Who I Am

Hi! My name is Michael Mendez. I’m a photographer based in Gaithersburg MD.

I was born in phoenix AZ but my family then moved to Maryland when I was about a year old so I really do know Arizona at all. Both my parents are from San Miguel El Salvador so my second language is Spanish.

When I was a kid, I always offered myself to take pictures at family outings or any random events. My passion for photography really took off when my father purchased a Canon EOS Rebel XT, a 6.3 MP camera. The same exact camera I was personally and secretly saving up for. Ever since then, I’ve been passionate about capturing those once in a lifetime moments for people.

I graduated from Springbrook High School in 2004 and later took a certification course at John Hopkins in Graphic Design in 2008. I am a Christian and worship on Saturdays at my local Seventh Day Adventist Church in Silver Spring MD. I strongly believe in the sacredness of marriage between a man and a woman and respect what it symbolizes as a Christian.

My ultimate goal for me, as a photographer, is to capture those special moments and make them last a lifetime. I like meeting new people. I like traveling. I love life and every opportunity to capture it through my lens.

Send me an email, let’s talk!

God Bless!

My Gear

Camera

 - Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR
 - Canon EOS 7D Mark II DSLR

Lens
- Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD
- Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 VC USD

Lighting
- 1 Canon Speedlite 580 EXII
- 2 Canon Speedlite 430 EXII
- 2 Impact OCTACOOL-9SOFTBOX
- Impact 42" 5-IN-1 REFLECTOR DISCS
- 1 Impact 60" UMBRELLA BLK/WHT w/REMOVABLE COVER
- 2 Impact 43" TRANSLUCENT UMBRELLA
- 2 Impact 33" TRANSLUCENT UMBRELLA

Other
- Impact BACKGRND KIT w/10x12 STONE BLU/NK MSLN
- Phottix Odin Wireless TTL Trigger w/ 3 Receivers
- Vanguard Alta Pro 263AGH 3-Section Aluminum Tripod with GH-100 Pistol-Grip Ball Head - a bunch of batteries - a bunch of memory cards