Michael Molinski and his charming wife Nicole operate a successful photo studio in Mike’s hometown of Hudson, NY, a rivercommunity about 110 miles north of New York City. Known to locals as the “Little Apple,” Hudson has built a reputationas a hip,artistic sub-culture. But Mike earned his photographic stripes the hard way, as a U.S. Marine who went through basic training at the tough Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot.
It was in the Marine Corps wherehe rose to the rank of sergeant and eventually became the base’s official photographer, with the title of NCO IC (non-commissioned officer in charge), heading up a team of three other photographers. Their mission: to document recruit training as part of the ongoing visual history of the Marine Corps and to provide images used in ads and promotions.
“I didn’t actually get into photography on my own,” says Michael cheerfully. “ You might say that it found me. When I enlisted in the Marine Corps before 9/11, the recruiter signed me up to be a journalist, a course that consisted of 3 phases. I excelled when it came to photojournalism, earning a perfect score, but failed the written journalism component due to my deficient grammar. Well, the Marine Corps doesn’t offer grammar school refresher courses, so I transitioned to becoming a graphic designer, a good fit since I’d always been interested in art. I wrote a story about that experience, and subsequently got into the Graphic Design School where I graduated in the top 10% of my class and was then stationed in the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina—the basic training “boot camp” for all recruits east of the Mississippi.
“I served in the Marine Corps from 2001-2005,” Michael continues, “and though I loved my time in uniform I wanted to get into civilian life, so I returned to my hometown, Hudson, NY, where I knew people and had graduated from the local high school. Doing odd jobs, mowing lawns, cleaning gutters, and construction work soon got old. I thought about getting into photography, but I had turned in all the nice high-end equipment I had been using when I left the corps. So I maxed out my credit card and bought a Canon EOS 20 and two Sigma lenses, and had a whole lot of fun (and hard work) rebuilding my whole career as a photographer. As luck would have it the mother of a friend of mine was getting remarried and they asked me to shoot her wedding. They were a little taken aback when I showed them my portfolio of military images, including some showcased here, but they were impressed with the quality of my workand went for it. I jumped in head first, so you can say that weddings like photography, found me as well. Our studio, Molinski Photography in Hudson, NY (molinski@msn.com , website: www.MolinskiPhotography.com) specializes in weddings, studio portraits, family photography including H.S seniors, babies, etc. We also do commercial photography, mostly for local businesses, including events, products, and headshots. My wife and I create engaging images that may not be wildly unconventional but they do have an artistic and creative flair that our customers definitely appreciate.”
“I don’t enter my pictures in competition or actively seek awards,” observes Michael, “but we have garnered a few accolades. In the Marine Corps I was named Marine of the Year at Parris Island in 2003, and NCO of the Year in 2004. On the home front, I’m especially proud to have beenhonored as Small Business of the Year for 2013 by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. The local Register-Star newspaper in partnership with the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce also named us Best Photographer of the Year in 2014 and 2015. I give back to the community by actively supporting opportunities for young people, and that’s why I received an award from the Youth Employment Services organization.”
Michael Molinski: Q and A
Q: What camera, lenses, and equipment do you use?
A: I’m a Canon shooter. The studio has an assortment of 6 bodies—the two workhorses are the 5D Mark III’s though. We also have 7 L-series lenses ranging from the 16-35mm ultra-wide zoom to the 70-200 IS with a bunch of primes somewhere in-between. We also have about half a dozen other lenses in the mix. We edit everything on iMacs using the Adobe Creative Suite with Lightroom and Photoshop. We have three workstations networked together on adedicated server.
Q: How would you describe your photography?
A: I’d describe my photography style as vibrant. This can mean the color tones of our work or even the subject. I’m a photographer for hire more than I consider myself an artist. Whenever I’m doing a session or a wedding, I think to myself “would I want to hang this on my wall.” I’m not pushing compositional boundaries by any means, but I also wouldn’t consider my style “cookie-cutter” either.
Q: Do you think you have a distinctive style, and what is it that makes your photography special, or stand out from the rest? Do you have a mission statement that might apply to most of the images or projects you’re currently working on?
A: I don’t think my style is ground breaking by any means. It’s all about the basics. If you create sharp images, with colors that pop and aren’t overwhelming, and the subject is comfortable with you, that’s a win. Photography is an industry with newcomers all the time. I even have past clients picking up the camera and making a go for it, which is awesome. To stand out, I have to keep evolving and refining my technical skills while staying competitive for the price point of my area. Sometimes it means working harder for the same profit, but that’s the nature of my demographic.
Q: What approach do you take with your photography or what does photography mean to you?
A: Whenever I’m looking through the lens, the thought of whether or not my client would be proud of this image and display it in their living room. My philosophy is always to give the people what they want, not what I think they want. Super crazy angles or really far away shots that are more about the environment than the subject are not for me. I tried it once, but I didn’t feel comfortable with it. I just had a gut feeling that I should be shooting for my clients and not for my ego. Every day I am grateful that I have a profession that brings happiness to people. Being a professional photographer is a gift that keeps on giving.
Q: Other than operating a successful photography business what other interests and activities are you passionate about?
A: Last year I started a side project, a podcast on iTunes, The Photographer Success Story, where I interview other photographers who are making a living doing something they love. It’s been on the back burner this summer due to having a new baby and the busy nature of my business, but I’ll pick it back up this winter.
Most recently I completed a 330-mile nonstop bicycle ride from New York City to Canada via U.S. Route 9 to kickstart a scholarship for high school seniors in my home county that have an interest in sports and art. This ties back to my personal history where I was a varsity swimmer and track runner in high school, while being an art major. And of course following up my teenage years with the juxtaposition of being a military member and warrior with the photography and graphic design for the Marines.
A full article on the ride can be read on my local newspaper website: http://www.registerstar.com/news/article_636a9492-84b8-11e5-8dee-bbf74393c1b0.html
Also, if anyone would like to donate to the scholarship, I have a continuing Go Fund Me account setup at www.gofundme.com/Ride320NY
Michael Molinski talks about his images:
“Perhaps the most widely circulated picture I ever shot was the one of the Iwo Jima Memorial statue at Parris Island shown here, which was inspired by the iconic photograph “Raising the Flag at Iwo Jima” shot by Joe Rosenthal,” says Michael. “I was on the base at 7AM and a thunderstorm was rolling in. Base rules state that if any lightning is striking within 5 miles, all outdoor activity has to stop, so I turned around and was heading back to the barracks when I saw the clouds, sunrise and statue converge in a truly magnificent sight. I shot the picture in 2004 with a Nikon D1X, and a print of it would up on the general’s wall.”
“Equally moving from my personal perspective was covering the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department event honoring all their vets, including active duty, past service, and reservist categories. I felt a real kinship with these people, and for a few moments it was as though I was back in my active duty station. I’ve been out of the military for 10 years, but I guess it’s like riding a bike—you never forget it and the feeling comes back.“
There are only two short salutations we can extend to Michael Molinski in response to his amazing, heartwarming, and quintessentially American story: Thank you for your service, and may your photography, your business, and your beautiful family thrive and prosper going forward.
