About Michael

Photography started as a passion of mine in high school, and it’s stayed one ever since. I picked up a camera and never really put it down, shooting weddings through university to keep the hobby going, and somewhere along the way it turned into the work I do now.

Today my work is mostly geared toward corporate photography, capturing events, conferences, and headshots for brands and businesses across Vancouver. I’ve worked on brand campaigns, collaborated with agencies, and reviewed creative direction alongside marketing teams. Sometimes my role is to capture the images, other times it’s to help direct the shoot and shape the concept from the ground up. Either way, I understand what a brand is trying to say and how to help the photos say it.

But I still love shooting portraits, headshots, and the occasional wedding. There’s something about working one-on-one with a person that keeps me sharp, and it’s honestly some of my favourite work.

What I’m best at is putting people at ease. Most people don’t love being in front of a camera, and I get that. I take the time to actually get to know whoever I’m shooting, whether that’s a CEO, a bride, or someone getting their first professional headshot, and I ease them into the session rather than throwing them in front of a lens and hoping for the best. Before I even pick up my camera, I try to understand what someone is actually trying to achieve with their photos: what story they’re telling, who’s going to see these images, and what they need to feel when they look at them. Everything I shoot works backward from that.

I’m always trying to get a little better with every shoot. The work that excites me most is the kind that actually connects with the people looking at it, not just technically well-lit photos, but images that make someone stop and feel something.

Outside of photography, you’ll usually find me road cycling, travelling, or hunting down a new cafe to try with friends. I’ve also got a genuine appreciation for good design in general, architecture, interior design, industrial design, fashion, it all feeds back into how I see and compose a photo.

If you’ve got a project in mind, whether it’s a corporate event, a portrait, a wedding, or something else entirely, I’d love to hear about it. Get in touch and let’s talk.

Follow along on Instagram @michaelseanleephoto