How Miguel Quiles Quit His Corporate Job To Find Photography Success On Youtube (Re-Release)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Portrait System Podcast

Episode: How Miguel Quiles Quit His Corporate Job To Find Photography Success On Youtube

Host: Nikki Closser
Guest: Miguel Quiles
Date: September 2, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode explores the journey of Miguel Quiles, a portrait and headshot photographer who transitioned from a corporate job to building a highly successful business as a photographer and YouTube content creator. Host Nikki Closser and Miguel dive into his origin story, the importance of taking control of your career, how digital content creation can provide new income streams, and candid advice for those hoping to blend artistry with entrepreneurship.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Becoming a Sony Artisan

• Exclusivity & Pathway: Miguel shares the story behind becoming a Sony Artisan, a title held by only about 50 photographers worldwide.
  • “At most there was maybe like 50 or so photographers…there’s not too many of them.” – Miguel (03:09)
• Transition: The transition came through a fateful purchase of a Sony A7 at Best Buy and using it initially for video, eventually realizing its power for stills, leading to brand ambassadorship.
  • “I never had it in my head that I would start shooting with this. But…never look back.” – Miguel (03:44)
• Community: Miguel describes the sense of family at Sony and how it's helped foster a larger community.
  • “Their family, you know, it’s like when I see these people, it’s not just…‘Hey, Bob, how’s it going?’…It’s very much like hugs and…showing love.” – Miguel (07:51)

2. Early Career & Leaving Corporate America

• Dual Origin Story: Miguel’s passion began working retail after high school, learning camera tech for sales. Unfulfilled by a corporate career, he made the leap in 2011 to pursue photography full time.
  • “I just want to do something on my own and if I fail, then it’s my fault…you could always improve and get better.” – Miguel (13:57, repeated from intro)
• Fear and Support: The transition was not simple or easy—fear of instability and lack of external support were real challenges.
  • “It was insanely difficult and insanely scary as well…I was leaving my success and my failure in somebody else’s hands who doesn’t know anything.” – Miguel (13:57)
• Freedom & Opportunity: Both Nikki and Miguel reflect on the limits of salary jobs and how entrepreneurship unlocks greater financial and lifestyle freedom, despite the risks.
  • “That corporate job—it really is this kind of false sense of security…as a photographer, you can change things and do things…” – Nikki (15:24)
  • “To me, that’s way scarier than being an entrepreneur.” – Miguel (16:50)

3. Building a Portrait Photography Business

• Genre Niche: Miguel has specialized in headshots and portraits from the beginning, focusing on making people look their best and finding joy in their reactions.
  • “I like talking to people and engaging…doing portrait photography allows you to connect with people.” – Miguel (23:35)
  • “When I take a photo of somebody…if I’m friends with them on social media, I see them change their profile picture…best. One of those little wins.” – Miguel (23:35)
• Relocating & Navigating COVID-19: Moving back to Orlando in March 2020, Miguel had to rebuild some momentum amidst the uncertainties of the pandemic. He navigated limited real estate viewings for studios and a hesitant clientele but found a positive pivot.
  • “I pivoted more towards content creation…That was the best possible move.” – Miguel (29:13)

4. YouTube as a Business & Creation Platform

• Monetization: Miguel explains that YouTube offers various income streams—ads (least profitable), sponsorships, affiliate sales, educational content, and more.
  • “You can make money on just making YouTube videos…it’s highly monetizable.” – Miguel (30:35)
  • “YouTube ad money is probably the least profitable out of the whole thing…” – Miguel (40:19)
• Growth & Strategy:
  • Started with behind-the-scenes content; grew a following by creating for AdoramaTV, then leveraged those views and audience connections for his own channel.
  • “You just steadily show up with content that people might find interesting and it just kind of goes from there.” – Miguel (35:21)
  • “Now it’s like…the average creator, if you work really hard and approach this like a business, you absolutely can make that and way beyond.” – Miguel (32:02)
• Networking & Visibility: Success in content creation and photography both heavily depend on networking and being visible in the community.
  • “People aren’t just going to knock on your door…You have to network.” – Nikki (35:21)

5. Balancing Content & Authenticity

• Pleasing vs. Personal Satisfaction: Miguel and Nikki discuss producing content that’s popular versus what they love, agreeing to strike a balance.
  • “There are the videos that I want to make…people just don’t find it to be as interesting…do what you want.” – Miguel (39:11, 39:32)

6. Encouragement for Beginners

• Mindset:
  • “Why not you?…You just need to believe that it’s for you.” – Miguel (46:34)
• Opportunity: Photography and content creation can yield opportunities unimaginable at the outset: travel, autonomy, and access.
  • “I would not have thought…that type of life would have been afforded to somebody who was just a photographer.” – Miguel (21:39)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Not Relying on Corporate Promises:
  “I want to do something on my own and if I fail, then it’s my fault…You could pivot and adjust and you can learn those things and you could always improve and get better.” – Miguel (00:34, repeated at 13:57)

• On Brand Loyalty & Community:
  “Sony…their family…they foster community in everything they do.” – Miguel (07:51)

• On the Power of Entrepreneurship:
  “Being an entrepreneur, especially being a photographer, you get to meet people and do things that corporate America would probably never afford you.” – Miguel (18:20)

• On Monetizing YouTube:
  “YouTube ad money is probably the least profitable out of the whole thing…between sponsorships, affiliate deals…having a vehicle to promote yourself…it’s highly monetizable.” – Miguel (30:35, 40:19)

• On Mindset for Beginners:
  “Why not you?…You just need to believe that it’s for you.” – Miguel (46:34)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Becoming a Sony Artisan: 03:09 – 07:51
• Leaving Corporate America & Building a Creative Career: 12:02 – 18:53
• Headshot & Portrait Niche: 22:45 – 24:22
• COVID Pivot & Studio Challenges: 27:14 – 29:49
• YouTube Monetization & Growth: 30:35 – 35:21
• Balancing Audience vs. Creator Motivation: 39:11 – 39:54
• Content Monetization Methods: 40:09 – 42:56
• Advice for Beginners & Mindset: 46:34 – 47:26

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Lightning Round: Miguel’s Quick Recommendations

• Can’t Live Without (on Shoots): Laptop for tethered shooting (43:58)
• Favorite Non-Work Activity: Spending time with family (44:35)
• Favorite Photography Product: Modern Sony cameras (“it’s going to change the way you shoot”) (45:23)
• Advice for Beginners: “Why not you?…You just need to believe that it’s for you.” (46:34)
• Where to Find Miguel:
  • Website: miguelquiles.com
  • YouTube (search “Miguel Quiles” & Sony Alpha Universe channel) (47:32)

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Tone & Style

Both Nikki and Miguel remain approachable, candid, and encouraging throughout the conversation. The episode is full of practical insights, personal storytelling, and genuine camaraderie. Miguel’s approachability—"I'm like a solid five [on the energy scale]" (02:31)—makes his story relatable, not lofty or unattainable.

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Summary Takeaways

• Success in creative fields often demands risky leaps, persistence, and adaptability—not certainty.
• Community, networking, and generous sharing of knowledge are as important as technical skill.
• Digital platforms like YouTube can open doors, providing financial opportunities and audience reach hitherto unimaginable.
• Above all, if others can make it happen, “Why not you?” – believe it is possible and take action.

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For more inspiration and education, find Miguel on YouTube or visit his website. Check out the Sue Bryce Education community at suebriceeducation.com for further support and resources.

Transcript

[Nikki Klosser]

Hey there, it's Nikki Klosser and I want to let you know about an.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Awesome free giveaway for people on our email list.

[Nikki Klosser]

If you haven't already, click the link in our podcast description or go to theportraitsystem.com signup to get on the list.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

If you sign up, you'll get a.

