We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Blanchette and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Michael, what do you attribute your success to?
For me, the key has always been hard work and perseverance. Intelligence only gets you so far. We all know highly intelligent people who go through life with underused potential. And a good education is certainly key for opening doors and setting the career stage, but its value depreciates fast like an automobile over the first five years, turning into a mere merit badge. What remains is a passionate drive to overcome obstacles in order to reach desired goals.
I think the key to branding is equally simple: producing and sharing consistent and high quality images that reflect your personal vision. For most of us, that means pursuing subjects that we love and applying our personal touch in developing and presenting the final product. Unlike social media platforms that reward quantity, a brand benefits most from consistency and quality. I only share photos I like and never bend to the social media pressure of daily posts.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I was raised as a farm boy in the province of Quebec, Canada. My parents immigrated the family to the USA out of financial necessity back in the 60s. Growing up on a farm surrounded by animals tends to keep you humble, with an emphasis on family values, hard work, and a deep-rooted respect for the yin and yang of nature. Those values are ingrained and never leave you, so I aim for my images to combine a sense of simplicity, serenity, and beauty.
Like so many other photographers, I spent much of my early life engaged in a different career. My first 27 years after university were spent building and managing software, eventually joining a small software startup as one of its co-founders. After we took the company public, I had the luxury to choose the next chapter of my life with less financial constraint. And since my early work life had involved more left-brain activities, I decided to pursue a second career that would engage more right-brain functions. That became landscape photography.
I had been enamored with landscape photography since my early 20s, but limited to photographing mainly on weekends and vacations due to time constraints associated with a new family and rising career. But I always owned good-quality gear and enjoyed the creative process associated with photography. My interest intensified further with the arrival of digital cameras that blended my software background perfectly with a keen interest in landscape photography. So, when I decided to leave my software career behind, it was an easy choice for me to use my newfound freedom to start a photography business as a second career.
I attribute most of my progression in life to risk-taking. Early in my career, I left a promising executive position in a company to join an unknown software startup with no outside investment. Then later, I parted ways with the software industry at the height of my career to start a landscape photography business. I believe that these types of sink-or-swim moves push us to the limits of our potential in a positive way.
One of the sessions I’ve learned along the way is to avoid comparing yourself to others. This is difficult to do when social media features millions of beautiful photos on a daily basis. But you have to accept that there will always be a better photo out there, so comparing your work to that of others is a slippery slope that will only lead to frustration and disappointment. Look, admire, and learn from other work but avoid the envy that often accompanies competition.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I photograph all over New England, so the choices are varied. Over a one-week period, I might start off in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, visit the charming pastoral towns of northern Vermont, and then move on to the coast of Maine with its historic lighthouses. Every region has its own attractions, but the iconic Vermont country stores are not to be missed, as well as the superb seafood on the coast of Maine regarded as the best in the country.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wish to acknowledge Tom Mackie who has been one of my mentors for many years. And to my wife, Anita, who tolerates my absence and extended travels while I pursue my passion.
Website: http://www.michaelblanchette.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blanchettephotos/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelblanchettephotography