A little about Michael Donnel Grady is a street style, fashion, & boudoir photographer from Indianapolis, Indiana.

Michael is also an Emmy Award winning sportscaster for WRTV-6 (ABC), the host of the "Grady & Big Joe Show" on ESPN affiliate 107.5 FM and 1070 AM, and is the PA Announcer for the Indiana Pacers. For Michael, photography is an outlet for artistic expression and a way to make poetry without the use of words.

You can check him out on Facebook here. Learn more about him and contact him here.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Michael for taking the time to do the interview; I’ve found it to be a very interesting read and I’m sure that you will too.

Here it is…

At what age did you become interested in photography?

Probably in grade school. I used to look through my parents’ photo albums constantly - and I loved playing with my great grandfather’s polaroid.

Why did you decide to become a fashion photographer?

My appreciation for fashion and my awareness of it began back in high school. I worked in the men’s section of a department store, and I had to be conscious of my attire. Then I became more addicted as I discovered runway shows - and the top-to-bottom transformational power of fashion. Again, both of my parents loved photography - so I always loved the art form…but it wasn’t until about a year ago that I decided to combine fashion and photography, that I became obsessed with creating behind the lens. London Fashion Week (2016) changed my whole outlook on the future.

What type of preparation do you do before a shoot?

Every day and just about every moment is prep for a shoot. As I drive through the city I keep my eyes open for potential locations. I keep an eye on how the lighting changes over the course of the day, and in specific places. I always have photo inspiration - a spread from a magazine, for example…..and then put my own stamp on it with the help of the model. It’s a full collaborative process, so I take all ideas seriously - and let spontaneity live.

What kind of tools do you use for post processing? Explain your work flow.

I do everything on my phone. Lightroom. Photoshop Fix. VSCO. Technology has come a LONG way. I don’t prefer a ton of touching up - I want the people I collab with to look as natural as possible. I’m a lifestyle shooter…even the high fashion shoots should be natural.

How do you get inspired? What are some of the things you do to get inspired to shoot?

I get inspired every day I scroll through my Instagram timeline, pick up a fashion magazine, or interact with other creatives. You have to surround yourself with equally inspired and passionate people to keep your juices flowing.

Who are your favorite photographers?

Kat Irlin. Mario Testino. Peter Lindbergh. There are more…but those are my top 3, at the moment.

Are you working on anything at the moment, either for a client or for personal?

I work every day - try to get a shoot in everyday, and do my best to balance it all. Road trips and flights for shoots - and collabs with designers (most recently Valerie Mayen of Project Runway)