Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Cunningham.
Michael, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started making short videos in high school. When I went to college I decided that’s where my passion lied and so I pursued a degree in Cinema and Media Arts from Biola University in Southern California. After graduating I moved to serve with a new church that was making a difference in the various neighborhoods of Boston. Eventually I got the opportunity to be lead videographer with Shutter and Sound, a national wedding videography company.
I’ve never been one to just do one thing and that’s what made it so difficult for me to launch a company. I don’t necessarily focus on just wedding videography/photography. I use the skills and techniques from my time behind a camera and bring my style of shooting to whomever is interested; whether it’s maternity or newborn photography sessions or corporate or documentary films. That isn’t to say I don’t have a general direction, I do, but being open to different projects has allowed for a greater understanding of how I experience the world and how to convey that through images, moving or still.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has definitely not been smooth, but looking back, it has been laid out for me. There weren’t so much struggles as there were moments of learning and practicing patience.
I moved to Boston when it didn’t make sense. I want to make movies after all and L.A was where I already was and had made connections, but I wanted to become a more stable person of good character and thought “what better way than moving across the country and restarting from scratch.”
Moving to the east was a relatively smooth process, I got a paid internship right out of college that brought me to New York and after the internship ended, I hopped on a plane to Boston.
When I got here I worked at a Bookstore, Sandwich Shop, and a Non Profit over a two year time span before going full time into photo/video work.
The biggest struggle I faced was when it came to comparing myself to my peers who stayed in LA and had begun working on larger budget projects. Or others who were posting their Island highlights on social media while I was waking up at 4am to trudge through the snow from the winter of 2015 to make it to work at 6. But again, I came out here for character and nothing develops character more than giving your best to whatever work you’re doing, even if it’s not the work you hope to be doing long term, and doing it with a positive mindset.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Cunningham Aesthetics – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Cunningham Aesthetics focuses on telling a visual story, whether through photography or video.
I do/have done photography and videography ranging from corporate, to documentary, concert/event, short films, portraits, weddings, maternity, newborn, fashion…you name it, I’ve likely had some experience with it. And I wouldn’t say I specialize in photo over video or vice versa, I’ve spent an equal amount of time perfecting my craft in both areas…but at the end of the day I’d say my preference lies with creating video based content.
I’m most proud of the fact that I was able to settle on a name…before learning what aestheticians do…joking aside, I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve become a company at all. My upbringing didn’t necessarily set me up for failure, but it didn’t set me up for success either. But to be in the field that I’m passionate about despite the challenges of my past is something I owe to God and the people who believed in me along the way.
That said, what sets me apart is my past and the ways I’ve had to look at and navigate the world to overcome obstacles. It has shaped my eye for beauty and heart for empathy which are the reasons people are drawn to my work…I think.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I plan to eventually be working in the film/entertainment business which will likely require a move back out to California or New York, but I’m trying to get out of student debt before I make any other big life moves, which may seem ambitious, but I also don’t have a family yet so..
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cunninghamaesthetics.com/
- Phone: 714-943-9416
- Email: michael@cunninghamaesthetics.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cunninghamaesthetics/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cunninghamaesthetics
Image Credit:
Personal Photo by Kevin Lemieux
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