[Nikki Klosser]

Free posing 101 PDF to jumpstart things.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

It's an epic PDF, so you'll definitely want to get this.

[Nikki Klosser]

Also, just by being in our email community, you'll get deals, sales, and information about any of our upcoming events and activities. So head over to theportraitsystem.com sign up.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

And and sign up Today you're listening to the Portrait System podcast.

[Miguel Quiles]

I just want to do something on my own and if I fail, then it's my fault. It's not that somebody told me I couldn't do it or I wasn't qualified or whatever. It's well, you didn't put in enough hours or you didn't learn the right things. And the cool thing about that is that you could pivot and adjust and you can learn those things and you could always improve and get better.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Welcome to the Portrait System Podcast.

[Nikki Klosser]

I'm your host Nikki Klosser and this show is here to help you succeed in the world of photography and business. To help you learn to become financially free, doing what you love and so much more. With over 1 million downloads, countless photographers have taken what they've learned from both our episodes and from theportraitsystem.com and they.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Have grown their businesses, quit their day.

[Nikki Klosser]

Jobs, and are designing a life of their dreams.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

We keep it real and share stories.

[Nikki Klosser]

About the ups and downs that come with running a photography business.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

You'll hear real life stories of how.

[Nikki Klosser]

Other photographers run their business and you'll learn actionable steps that you can take to reach your own goals. Thank you so much for being here.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

And let's get started. My guest this week on the Portrait System podcast is Miguel Quiles, and his photography career went in a direction that he really wasn't expecting. Miguel quit a corporate job in 2011 and started shooting portraits along with starting a YouTube channel just for fun. Fast forward and his YouTube channel for photographers really took off. He now makes an amazing income making video and he also has some great affiliates and sponsorships, including with Sony. As a Sony artisan, Miguel shares some really great information about how he makes his photography YouTube career work and it was so interesting to hear all about it. Okay, let's get started with My friend, Miguel Calis. Hi, Miguel. Welcome to the portrait system. How are you doing?

[Miguel Quiles]

Awesome. Thanks for having me.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Sweet. I'm excited to have you here. You are a Sony artisan, and it's funny because I just interviewed Scott Robert Lim the other day. So now it's two of you in a month.

[Miguel Quiles]

That's crazy. That's a good followup. I'm. I'm a little bit less energy than Scott, so I'm going to warn you ahead of time, he's like, you know, he's like. I'm like a solid five, so. But I'll try my best.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Well, Scott is a very, you know, he has that unique level of amazing energy that I think most people can't match, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[Miguel Quiles]

It's true.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

All right. There's so much to talk about, but since I brought up the Sony artisan thing, I've heard it's really difficult to become one. Do you want to just tell us really quickly about how that all happened and then we can go back to your whole journey?

[Miguel Quiles]

For sure. So, yeah, it is very difficult to become one. I believe at most there was maybe like 50 or so photographers in the world.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Wow.

[Miguel Quiles]

Had that title. So, yeah, there's. There's not too many of them. And, yeah. You know, at the time. So going back right around 2013, I was kind of hitting my stride as a professional photographer, and I was shooting with a different system at the time, and there were just several things that I wanted that my current system didn't offer.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Okay.

[Miguel Quiles]

So I just kind of went out on the hunt. And funny enough, I went to. To a local Best Buy store and was talking to a rep there because I had a very specific issue. And he was like, hey, this Sony camera will kind of take care of that. And it was to shoot video. I was like, oh, okay. So I bought the. The original Sony A7, and it was really just there to shoot video. Like, I never had it in my head that I would start, you know, shooting with this. And Certainly now in 2023, looking back, I wouldn't have imagined that it would take me to this. But, yeah, I bought that camera and basically started using it to shoot videos. And then one day decided, let's see what this thing could do for shooting stills. Cause it's small and it's compact. It's got a lot of cool tech, and holy cow, like, never look back. And so that's how I switched to the system.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah. How did you get on the radar?

