Meet Mike Hunnisett | Professional Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mike Hunnisett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mike, why did you pursue a creative career?
I pursued a creative career in order to challenge myself. As a creator, there is no typical day to day. Everything changes. What I photograph one weekend, might be completely different the next weekend. The genres of my photography change often, as do the requirements and needs of the clients that I shoot for. This is what keeps me hungry and in love with my profession, because capturing the ‘perfect image’ is a constant challenge, and I’m always on the prowl to better myself.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Being a photographer in the modern day is a challenge, because ‘everyone is a photographer’. There’s so much competition in our industry, and especially with modern day cell phones and smaller compact cameras being so easily accessible, it really saturates the market. I think what sets me apart is that I really challenge and expect myself to be different. I built my business on the motto ‘coupling a timeless look with a perfect moment’. I find myself to be my biggest critic, and through calculating my averages, less than 2% of my photos are ever used or published, because I want everything in my captures to be the absolute best that it can be. Getting to where I am today has been a struggle, and overcoming the challenges has been accomplished through really putting myself out there. By continuing to build my brand, and building relationships with brands that I’m partnered with, I’ve been able to stand out from others in my industry.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Coming from Colorado Springs – there’s no easy answer to an exciting itinerary – this city has so much to offer those who visit, and so many spectacular spots. Here’s the must see for some trips:

Food & Drink:
– Beasts and Brews in North Colorado Springs – with over 100 pour your own taps
– Bourbon Brothers BBQ in North Colorado Springs
– Axe and Oak Distillery at the IvyWild
– Edelweiss Authentic German

Photo Spots:
– Garden of the Gods
– Cheyenne Canyon
– Broadmoor Seven Falls

Must See:
– Pikes Peak Highway – the easiest way to summit a 14er is to drive to the top, and even better if you can do it on a motorcycle.
– Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
– Broadmoor Seven Falls
– Air Force Academy

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people that deserve credit in my career. I owe a majority to my high school teachers and mentors: Mr. Scott Sieling for always pushing me to do more as I began to learn videography; and Mr. Tom Ringdal for always challenging me, and hiring me for my first Television Production job, which fueled my passion to continue in the industry. On top of this, I owe a lot to my Military Career. Being a Photographer in the Army was something that was constantly challenging my creativity to be better, and stand out from the crowd. Having tight deadlines and turnarounds during that time is what led me to be able to control my workflow, prioritize, and really focus on what was most important as I grew my photographic career.

Website: www.mikehunnisett.com

Instagram: @mikehunnisett

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikehunni/

Twitter: @mikehunnisett

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikeHunnisettPhoto

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/mikehunnisett