Meet Micah Harper | Photographer

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

Hi Micah, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
That it’s not as easy as just pushing a button on a camera. There is so much more to photography than just buying a nice camera and pushing the button. The creativity in your mind is where photography starts, the camera is just what captures that. When I’m shooting I already know how it’s going to look when I edit it, visualizing the final result, seeing something that isn’t even created yet. Thats the hard part of photography and is what sets people a part in a very popular and oversaturated industry. I would say the most important thing in photography is lighting. It can do so many things. The absence or presence of it can always tell a story in a single picture. I shoot, with natural light or with a 42″ Soft Box, think of it as a giant flashlight. Each one has its time and place to be used depending on the look you are going for. Then you have the editing aspect of photography. It can be very time consuming as far as getting those colors and 100 other things just right to make it stand out from what everyone else is doing. Being different is everything in the photography industry it’s what makes people want to use you.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When it comes to photography, I’m self-taught. Everything that I have learned has been through hard work, research, trial and error, and just experimenting with certain looks. It’s been a long process and lots of YouTube Videos on photography education. None of it has been easy and some of it has been downright hard. I do feel like my photography is right where I want it to be and that’s a large feat because finding your style is a big thing in the industry. You find that and then you can take off running. And I feel like I have done just that. I love making light and bold colors the star of my photography. I think that sun flares, light leaks, dark contrast and boldness is what sets me apart from everyone else in my area. The last 6 years have been incredible and fun but somedays I’m just worn out and done with it. But my creativity and being able to express my feelings and art through photography is what keeps me going in the photography world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I may be partial but, Northeast Texas is Incredible. I live in Gilmer (pop 5k) and the first thing i would do is take you to go eat. So many good places from incredible sushi at Shishito’s, birria tacos at Mary’s, Mexican food at La Fincas and killer BBQ, burgers and breakfast at Bubbas Fat Burgers. I could only eat at those 4 places the rest of my life and be completely satisfied.

Then the third week of October we have the East Texas Yamboree, Its one of the longest running festivles in Texas and this year we celebrated the 85th Yamboree. It’s an awesome display of what community is it’s been said that over 100k people come through Gilmer in the week of the Yamboree. So, you could say that its sort of a big deal. There is a carnival downtown on the square with tons of rides, a huge livestock show where some serious money gets throw around, 2 awesome parades, endless food trucks and trailers, and to top it off the Queens Pageant where the Yam Queen is crowned. The whole thing is a big deal in our town and is so much fun for locals and visitors.

On a friday night i would take you to see the 3 time State Champion Gilmer Buckeyes play football. If you love High School Football East Texas is plentiful when it comes to it. In Gilmer it is so much more than just a game. Boys become Men and are taught life lessons on and off the field. The tradition and legacy of Texas Highschool Football can be showcased in Gilmer as the Buckeyes are 266-47 since 2000 and have 734 total wins, the 12th most in Texas High School Football history.

One of the most important things that is special to me, and my family is all the awesome lakes that we have. We spend every weekend during the summer hanging out at the lake, wake surfing, wakeboarding, and just soaking up the East Texas sun! 3 of our favorite lakes to go to are Caddo, Bob Sandlin, and Lake o the Pines. It’s hard to beat the majestic feel of the cypress trees on the banks of the Big Cypress River that runs to Caddo Lake and the shorelines of pine trees of Bob Sandlin and Pines.

Overall East Texas and Gilmer specifically has so many awesome things to offer and experience.

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 would say my family. They have always supported me in everything that I have ever done. I have a full-time job at a Chemical Plant in East Texas and 2 kids and a wife. Then throw a photography business in the mix of that and I would say I stay fairly busy. My wife (Emily) is my biggest fan and supporter though, some of my shoots are a couple days long and she never hesitates to tell me to go. Juggling home life and working basically two jobs is a tall task and she makes it all work. She also works, so really, she’s the MVP. Secondly, I would say my clients, they are incredible. Without them I don’t have a business. They are my subjects, so they are just a little important. I love being able to talk with them and get an idea and run with it. They are always supporting my work and spreading the word about my photography. They are vital to my success in the industry.

Website: http://harperphotography77.mypixieset.com

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

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