Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Biantuadi.
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 was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), so growing up, most of our entertainment came from what we created – often through curiosity and discovery. As a curious child, whenever I came across electronic devices, I wanted to know how they functioned. I was always taking things apart and putting them back together, oftentimes taking me less than an hour to have it all figured out. I remember as a kid, we had this VHS camcorder and I would make home videos with it. I had no idea that I would begin to cultivate that hobby into something more today. My journey as a professional photographer and videographer started in 2009. I was working in Information Technology when I decided to learn more about videography. What really fueled this interest was when my father passed away. We hired someone who we believed was a professional videographer to cover the funeral. When we got the final product, we were shocked by such a poor outcome. This really bothered me because not only did we waste money, but I knew that with my curiosity and cleverness, I could learn more about the art of videography, so that we would not end up in a situation like that again. That’s when I enrolled in a 6 month film and video production training. I continued to work on this art and in September 2010, with the help of my big brother (shoutout to Tresor Biantuadi), I was hired as a Production Videographer at one of the biggest TV stations in Kinshasa, the capital of DRC.
I moved to the United States in 2013. Although I left Congo, my passion for videography never left.
I was happy to be in the states, but I was faced with many challenges. Coming to a new country where I didn’t speak the language, It wasn’t easy to get hired as a professional videographer or even start a business. I didn’t let this stop me from moving forward. I began to learn English and learn how things worked here in America. I started going to school and found a local job, but in my spare time, since I was almost by myself with no family or friends, I would take my camera and go around my new city taking pictures. This is where my love for photography started. At that time, watching photography tutorials on youtube helped me learn even more. I kept learning and practicing, starting with urban photography and slowly working my way up to event photography.
There was a Congolese community where I lived, and in 2016, I began shooting videos and taking photos for their events whenever I could.
In 2017, I relocated to Atlanta and in 2018 I decided to take a leap of faith and start MB Photography. Starting my business was risky but it was a risk that I will never regret. I remember taking out all my savings just for equipment and promotion. I started small with 1 shoot every 4-6 months. This progressed to 1 shoot a month. Today, I book an average of 4-8 shoots a month. Although I still have a long way to go, I can’t wait to see how far MB Photography will go. One of my goals is to start hiring other photographers and videographers so we can work on different projects simultaneously.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road hasn’t really been smooth, especially in the beginning when I wasn’t really getting bookings, but I had to keep promoting. It’s hard to hire a Photographer/Videographer with no portfolio. I had to either work for free or spend some money or organize shoots that would help build my portfolio. The challenge never ends as an entrepreneur. Although now I am doing much better with bookings, I still have to wear multiple hats to keep up. This includes conducting shootings, managing social media, discussing contracts, editing content, marketing, and more. At times, I find myself with no free time at the end of the day. This can get overwhelming, but I love what I do and seeing my clients excited when seeing the final product keeps me motivated.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about MB Photography?
MB Photography is a creative media company, specializing in photography and videography. We are dedicated to creating captivating visual content for all kinds of events, including Weddings, Corporate Events, Birthdays, Graduations, Family Portraits, Professional Headshots, In-home Photography and more. We pride ourselves in having a fresh and innovative approach in every project we execute.
What sets us apart from others is that we always make our clients comfortable working with us no matter the circumstances. We do not just value the beautiful long-lasting memories that we capture, but we also make sure that our clients enjoy the moments spent with us while capturing those memories.
What matters most to you?
We truly value loyalty and quality and make sure to encompass that in our work ethic. We keep our word to our clients because people do business with those they know, like and trust. Keeping your word is vital for maintaining trust and keeping loyal clients. We work hard everyday to improve our quality of work because we believe that our clients deserve excellence.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@mbphotographystudios.com
- Phone: 6785050248
- Website: www.mbphotographystudios.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/mbphotographystudio?utm_medium=copy_link
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MB-Photography-102420404536506/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mb-photography-atlanta
Image Credits
MB Photography
