Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Briscoe.
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?
My journey into photography really started with a genuine love for creating and capturing moments. What began with a camera eventually grew into something much bigger than I originally imagined. As I continued developing my craft, I realized photography wasn’t just something I enjoyed doing—it was something I could build a business, a brand, and eventually an entire creative ecosystem around.
I built Briscoe Photography from the ground up, learning not only how to become a better photographer, but also how to become a better entrepreneur. That meant learning the business side—marketing, branding, client relationships, pricing, networking, production, and figuring out how to consistently turn creativity into income.
Over time, my work expanded beyond traditional photography. I began working in videography, content creation, creative direction, commercial and branding projects, events, and media production. I’ve had the opportunity to work with models, entrepreneurs, businesses, publications, creators, families, and organizations, and every experience has helped shape the direction I’m moving in today.
One of the biggest milestones in that journey was creating Monumental Media Studios in Capitol Heights, Maryland. I wanted more than just a place where I could shoot my own work. I wanted to build a professional creative space where photographers, videographers, podcasters, models, content creators, entrepreneurs, and brands could come together to create. Today, the studio allows us to offer photography and video production, podcasting, content creation, studio rentals, creative sets, workshops, events, and opportunities for other creatives to grow their own businesses.
What I’m most proud of is that I’m still building. I don’t look at where I am today as the finish line. I’m constantly learning, experimenting, expanding into new areas like UGC and brand content, building relationships, and finding new ways to turn creativity into sustainable business opportunities.
Ultimately, I want what I’m building to be bigger than me. I want Briscoe Photography and Monumental Media Studios to be known for high-quality work, but I also want Monumental to become a resource and creative hub for the DMV—a place where people can create, collaborate, learn, network, and turn their ideas into something real.
Photography may have been where the journey started, but entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for others have become an equally important part of where it’s taking me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think that’s part of what makes the journey meaningful.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to balance being a creative with being a business owner. Loving photography is one thing; building a sustainable business around it is completely different. I had to learn pricing, marketing, contracts, client management, advertising, networking, equipment investments, studio expenses, and all of the behind-the-scenes responsibilities that people don’t necessarily see when they look at the finished photograph.
Owning and operating Monumental Media Studios added another level of responsibility. Maintaining a physical creative space comes with real overhead, and there are months when you still have to cover those expenses whether the calendar is completely booked or not. That taught me very quickly that talent alone isn’t enough. You have to understand business, continuously market yourself, create multiple streams of revenue, and be willing to adapt.
Another challenge has been wearing so many hats. There have been plenty of times when I’ve been the photographer, videographer, creative director, editor, marketer, salesperson, studio manager, and problem-solver all at once. As the business grows, I’m learning that everything can’t depend on me forever. Building systems, creating a reliable team, delegating, and surrounding myself with people who understand the bigger vision have become increasingly important.
There have also been opportunities that didn’t work out, clients who didn’t book, investments that didn’t immediately produce a return, and ideas that had to be changed completely once I saw how they worked in the real world. I’ve learned not to look at those experiences as failures. Most of them taught me something that made the next decision better.
Probably the biggest lesson has been understanding that entrepreneurship requires consistency even when the results aren’t immediate. There are moments when business is moving fast and everything feels like it’s coming together, and there are other moments when you have to create your own momentum.
Through all of it, I’ve continued to invest in myself, my equipment, my businesses, my relationships, and my knowledge. I’m still learning and still figuring things out as I grow. The road hasn’t been perfect, but every challenge has helped me become more intentional about the photographer, entrepreneur, and business owner I want to be.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At my core, I’m a photographer, creative director, and entrepreneur. Through Briscoe Photography, I specialize in portrait, branding, editorial, commercial, family, graduation, event, and lifestyle photography. Over the years, my work has expanded beyond photography into videography, content creation, UGC and brand content, creative direction, and full-scale media production.
I’m probably most known for creating bold, polished imagery and being able to work with many different types of people. I can photograph a family one day, create an editorial with a team of models and stylists the next, cover an event, and then turn around and produce content for a business or brand. I enjoy that versatility because I never wanted to put myself in a box creatively.
Monumental Media Studios has allowed me to take that vision even further. The studio isn’t just where I photograph my own clients—it’s a creative production space where photographers, videographers, models, podcasters, content creators, entrepreneurs, and brands can bring their own ideas to life. We’ve built multiple creative sets, professional photography and video capabilities, podcast production, studio rentals, creator residencies, workshops, events, and opportunities for creatives to collaborate with one another.
What sets me apart is that I look at the entire picture. When someone comes to me with an idea, I’m not only thinking about pressing the shutter. I’m thinking about the concept, lighting, location, set design, wardrobe, posing, content opportunities, how the finished work will be used, and how we can maximize what we’re creating. Having my own studio and a growing network of models, photographers, videographers, stylists, and other creatives also gives me the ability to help put the right people and resources around a project.
I’m especially proud of building Monumental because it represents something larger than my individual photography career. Creating my own work is rewarding, but being able to provide a space where someone else can create their portfolio, produce their first podcast, photograph their first client, build content for their business, learn something new, or make a connection that leads to another opportunity means a lot to me.
Ultimately, I want to be known not only for the quality of the images I create, but for what I’m building around those images. I’m creating an ecosystem where photography, media, entrepreneurship, education, and collaboration can exist under one roof. That’s what makes the work feel Monumental to me.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I’m a big believer in constantly learning, but I’ve also learned that information is only valuable if you actually apply it. A lot of my education today comes from a combination of technology, other entrepreneurs, hands-on experience, YouTube, social media, and simply being willing to research something I don’t know.
One of the biggest tools I’ve incorporated into my everyday workflow is ChatGPT and AI in general. I use it almost like a business assistant—to organize ideas, research, develop marketing strategies, build systems, plan content, work through business decisions, and turn thoughts in my head into actionable plans. As someone who wears a lot of hats, having tools that help me move from an idea to execution faster has been extremely valuable.
YouTube has also been one of my biggest educational resources. Photography, lighting, editing, videography, marketing, business, equipment, entrepreneurship—if there’s something I want to understand better, I’m willing to sit down, study it, test it myself, and figure out how it applies to what I’m building.
Social media is another resource I pay close attention to. Beyond entertainment, I look at it as real-time market research. I’m constantly observing what brands are doing, how creators are marketing themselves, what type of content people respond to, what’s changing in photography and media, and where new opportunities are developing.
But some of my best resources aren’t apps or books—they’re people. I believe strongly in networking and having conversations with other photographers, business owners, creatives, clients, and people who may know something I don’t. Sometimes one conversation can completely change the way you look at an opportunity.
More than anything, I try to remain a student. Technology changes, photography changes, marketing changes, and business changes. I never want to become so comfortable with what I already know that I stop learning what could take me to the next level.
Pricing:
- Photography Sessions: Starting at $150
- Professional Headshots: Starting at $150
- Family & Portrait Sessions: Starting at $150
- Branding & Content Creation Sessions: Starting at $250
- Event Photography: Starting at $150/hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Briscoegraphy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymanbriscoe
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/mjbriscoe
- Twitter: https://x.com/mymanbriscoe
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GunManBriscoe
