We recently had the chance to connect with Michelle VanTine and have shared our conversation below.
Michelle, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
When you visit a photographer’s website, you see pictures. Whether it’s the documentation of what it feels like to be inches away from a knockout blow by a UFC world champion, or the exhausted exhale of an athlete surviving a 10-mile race through the rocky cliffs of Greece—you see pictures.
What you don’t see is the grueling endurance it took for a business owner to get beneath that fighter, or to the top of that mountain. Every image comes with a story—a story of how the photographer found themselves in that place. Seventeen years in business of pushing through every obstacle—pandemics, theft, betrayal, fatigue, gender bias, creative ruts, self-doubt—the journey behind each image is what I’m most proud of.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Michelle VanTine
I am a Miami-based commercial sports photographer. (link: www.sportsphotographermiami.com) I work in the commercial space verses the volume space. Think: not the people on the sideline with the long lenses capturing a match, but the photographer making the ad you see when you log on to buy your ticket for a game. I shoot everything from celebrity athletes to sport brands, sportswear, or ads for sporting events.
I’m often hired for my dynamic and emotion-packed images and modern gritty retouching. I also work occasionally as a retoucher with clients including Coors Light and Miller High Life.
Something interesting: In College I was an art major and a Division I athlete. Although I didn’t start my 17-year career in sports photography, I love the road that life took me on: combining my passion for sports and art. As a former athlete I can relate to the emotions and grit of the athlete, and as an artist I love creating that imagery. Another interesting fact is that women make up only 15% of sports photographers. I’m proud for be working in space that’s under represented for women.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
One area of thinking I’ve outgrown is believing that being talented at something will make you successful at it. Growing up, my sister was gifted doctor kits, and I was gifted art sets. I was always told I was a talented artist. But the way I arrived here wasn’t how I imagined. Talent only takes you so far. The truth is, although you’re an artist, you’re also a business owner—and these are the facts about small business owners: within one year, 40% shut down. Within five years, that number jumps to 80%. Of the 20% that survive to year five, 80% of those fail by year ten. Which means only about 4% make it a decade. I’m proud to say I’m in year 17. That likely places me among the top 3% of small business owners, statistically speaking. What’s the secret? Talent is the spark—but endurance, strategy, grit, reinvention, and resilience are what carry the flame through a lifetime.
*(Source The E-Myth Revisited,” by Michael Gerber).
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Falling hard, or failure is something that’s ever present as an artist and business owner. It’s easy to put up a quote on Instagram, “I’m not better than you are, I’ve just failed more times than you have.” It’s essential to fail continually- it means that you’re trying for bigger things. But, it’s also exhausting to fail. Alternatively, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned more about living in a peaceful way, one that accepts change, and the unexpected turns and twists of life. Lighter, by Yung Pueblo is a book I’ve been reading, and it talks about accepting the redirections of life. The truth is, whether we accept them or not, they usually are things that are out of our control. I recently spoke to my friend, a self-made millionaire expressing, “I’ve never had anything come easy. Every single thing I’ve achieved I fought and clawed and failed to get. I never just “accepted the directions of life”. I’ve always felt that I battled my way to my wins. How can we know when to stubbornly fight for what we want to achieve, and when we peacefully accept the re-directions of life and make a new path for ourselves?” She shared that the fight of her 30s is what has led to the success of her early 40s. Now, she’s just tired- she wants to just enjoy the fruits of her labor. I can relate. While experiencing some of the biggest successes of my career, I feel the exhaustion of achieving them. But it is through failure and dedication that I have achieved them. In failure I’ve regrouped, re strategized, increased my skillset, networked, all to fight failure from taking over. I am tired, but there’s also so much more I want to achieve. Now, approaching year 20 in my career I’m thinking of how to marry the need for exhausting resilience and the healthiness of calmly and peacefully continuing on my path, in a way that heels more sustainable. Failure has taught me success, but I’m also learning about healthier ways to, “fail forward.”
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
In my industry, I am constantly being pushed to become an “influencer.” Regularly, I field comments like, “You have the personality to be wildly successful as a YouTuber, you should make videos.” I’m told I should post more often, engage more on social media, and make reels. The whole rat race of “content creation” exhausts me to think about. I don’t do it. But still, I am influential.
I’m not an influencer.
But I am influential.
For example, this is my 2nd year being hired as a mentor for a Patagonia/ Peak Design program for women in sports photography (link: https://www.theroamcollective.org/media-core). From hundreds of applicants, six lucky grant winners get to work one one-on-one with an accomplished sports photographer. Being hired as one of these mentors is a tremendous honor. A few years back, Lens Magazine did an issue called “Sports” and included a 12-page feature on my work. I could list more, but it’s not my style. The point is that I accomplished this without the obnoxiousness of putting on a bunch of makeup, selecting the perfect trending song, and “making content.” I make great images, not entertainment. There’s an idea that you have to be “influential” to be successful, but if you find out who’s shooting for Nike, Lululemon, Miami Heat, the Olympics, etc., it’s rarely anyone who would be a recognized name to the general public. Many of them have fewer followers than I do, which is not that many. Still, they get the most highly coveted jobs not because of how many people subscribe to their YouTube Channel, but because they are extraordinarily accomplished photographers.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Oddly, although I’m one of the most driven people I know, nothing work-related seemed important from that perspective. With women making up only 15% of sports photographers, I do hope my career helps lay a path for more women—even if it’s in a small way. Recently, a 12-year-old girl followed me on Instagram (@sportsphotographermiami). She wants to be a sports photographer when she grows up. Moments like that feel more meaningful to me than having any celebrity behind my lens.
But what I care about most is being a space of goodness, kindness, hope, inspiration, and compassion. I’m one of those people others come to. I’m told I have “good energy,” but I think it’s just that I listen. Really listen. And I care. We’re all moving so fast. Too busy to notice when a friend is overwhelmed, to drop off a meal when someone’s sick and stretched thin, or to remember the day of a big interview and send a simple “you’ve got this” text. But those small acts of presence—that’s what makes the world warmer.
Not long ago, someone close to me called during a hectic workday. I could tell she had been crying. I stopped what I was doing and went to her. We sat. I placed my hand gently on her lap. She asked, “Can I start from the beginning?” I said yes. She talked and cried for two hours. I was just there. I didn’t say one single word. I know what it’s like to be in that space—when life breaks you and you just need someone to be present with you. While I hope my work leaves a mark, what matters more to me is that my presence does.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sportsphotographermiami.com
- Instagram: @sportsphotographermiami
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-vantine-49377112b/
Image Credits
All photos taken by me. You can preferably link to my instagram account @sportsphotographermiami, and if not my website www.sportsphotographermiami.com
Name to credit: Michelle VanTine Photography
