Meet Michael Anthony Hermogeno | Professional Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Anthony Hermogeno and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael Anthony, how do you think about risk?
In my opinion risk taking is part of the foundation of one’s career and/or business. That initial plunge into the unknown is daunting and can hold you back, but at some point you need to take that step in order to start or advance your career. When faced with new and unfamiliar opportunities, I weigh out the pros and cons and assess risks versus benefits and even when the cons outweigh the pros, the outside chance of success will often sway me to take the risk. In work and business, I have always opted to throw chance to the wind and risk failure. It tends to end in success as each risk has opened doors that would otherwise not opened.

My career has been full of risks at each step. In 1995 at the age of 25 I left a very stable career in a local police department to pursue the private sector for a small automotive accessories company while taking up photography as a hobby. In 1997 I packed my bags and moved from my hometown of Los Angeles to Northern California and worked as a credit and collections analyst for DirecTV with absolutely no prior experience in finance. In 2000 I married my wife who I initially met on an AOL chatroom. In 2002 we moved back to Los Angeles so I could pursue my hobby turned career as a photographer. Now 21 years in my profession, I have taken countless risks and blind plunges into companies and clients and fortunately, they all panned out.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Talking about myself in this manner has always been difficult for me. I don’t view myself as an artist. I don’t paint. I don’t draw. I don’t sculpt. I don’t compose music. I don’t write. I don’t play an instrument. I am a photographer. I pick up my camera, set up my lights, and click away at who is front of me. I capture my subject’s story or at least my interpretation of such based on what I see before me.

What sets me apart from others is essentially what sets us all apart from each other. I am unique. I am me, just as others are themselves. I photograph what I see. I photograph what I feel. Nobody else can walk in my shoes. One thing I am proud of is the portfolio I have amassed over the years filled with faces captured by my camera. It was years of trial and error and constantly evolving as I never took a single class for photography. I just picked up the camera and stocked up on film and took that plunge into the unknown. It certainly was not easy. From establishing clients to delivering the goods, it was a constant hustle with few full nights of rest.

I overcame the challenges and difficulties by risking it all to make it happen. I put in the long nights. I took any and every job that came my way. I networked with anyone who would give me time of day and managed to get noticed by folks who didn’t give me the time. It has been a learning process and the journey has taught me lessons on how to deal with people, cope with situations beyond my control, and to recognize that the small client whose career you help boost today, could very well become the big client who helps boost your career tomorrow.

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 am not a fan of tourist traps, so I like showing folks the little things in life; mom and pop coffee shops, bakeries, and diners. I would take them to various murals throughout the city, back alleys, and ethnic restaurants that require some translations. I am a cyclist so a couple bike rides in different parts of the area are on the list. I am a desert offroader with a built truck and there are some awesome places like abandoned gold mines, rock formations, and wide open scenery to explore with little to no cell phone service and no paved roads for miles in either direction. Camping under the stars and desert exploration is by far the most fun, interesting, and exciting places to check out.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My career has a list of shoutouts from friends to family and even to adversaries. Of all those, my biggest shoutout belongs to my wife who has put up with my risk taking for the last 21 years. She is the epitome of good times and bad, in sickness and in health. Through it all, she has been my rock and greatest support system ever.

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