Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Ciu.
Hi Michael, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I began photography in high school working for the yearbook in the mid 90’s mainly photographing sporting events from the sidelines. After high school, I attended Lorain County Community College and studied graphic design which integrated my love for photography and the design of commercial art. After college I worked for Lorain City Schools in the communications department working on the District’s website and publications and newsletters. While working there, I started a photography business with my uncle, Jim Kolaczko where we primarily photographed youth sports, both action and team photos. After several years together, we parted ways, but continue to work together on sports photography projects. In 2013, my wife Marie and I started Studio Q Photography, LLC while working other jobs. In 2015, Studio Q became my sole employment and Marie joined me full-time in 2020. Our main focus, no pun intended, is to deliver individuals and families quality images and amazing products. The majority of our business is volume youth sports photography, with high school seniors, family portraits, and business headshots not far behind. We now have contracts with Amherst Exempted Village Schools, all of the youth sports programs in Amherst, as well as several other communities.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our biggest obstacle was the growing popularity of digital photography and cost of digital cameras in the early 2000s, to now everyone having a camera in their pocket. Finding ways to separate ourselves from the “weekend warrior” or “mom with a camera” is still our biggest challenge. Educating our customers on our style and why they should choose us is huge. We only sell digital files in certain circumstances (youth sports, school photos, and business headshots). We feel that most people willing to purchase only digital files from a photographer will never get around to printing them or making beautiful art with them. We want to decorate your home with our wall art options and have you share prints with family members, not just to post images to social media. Marie has curated an amazing line of products from traditional canvas prints, to metal and wood wall art. Our ultimate goal is for our clients to love the images that we create and proudly display beautiful pieces of art of their family.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work has spanned across many areas in my 20+ years in the industry. Starting out, I was a member of the Sportsshooter.com community which was a great platform for seasoned veterans in the industry to help out us newcomers. I have worked with several photographers from Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine, local publications and made early relationships with photographers from around the country. This allowed me access to contacts at different major league teams and local college Sports Information Directors. We were the contracted sports photographers for Cleveland State University for several years covering all of their major sports. I have worked with Bon Jovi’s tour photographer over the years and even during their induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, photographed political candidates like John Kerry and Hillary Clinton as they passed through local areas, as well as worked for Wizardworld Comicon, Special Olympics of Cleveland, and the Tough Mudder events that were popular several years ago.
How do you think about luck?
There is an old saying in photojournalism, “F8 and be there.” The hardest part in this industry is getting access, or “being there.” With so many photographers fighting over so few jobs, it was getting tougher to be granted access to big events. This is where I had to realize that if I wanted a career in photography, it would take a lot more than luck. I traded the “big shot sports photographer” dream to be the local photographer that everyone in the community knows, and trusts. That is what I call being very lucky.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.StudioQinc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studioqinc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studioqinc
