My new hobby is reading “Priceline” reviews on hotels. I just can’t stop myself, they are a window into how people think, and some of the funniest thinigs you’ve read in a long time. Of course, that’s not the intention, which ONLY MAKES THEM FUNNIER. This isn’t Yelp, where hip, cool, funny reviews are encouraged. […]
Since I am now a world (in)famous photographer, I have to say — I contribute my success to two things: 1) resourcefulness 2) planning 3) being early for everything 4) sourrounding myself with great people 5) not being cheap. OK! Those are five things. But they really are why I am successful. And by successful, […]
The Snack Food Association’s (SFA) convention moves from city to city, nationwide. And, like the NGA (my little story from yesterday — National Grocers Association), they have been a great client for years. Their annual convention is called “Snaxpo”, and their event kicks off in style. One year, Snaxpo started in San Antonio with a […]
I mentioned in another blog post: when you are a photographer, you are a fly on the wall of history. And, that works great until someone decides to beat the crap out of you. But there’s an advantage of being a photographer: at some point, you meet the famous. At least, if you work in […]
My trainer, Paul, said it best the other day: Everything cost something. We were actually talking (well, I was panting between squat reps — if you don’t squat you don’t work out) about a previous blog post, and that, distilled, was the bottom line. Fast forward to last night. Every night, I take a zen […]
Back between owning Cool World Aquarium and working for Target, I held a job for a jewelry company. Not your traditional jewelry store, this guy was a manufacturer — with factories in Thailand — a designer — creating most of those dolphin and sea shell pendants sold at the beach — a wholesaler — selling […]
As some of you know, last week, my mom and I photographed for our oldest, newest client, Maryland Association of Realtors (MAR). Working for my first real client brought on a wave of nostalgia in me, thinking of how far we’ve come, and in no small measure is that success due to loyal clients who […]
When I was growing up, I was the official restaurant scoper-outer. That means I was sent in to prospective restaurant, and I made the decision whether the family would eat there — or move on down the road. This was a big responsibility for a kid, therefore, I had to develop some rules. Restaurant rules […]
Photographers are all high brow, even myself. We are convinced our most famous work will be hanging in a gallery, perfectly lit, overshadowing the sainted Ansel Adams in the MOMA. People will brush past the Ansel Adams work, not giving it a second glance to exclaim: “OMG! IT”S A MIKE GATTY ORIGINAL! I SAW THIS […]
Eleven years. That’s how long long I’ve been shooting for one of my oldest, newest clients — a decade plus one. What is an “oldest, newest client”? Maryland Association of Realtors (MAR) was the first client I obtained under the new business — DC Event Photos. Not the old business, Gatty Communications, my mom’s business. […]