Rising Stars: Meet Micah Rind

Today we’d like to introduce you to Micah Rind.

Hi Micah, 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 backstories with our readers.
I’ve been in the photography/videography industry for eight or so years. I’ve always had diverse interests, but they always came back to content creation. Growing up, I was obsessed with fashion and had countless Project Runway DIY books, and whenever I flipped through magazines, I would skip the articles and go straight to the photos. When I reached middle school, I was exposed to content creators on YouTube, and I was drawn to the artsy style of travel videos or visual poetry. At the time, I thought, “well, I could do this,” so I did. It was like the final puzzle piece clicked, and it felt right.

I became obsessed with the idea that every photo has a grain of truth. It may be posed or enhanced. However, to a certain extent, undeniable honesty is embedded deep within. Those models were there at that time, wearing that outfit and posing that way, and I think there’s something beautiful about that.

This fall, I will graduate from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s in Film and Media Production and a concentration in Cinematography. While at ASU, I’ve had the pleasure of working with The Chic Daily, of which I am the current Magazine Content Director. Through the organization, I’ve worked with many like-minded creatives, so my work has become less of a job and more just collaborating with cool people. The Chic Daily has been a blessing and cemented that this is what I’m meant to do.

By nature, I’m a curious individual, so a lot of my work has started with a genuine need to explore different areas of life. I love getting to know people, so when I’m at events, I always look forward to meeting new creatives, discussing our different expertise, and finding common ground. I’m a big believer in trying new things, so I like to have my hand in a little bit of everything.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a smooth road?
No, it has not been a smooth road. I’ve had to sacrifice a lot to get to where I am; it’s not an easy industry, and you have to want it. It’s been a lot of late nights and countless hours invested into my work, but it’s worth it to me.

I had to put my personal life on the back burner for a long time. While my peers were entering relationships, partying, and enjoying their youth, I was in my room editing till 3 am. I went at it like a dog and just became obsessed with my work, and I felt like life was passing me by for a little bit, but then I realized that all my hard work was not in vain. Things started to click, and all the time I had invested in developing my skill set began returning to serve me. I’m so in love with my work and constantly pushing to grow as a creative. So all the sacrifices I’ve made along the way have helped me become the person I’m meant to be.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I work mainly with brands and designers to showcase their clothes/products. I love the fast-paced nature of the industry, there’s always something new going on, and the ability to dip my toes into various aesthetics and content mediums make every day an adventure. You never know what you’re going to get. I think it’s easy to get caught up in producing the same kind of content, but I thrive when there’s variety. I remember one weekend I had a runway preview to shoot in the evening, then I woke up the next morning to shoot behind the scenes for a designer, immediately ran to shoot a dance video, and then covered a concert that night. It may sound like a jumble of insanity, but it keeps me entertained. One thing that unites my different work areas is the consistent theme of human connection. I want my work to make people feel something.

For me, it’s not about money or clout, which is why I think a lot of people get into the industry. For me, it’s about connection and collaborating to create genuine art. There’s more to my photos than the final result. It’s all about the process. I love getting to know my models, working together on new poses, and connecting as humans and creatives, rather than treating it like a job. I prioritize connection and comfortability rather than “the shot,” there is no photo in the world worth either party feeling uncomfortable or unsafe, which I feel has been an issue in the industry for a long time.

One of the things I love most about my work is that I can speak my mind. I love doing glamor shoots. However, the most rewarding ones are when I’m able, to be honest about my humanity. One of my favorite projects I’ve ever done is titled “Dedicated to Anyone Who Has Ever Felt Like All They Ever Had to Offer Society Was a Before and After Photo.” It was built on the concept that a majority of our lives. We are made to feel as though we need to measure up to a certain beauty standard, and we owe society a before and after photo. As a curvier woman, I grew up feeling as though I would only ever justify my existence if I lost weight when that’s not the case. I wanted to open up a conversation on the social stigma regarding beauty, and the feedback I received on the video seemed to agree with the sentiment. It was a lot of tears and vulnerability, and I’m endlessly thankful for the team of models who helped me bring it to life.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting?
Ask yourself, “what’s the worst that could happen” and if the answer is that they say “no,” then go for it. A majority of the decisions in my life have been spurred by my insatiable curiosity and wondering what would happen if I just went for it, and I think it’s been working out so far.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rindstudio/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/rindstudio
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJSODu1bpDp5MjJv3pWN6CQ
• Others: Link to Dedicated to Anyone Who Has Ever Felt Like All They Ever Had to Offer Society Was a Before and After Photo: https://youtu.be/kdrdVwqw8Do
  Link to Sacred Hearts Co campaign: https://youtu.be/f88ZCV75A-A

 

Image Credits
1 – Model: Tannis Starr (@tannistarr) shot for Ecosusi (@ecosusi_vintage) 2- Model: Tannis Starr (@tannistarr) shot for Ecosusi (@ecosusi_vintage) 3 – Models left to right: Annie (@annie_victoriaaa) Uniss (@unissfx) Fabio (@fabiiocapri) Designer: Sacred Hearts Co (@sacredheartsco Makeup Artist: Angel Sanchez (@angelbrimua) Hair: Arizona Royalty Salon (@azroyaltysalonllc) Production: Corella & Co Model Development (@corellandco) 4 – Model: Annie (@annie_victoriaaa) Designer: Sacred Hearts Co (@sacredheartsco Makeup Artist: Angel Sanchez (@angelbrimua) Hair: Arizona Royalty Salon (@azroyaltysalonllc) Production: Corella & Co Model Development (@corellandco) 5 – Model: Fabio (@fabiiocapri) shot for Ecosusi (@ecosusi_vintage) 6 – Model: Sav Mitchell (@sunnysideupsav)