidetrack the day. Don't plan on perfection; prepare for the worst, and everything else will come out better in the end.