Michael Yang Photography

Month: March 2019

Overcoming a Season of UnInspiration
It is not typical of businesses to speak on their weaknesses and struggles. However, this blog and this website is more than just a business to me. Mikecaptures.com is also a documentation of my life and my photography. Photography is more than a business, it is my art, a part of my identity, and more importantly, it is the ministry that God has placed me in. I’m not writing this blog to win anyone over to my business or to inspire people. More than anything, I’m writing this blog to inspire myself.
The Season of Uninspiration Begins
2018 was probably the busiest year I’ve had as far as photography goes. By the end of the year, I was so burnt out. Photography was no longer enjoyable and I couldn’t picture pursuing it any longer. I even placed all of my photography gear for sale (I ended up pulling those posts down). My art had become work.
The Spiritual Impact of a Season of Being Uninspired
Feeling uninspired was more than just a mental state. Losing inspiration affected my closeness to God. God has given photography as a gift, a passion, and a burden. Feeling uninspired affected my faithfulness to God’s calling for me. As it affected my faithfulness to God, it affected my relationship with Him.
For me, being uninspired bred static-ness. I just didn’t want to do anything that related to photography.
It’s also important to mention that I’m leading a media ministry team at my church. In this season, the ministry became bland. I’ve lost sight of what God has called me to do. There is a feeling of guilt in me. How can I inspire my team for the ministry if I’m not inspired?

How to Get Over the Season of Uninspiration
Have you ever seen the vacation kiosks at the mall? As you approach, the salesman will try to sell you on a cruise or a vacation by the sea. He goes on and on about the amenities, the food, and fun things to do at the resort, BUT HE’S NEVER BEEN THERE.
I don’t want to be that guy. Maybe I’ll update this section once I’ve been there and have overcome this season.
My Next Moves
I might not know how to get over this season; however, I know what God has called me to faithfulness.
So, in this time and context, how does it look like to be faithful to the creative gifts that God has given me?
Go Up to the Mountain
I work a regular 9-5. When I get home, I do more work with my photography business; play with my daughter; cook for the family; manage the bills; do some chores; respond to work emails that come from our overseas team; sleep when I can. It’s a busy life.
For me, my next move isn’t about slowing life down. My next move is about intentionally creating time to go up the mountain. This is both figurative and literal. We see many times that Moses & Elijah climbed up the mountain, and God meets them there. We read about Moses speaking to God as if they were face to face. That is the intimacy that I long for. And if I am to get out of this slump, intimacy with God will be the driving force. So, I plan on making time to take hikes up the mountain. I’ll take my camera to capture my journey, my Bible (because God speaks through His Word), and a snack. I’m maneuvering my schedule this weekend to start this.
Be in Community
The Church is a blessing to believers. It is a place of encouragement. However, if you want to be encouraged, then you have to be transparent. In the next few days, I’ll be reaching out to my pastors, my wife, my team, and my church for prayer.
Ask God
I need to pray and ask for inspiration & help. The Bible tells us that, “You do not have, because you do not ask.” If that’s true, then the best solution to the problem at hand is to ask God.

Keep Doing the Work
Earlier in this blog, I said that being uninspired bred static-ness or inactivity. Even in my season of being uninspired, how do I remain active? I think the answer is to just do it. Being uninspired is not an excuse to be unfaithful. Whether it’s capturing my family memories, doing work for clients with the help of the best wordpress hosting company to develop my business, or working in the ministry, I need to learn how to still give 100%.
Conclusion
Writing this blog was my first step in being faithful to God’s work. I believe that God has called me to document this season of my life and I’m excited to see where He is leading me as I try to remain faithful. I have faith that God honors my tiny little steps of faithfulness and that He will bring inspiration to my work as I align myself with the good works that He has laid out for me.
So if you’re feeling uninspired: spend time with God in the mountains, be in community, ask God for inspiration, keep chugging along, and have faith that God inspires those who are faithful to Him.

P.S.
I feel a little more inspired after writing this.
March 21, 2019
4 Steps to Make Hiring Your Wedding Photographer More Affordable
Did you know that the average wedding cost in the United States is a little bit over $35k, yet the average yearly income is less than $30k a year. That means, on average, people are spending more on weddings than what they make in a year.
Of the $35,000, how much are people spending on a wedding photographer? As for someone who is in the wedding industry, I’ve seen professional photographers charge anywhere between $2200-$10,000. Although that is a lot of money, here are some tips that you can use to help you afford a professional wedding photographer.
Hire a Professional Photographer
Do you know what costs more than hiring a wedding photographer? Hiring another photographer to re-take & re-create wedding photos.
I’ve seen many brides who are forced to do post-wedding sessions because they weren’t happy with the $500 photographer that they hired on their wedding day. To save money and time, pay a little bit more for a professional and get it done right the first time.

Print Your Own Photos
Want to know an industry secret? Photographers typically upcharge over 100% for prints. So, what may be an $8.00 8×10 print could cost you over $20. Now, let me qualify this by saying that photographers are not wrong for doing this; they’re spending their valuable hours designing albums, uploading your images, cropping them to fit the right aspect ratios, and talking to professional vendors on your behalf.
“…when clients purchase prints through their photographer, they are not simply paying for the paper and printing material, but rather for the art itself and the time invested by the photographer to create that one image.” –SunKissed Photography
Photographers should be charging for their time and it is worth paying for the time. If your photographer is placing prints into your packages, know that you are getting what you paid for.
However, if you feel confident in designing your own albums or placing your own print orders, then it doesn’t hurt to ask your photographer to take prints off their packages if it’ll save you money. Some photographers will decline, and they have every right to do so (depending on the agreed contract). This is a topic to talk about before hiring a photographer.
If you choose to print your own photos, avoid Wal-Mart, Target, or pharmacy print labs. I highly recommend the professional labs below:
- Adoramapix
- Mpix
- Sam’s Club & Costco (This will give you the best bang for your buck; but they aren’t quite as good. Be sure to stay away from the 1-hour photo option)
- BayPhoto
- WHCC
IMPORTANT: Make sure you get a print release form from your photographer. Many places will not print your photos unless you have one.
Package a Deal
Photographers are typically flexible when it comes to pricing, especially when you’re buying into their other products. You can ask your photographer if they’re willing to drop their price if you also book their wedding videography bundle. You can even offer to add a future maternity, family, or post-wedding session into the package to see if the photographer will give a discount.
Book Early
$3500 can be hard to fork up in a lump sum. Did you know that most professional wedding photographers offer a payment plan? I highly recommend booking your photographer as soon as possible and then taking advantage of their payment plan.
Photographers typically require a retainer fee or deposit to book your date; then the rest of the invoice can be made in multiple payments. The further out that you book your photographer, the easier it is to make your payments.

If you’re looking for a professional photographer for your wedding, I hope these tips have helped you. If you have any questions, feedback, or want to add in some tips, please feel free to reach out to me via the form below.
First Name
Last Name
Email address:
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What photography service are you interested in?
Questions & Comments
March 20, 2019
Our Adventures at Candytopia Atlanta 2019
It was a long winter for our family. We couldn’t wait for spring so we could spend time outside of the house. As I was scrolling through Instagram, I kept seeing photos of people in a marshmallow pit. I did some research and found out that it was a Candytopia attraction.
I did some research on Candytopia and immediately pre-ordered tickets for my family.
The images below documents our time at Candytopia 2019 in Atlanta.
““Candy is childhood, the best and bright moments you wish could have lasted forever.”“
Dylan Lauren
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March 16, 2019