Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Nzungize.
Hi Michael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started photography in 2015. I was taking pictures using my dad’s cell phone. I was not really doing big until 2018 after winning the first photography competition, I bought a camera. The device has been a very helpful piece towards my career growth and for such, I will forever be grateful to have won the competition.
In 2018, I kept practicing and learning more and more to improve my craft and in 2019, I moved to St. Cloud MN to pursue my computer engineering degree at St. Cloud State University. Coming to America was only a blessing and another big path towards my photography, videography and content-creating career in general. I got to St. Cloud in August 2019, and not even a month later, I was taken to my first concert by my friends which was a big turn point in my career. I brought my camera with me, with 0 expectations and fast forward to the end of the night, I had met one of the most genuine and if I can call God-sent person in my life (Sadek L’unique). Sadek was hosting the Burna Boy concert and allowed me to show my talent by showing him the pictures shot that night, which led to the Artist himself posting the pictures on his socials a day later, opening more and more doors in the music industry. Being given that opportunity allowed me to work with a lot of big artists including Polo G, Lil Durk, Lil Baby, Burna Boy, Rema, Wizkid, and many more. I was also able to shoot my first festival at the beginning of this year (Afronation), which is still surreal to me to this day!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
– Main challenges are creative block and sometimes, not being valued enough for my work.
– To manage creative block the only to do is allow yourself to rest as it’s one thing, we, young adults forget to do.
– Being undervalued is something I can’t really do much about other than keep on working hard to make a bigger name for myself to avoid that happening in the future.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am mainly a photographer who also does videography, graphic design and also clothing brand (Patience Is A Virtue) owner with two of my friends (Alex Lewis and Juor Dobuol).
When it comes to photography, I enjoy any type of photography but as of lately, I specialize in concert photography as I have been in the industry for about 3 years now. When it comes to videography, I enjoy travel videos as they always tell a story which is a huge aspect of my work, being able to tell a story with my work.
My first big success was my photography competition win (EYS 2018 YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP competition), second is taking pictures for Afronation in Puerto Rico 2022), third was my first gallery show in Minneapolis with my friend Kevin Ishimwe another Rwandan photographer in the US, forth and one I will forever cherish is being finally able to do an exhibition in Rwanda this summer.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
My attention to detail when I take pictures or videos and the fact that I want most of my work to tell a story of its own. I began photography with the purpose of showcasing how I perceive the world from the point of view of my lens, which until now is my biggest motivation to keep pushing through all problems.
With that being mentioned comes the love to capture the moment; if I am asked to shoot an event, my main goal isn’t to get as many shots of people posing. My main goal is to cherishable moments, those off-guard moments, that no one will be focused which usually last in people’s minds the longest as they tell a specific story to the ones at the moment.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://michaelnzungize.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mike_nzng/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikenzng
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu9XCmym2woOJ0pbna3vnNQ
Image Credits
Michael Nzungize
