Class of 2010, Photography, The Art Institutes International Minnesota
When Micah Kvidt discusses interviewing for his current position, his wry sense of humor comes out. "Well let me tell you, when Micah Kvidt was hiring for a photographer, I knew I had to give it my all. I showed up at the interview and to my surprise I was the only one." Micah's personable style has helped him to grow his self-owned portrait, lifestyle, and advertising photography business. He knows that being a people person is important, especially when he spends 10+ hours a day on set. "One thing I try to do most is build relationships with potential clients. Even if they may not be interested in my photography services at the time, they know people who might be interested, and a word-of-mouth referral is priceless."
His work includes pre-planning photo shoots, scouting locations, the actual shoot itself, and post-production. "I also try to set up test shoots so I can constantly keep my book updated and add new work to my portfolio," he adds. In addition to his photography business, Micah works as a photo assistant, helping other photographers and gaining knowledge along the way. "While assisting, my main responsibility is to make sure the photo shoot goes as smoothly as possible for the photographer I an working for, which means knowing what tasks need to be done before being asked." He describes photo assisting as being labor intensive—setting up and tearing down sets, controlling all of the lights, and keeping batteries charged.
Micah believes that the key to a successful freelance business is networking. He urges photographers to build a solid network and to meet as many people as possible—and tell them about your skills. "Building a solid network and contact base is the foundation of your business," he asserts.