Every Journey Starts Differently
Every Accelerator member brings a different story. This week, we introduce two more.
Welcome to This Week’s Edition of The Carty Method Magazine
Photography has a way of finding people at different moments in life.
For some, it begins in childhood.
For others, it starts with a single class, a chance encounter, or an unexpected opportunity.
Sometimes it’s a passion that’s placed on hold for years before finally returning.
What matters isn’t when the journey begins.
It’s having the courage to begin again.
This week, we’re introducing two more members of the Accelerator whose stories remind us that there is no single path to becoming a photographer.
Progress isn't measured by where you started. It's measured by the standard you're willing to pursue.
Malik Brand
Always Moving Forward
“For Malik, photography isn’t just about making better images. It’s about becoming better every single day.”
At a Glance
📍 Location
Lansing, Michigan, USA
🌎 Time Zone
Eastern Time (ET)
📷 Photography Niche
Portrait Photography
🎯 Current Focus
Building the systems that allow him to focus on creating great work.
🚀 Goal
Expand beyond the Lansing market and establish himself in larger commercial markets.
“It was the next step."
Malik’s Story
Photography has been part of Malik Brand’s life for as long as he can remember.
Growing up, his mother worked as a model, giving him an early appreciation for the creative world.
As he got older, picking up a camera felt like a natural next step.
Six years later, portrait photography has become both his passion and his profession.
After consistently submitting work for CARTY’s weekly reviews and seeing measurable progress through constructive feedback, joining the Accelerator became the obvious next step.
Today, Malik is focused on building the business systems that will allow him to spend more time creating and less time managing the day-to-day demands of running a business.
He also hopes to expand his reach beyond his local market while continuing to improve his craft.
One thing Malik wants the community to know is simple: he believes growth is something we should pursue together.
He’s committed to becoming better every day and helping others do the same.
Social Media Handles:
Website: malikbrandphotography.com
Instagram: Malik.a.brand
Mike Howell
Starting Again
“Sometimes the right time isn’t the first opportunity. It’s the moment you decide not to wait any longer.”
At a Glance
📍 Location
Glenview, Illinois, USA
🌎 Time Zone
Central Time (CT)
📷 Photography Niche
Food & Beverage Photography
🎯 Current Focus
Developing an eye for great photography.
🚀 Goal
Build a portfolio of 36 commercial-quality images and launch his photography business.
“Now is the best time.”
Mike’s Story
Mike Howell first fell in love with photography more than four decades ago.
As a high school student, he learned photography in the darkroom, developing black and white film.
Thus, discovering a passion that stayed with him long after the class had ended.
His first camera, an Olympus OM-10, travelled the world with him during his time in the U.S. Navy.
Like many photographers, life eventually took him in a different direction.
Marriage, family, and career meant the camera was set aside, but the desire to return never disappeared.
That changed after discovering Steve Carty’s educational content online.
Inspired by the honesty, passion, and practical approach to building a photography business, Mike committed himself to starting again.
Joining Portfolio Lab with the promise of creating an entirely new body of work, he quickly realized there would never be a perfect moment to feel completely ready.
The Accelerator became an opportunity to stop waiting and begin building the portfolio he’d always wanted.
Today, Mike’s goal is ambitious and measurable: create a portfolio of 36 professionally reviewed images while continuing to develop the creative eye needed to compete in commercial food and beverage photography.
For Mike, photography isn’t simply about making images.
It’s about making up for lost time.
Social Media Handles:
Website: N/A
Instagram: N/A
Professional feedback will change your reality. Joining Portfolio Lab is the only way.
👉🏾 Carty a Pro Photographer, Director, and Educator based in Toronto, CA.
His goal is to educate and connect a global network of visual creators.
👉🏾 Masterclass Level Photography Business Education from a 36yr Pro 👈🏾 on YouTube
See work at 👉🏾 SteveCarty.com
Work with him 👉🏾 TheCartyMethod.com
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