Michael H.

More about Michael H....

What do you love about your job?

I like the variety. Different people, different rooms, a new visual problem to solve each time. One morning it's an athlete mid stride, that afternoon it's a product on a tabletop working out the light. The part I like most is seeing the shot land on the back of the Z8 before I ever open Lightroom. You know when you got it. And I get to hand someone a picture of themselves, or their kid, or their house, that they'll actually keep. It's a challenging and rewarding way to make a living.

What types of shoots have you done and how did you make them special?

I have shot everything from family and senior portraits to full sporting events to a long exposure fine art series called Circular Light that has shown in Des Moines area galleries. What makes each one special is the same instinct in every case, watching for the detail most people miss, whether that is the exact peak of a jump on the field or the way a single light trail curls through a dark frame. I bring that same close attention to light and timing to every commercial shoot I take on now, from portraits to real estate to product work.

Awards, honors, and recognitions received

Represented by Olson-Larsen Galleries in West Des Moines. My Circular Light series is in their upcoming group show In the Abstract, seven artists total, opening July 31, 2026. Featured artist in Moberg Gallery's corporate art program, 2026.

A fun fact about this photographer

Photography is almost always about capturing an instant, a fleeting thing that takes full attention to the moment. So I like to slow the tempo down in my shop and work with my hands as much as I can. Woodworking, building RC cars with the kids, fixing whatever's broken, or working out a new technique for making art.