Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Hansen.
Michael, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I bought my first camera back in 2010 to take photos of just random things, artwork and people. Later on in college in 2014 I had a friend who was also into photography and we would go out and shoot together. This love and enjoyment of photography lead me to booking my first ever wedding for $300. A friend from college ask me to shoot her wedding in 2017 and oh boy, was it difficult! A year later I was pretty short for cash so I offered to do a bunch of fall family photoshoots for basically nothing. This allowed me to really get a feel for taking pictures and it quickly lead me to want to take photography more seriously. I started building a portfolio and also booked another wedding to shoot. There was an old friend of mine who was starting a wedding photography company who asked me to come shoot with him and build up his company. That opportunity helped me really dive into shooting weddings with a very high volume of clients. That allowed me to build up a portfolio for myself and continue to build my own business while shooting for his business. Fast forward to 2026 I have shot close to 200 weddings and I have cut back quite a bit shooting only 10-15 weddings a year plus all my family session I do. I love doing what I do and being able to capture these important moments for my clients so they can relive those moments!
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?
One of the biggest struggles as a photographer is not comparing yourself to other people in your field. There are other photographers who are infinitely better than me or photographers that have such a wider reach on social media. I personally dislike social media and I am the worst at posting my work. But honestly a lot of my clients find me through word of mouth or by other vendors!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in capturing authentic photos of families, couples and seniors. I am the most proud of how I make my clients feel during our sessions. I get so many compliments from them and others about how efficient I work, how painless I make it and that they end up enjoying taking the photos! What truly sets me apart I believe is just how relational I am. Taking photos is second to helping my clients feel seen and comfortable.
How do you think about luck?
I honestly do not believe in luck. I believe most things happen for a reason or because of the effort you put into something. I have just been in the right place at the right time or met the right people that have helped make my business a success 🙂
Pricing:
- Lifestyle portrait sessions $400
- Senior Photo sessions $350
- Wedding Packages starting at $2850
- Newborn milestones package $800
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hansenphotokc.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/hansenphotokc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hansenphotokc
