Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Cook.
Hi Mike, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The origin story is pretty much what you’d expect. I started taking pictures at my daughter’s travel soccer games with a $50 camera. Captured some decent pics, and since nobody else wanted to do it, I became the team photographer.
I kept upgrading my equipment and started to get good at it. During my son’s baseball game, a fellow baseball dad was impressed and asked me if I was a professional photographer. The question seemed absurd. But on the long ride home, I thought why not?
More equipment upgrades, more practice, and I’ve now shot over 400 games professionally, mostly for high school teams in Solon, Chagrin Falls, and Aurora.
The inquisitive dad inspired the business name. I wanted this dad to be able to take my photo of his son scoring the winning run and post it on social media. Show it off to all his friends. By showing it off, I mean he could brag. A dad bragging about his kid. And thus, Dad Brag Photography was born.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A couple years in, a soccer mom asked me if I do senior pictures as well. I said sure. How difficult could it be, right?
Spoiler alert: Holy smokes, it is difficult.
But after faking it for a few shoots, I figured it out. I studied other photographers, took some classes, watched some YouTube. I have since won national awards, and I was named a finalist for the Cleveland Magazine “Best of the East” award.
I tell clients, look, you aren’t like everybody else. So, let’s ignore the photos that your big sister had taken. Instead, let’s attack your session like it’s a photo shoot for a magazine. You just tell me the magazine. Is it Vogue? Rolling Stone? Or the sports fashion issue of ESPN The Magazine? Let’s go!
Dad Brag shoots are over the top. I have had girls pose on top of traffic signals, in a box filled with Froot Loops, and graffiti covered bathrooms at concert venues. I have followed multiple clients into lakes, set softball bats on fire, and dodged traffic with ballerinas.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I focus now on just two things: in-game sports photography and senior portraits. That’s it. I turn down other work so I can stay dialed in on what I love—and what I’m known for.
In sports, I’ve built a reputation for capturing emotion, not just action. Anyone can snap a shot of a kid mid-swing or mid-jump. I’m looking for the moment after—the celebration, the connection, the pride on a kid’s face when they know they nailed it.
With seniors, I’m the go-to for portraits that are artistic, bold, and completely different. My clients don’t want cookie-cutter poses. They don’t want the same pics that everyone else gets. They book me because they want a creative collaboration, and pics that stand out.
What I’m most proud of is the feedback. When a mom tells me a photo made her cry—whether from a game I froze in time or a portrait that helped her daughter see herself the way the world already does: strong, authentic, and beautiful—that’s when I know I’ve done my job.
Any big plans?
I hope to branch out into engagement photography. One of senior clients from five years just got engaged, so this seems to be the next step on my journey.
I want to be the go-to photographer for Northeast Ohio seniors who want to be creative, different, and memorable. I am booking amazing clients for the Class of 2026. They really want to push the envelope. I cannot wait to share the results from their sessions.
And I plan to continue with sports. My son plays wide receiver for Solon. When he scores his first touchdown, I want to capture the moment with my camera. When that happens, and when I post it on Instagram, it will be the Dad Brag to end all Dad Brags.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dadbragphotography.com
- Instagram: @dad_brag_photography_ohio
