About:

Mike White is widely regarded as a top model photographer in Chicago, though his diverse background in art and design goes back several decades. As a youth, Mike received many public awards and accolades for his drawings and paintings, and by the age of 13, was exhibiting in solo gallery shows at the public library and the prestigious SXU Gallery. While still in high school, Mike was awarded his first of three consecutive scholarships to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, which included the study of fine art drawing and cinematography. Mike’s early portfolio gained favor and special consideration from the dean of art at NIU, who offered a blended curriculum of art, design, and photography into his degree in Visual Communications.

Mike has drawn from his experience from working on “both sides of the fence” for a variety of agencies. While working with high-profile clients as a designer and art director for the past 20 years, Mike also balanced his freelance career as a photographer. By the time he signed the lease on his first studio, he was already an award-winning published commercial photographer working with fashion designers, musicians, actors and models.

Mike continues his work in fashion photography and musician portraits while blending his expertise with advertising agencies and corporate clients as a strategic team player. He continues to explore the arts through his drawings, and regularly exhibits his fine art photography through the Zhou B Art Center and other prominent gallery curators.