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Back to Christopher Michel. Photographer and Entrepreneur, with Christopher Michel.

How Did Christopher Michel Get Validation That He Could Work as a Photographer?

On Visual Revolutionary, Christopher Michel says the turning point was a trip, he thinks to India. A photograph of his won a contest for the travel company. Then the company offered to send him on trips for free so he would take pictures. He remembers thinking the offer was interesting, and the work grew from there.

He never really hustled or pushed the pictures. He wanted people to find the work and offer the jobs, and he gives himself low marks for that approach. He would not recommend it. He also says the money he had already made changed the stakes. In Silicon Valley, founders with no alternative will do whatever a company needs.

Transcript

Christopher Michel. Photographer and Entrepreneur ·

Visual Revolutionary

More from this episode

  1. Who Is Christopher MichelChristopher Michel is a success photographer who had made several career transitions in his life, going from the Navy, to work at Pentagon, to then living the…
  2. Is Christopher Michel Making a Living With PhotosFortunately for him, Christopher is not trying to optimize his new career for money at this point, but rather for a good life worth living.
  3. What Made Christopher Michel Join the NavyChristopher thought he wanted to be in politics and serving his country was the right thing to do.
  4. What Life Events Inspired Christophers Life as a PhotographerChristophers Michel's mother and father were divorced by the time Christopher turned one.
  5. Where Does Christopher Michel Say He Is Happiest?On Visual Revolutionary, Christopher Michel says he is happiest in faraway places, capturing stories. He traces that to a childhood on the move.
  6. Is Navy Pilot the Greatest Job in the WorldMany think of the military as a great job for people with only a few options, but Christopher says military service could be an all-together really positive…
  7. Is Working in Washington D.C. a Great Way to Become a Public OfficialIt is not. Christopher says that while growing up a lot of people have idealistic views of their potential careers, which turns out to be different in practice.
  8. What Did Christopher Michel Decide About the Job of a Politician?On Visual Revolutionary, Christopher Michel says that working in Washington cured an old idea. He had thought a government job was the path to elected office.
  9. Should You Do an MBAAn MBA could be a great way to realizing your options in life.
  10. What Was Christopher Michel's First Successful StartupIn 1999 Christopher Michel had an idea for Military.com as the first social network for military people.
  11. What Happened to Military.com After Christopher Michel Founded It?Christopher Michel told Visual Revolutionary that Military.com raised a lot of money in the San Francisco Bay Area, then nearly died.
  12. How Did Christopher Michel Become an Adventure Photographer?In 2008, after selling two companies, Christopher Michel realized he wanted to pursue the life of an adventure photographer as a way to live a good life and…
  13. How Can You Make Money as a PhotographerWhen your life depends on getting something to work, you have no alternative and you need to survive, it's amazing how creative you become to get it done.
  14. Big Companies Do Not Innovate, WhyWhen things become hard in big companies, they just stop doing those things.
  15. What Does Christopher Michel Find Hardest About Photography?On Visual Revolutionary, Christopher Michel says his challenge every day is to keep doing the best work he can.
  16. What Does Christopher Michel Call Fun About Photography?On Visual Revolutionary, Christopher Michel says one of the most fun parts of being a photographer is the community of other creatives.
  17. Is a Photography Class Worth TakingEven though he was already pretty good at his craft, Christopher Michel says that taking a photography class from a professional was a transformation…
  18. What Makes a Great PhotographSam Abell has been a National Geographic Photographer for 35 years and an inspiration to Christopher P. Michel.
  19. Why Does Christopher Michel Say You Have to Be There?On Visual Revolutionary, photographer Christopher Michel says a good picture starts before the shutter.

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