Meet Michael Tari | Headshot & Lifestyle Photographer

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

Hi Michael, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I’ve always been a risk taker my entire life in anything I do because you don’t know until you try. When I started my photography business I new it would be tough and a struggle in the beginning. I had to learn a new skill and start from scratch. It was a huge risk for me to just dive into something I’ve never done before but that was the beauty of it. I had to go all in and try my hardest to prevail and succeed. I think taking risks is the best thing we can do as artists in this industry and to give it your all because you never know what will happen. It’s all about the perseverance and dedication to the craft. Once I found my passion of photography and started my business I fell in love with it and found my true passion that makes me happy. It was the greatest risk I’ve taken so far!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a headshot & lifestyle photographer based in Los Angeles for actors, artists, models & creatives. I make people take candid photos and not just pose. I like to take photos “in the moment.” I use my tips and tricks to distract people from just looking into my lens. I’m definitely the most proud of how far I’ve come in only doing this in a couple of years and helped so many artists get tons of auditions and jobs! One day I bought a camera and started taking photos of my friends in LA with trial and error and just kept practicing. I slowly built up my equipment over the years and watched a bunch of YouTube videos. It definitely wasn’t easy and it’s still a battle to this day. I just keep on going and don’t let anything get in my way. Being a photographer in Los Angeles is all about marketing and getting your name out there and doing great work. I learned to be patient with people and to dissect the characters they’re going out for. I like to be very specific with what kind of photoshoot I’m doing in order to get the best results for my clients. Remember, life is a story and I want the world to know that I can help you capture its chapters!

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.
There are so many fun places to visit in LA! I would take my best friend to Davey Wayne’s Good Times in a Hollywood which is one of my favorite 80s bar with a vibe. We would go hit up Tacos Tu Madre for some bomb tacos. Then I would take them to Marina Del Rey and rent some paddle boards. A hike to Runyon or Fryman canyon is always a fun spot. Would definitely go down to Venice and walk around Abbot Kinney and hangout at the beach. Another fun bar to chill at is Laurel Hardware in Weho and the Roger Room. We would then hit up the Mondrian Hotel and hangout at the Sky Bar for a fun event. I would definitely take them to Universal Studios and hit up a Dodger game as well. We would then end the night in the Arts District bar hopping and ending the night with some good street tacos.

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 want to dedicate my shoutout to my parents for always believing in me!

Website: www.mtphotographs.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtphotographs1/

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