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah. So, you know it's one of those things where I think it was a matter of like, really good timing. At the time I was living in New Jersey, I was teaching a lot in New York City. I would go to Adorama and I was doing events there every month. And one of the events that I had lined up was an event talking about my transition from DSLR to Mirrorless, because at the time it wasn't common. So much so that I would tell people that I was shooting Mirrorless and a lot of my photographer buddies would be like, are you doing okay? Do you need some money? Because as if I couldn't afford the so called good stuff. So it was really funny how the world changes, but. And I think that's really what it was, was that I was kind of going out, I was teaching a lot, doing a lot of events, doing a lot of live demos and workshops. And yeah, it got their attention at a time where there weren't as many ambassadors that were doing what I was doing and there weren't as many ambassadors out there that understood the other side of the business, which is that to be an ambassador, it's not just like a medal, you know, where it's like, hey, I ran a 5K and I got a medal and now we're done, right?

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Miguel Quiles]

One of those things where you have to represent and you know, and I've, I've tried to do that from, from day one.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

So when you say represent, I mean, obviously you're using the gear, but is that also like speaking engagements and are you going to trade shows and things like that as well?

[Miguel Quiles]

All the things, trade shows, dealer events. I'm a YouTuber as well, so I create a lot of YouTube content, not just for my own YouTube channel, but also for Sony's YouTube channel. So it's been kind of an interesting. Yeah, so, yeah, everything I do is kind of showing off and, and preaching the gospel of Sony. You know, it's something that's changed my life and it's changed the way that I shoot and you know, I, I know that it would do that for other people and so it's easy. Easy to get in line with it.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, that's awesome. All right, well. Very cool. Very cool. Yeah, it's funny. It's funny how certain connections and just maybe not even the word connection isn't the right word, but just one decision at Best Buy of all places could really, you know, change things for you. Very cool.

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah, though it's. The world works in a, in a very funny way, I think. You know, kind of going back to the question, you know, I think that at the time, you know, Sony wasn't what they are today. And so I think it was very much one of those things where I was very, you know, fortunate to have had the culmination of all these things happen when it happened, because I think if I had to become a Sony artisan today, it would be infinitely more difficult.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

So, yeah, you know, yeah, they must be loyal because Scott said the same thing where he got in pretty early, and it, you know, if it's been almost, what did you say, almost 10 years for you that you've been doing.

[Miguel Quiles]

So I think officially it was 2015, so a little under 10 years.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Very cool. Awesome. All right.

[Miguel Quiles]

It's crazy. They're insanely loyal. I mean, honestly, like Sony, all the folks in San Diego, all the folks in Tokyo, you know, their, their family, you know, it's like when I see these people, it's not just, hey, Bob, how's it going? Oh, good job, Jim. It's very much like hugs and, you know, showing love. Like, it's very much a family and it's very much a community. And what's awesome is that it's not just that. For me, I think that's part of the reason why they've kind of gained steam so much over the years is that they foster community in everything they do. And I think that's why a lot of photographers have kind of found, you know, those Sony cameras to be home, you know, like, it was for me a long time ago.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, that, that connection. Here I am using that word again. Whether it's with clients or with the products you're using and the people like it, it really makes a big difference. And it's funny because when I, you know, invited you to be on the podcast, I didn't even know. Like, I'm just so not techie. I'm not up with the times of this and that or whatever. So it's funny because I didn't even realize that you were a Sony hardest, and I just, you know, I knew of you and I love your work and I've been following you for a while and, you know, I don't know, but okay, one, one more thing about being a rep or an ambassador is another one that's really tough to get into is your Profoto as well.

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah, so I, I, I was Profoto. Okay, was Profoto. Yeah, so I was an ambassador for Profoto from, I'm gonna say around 2017 until maybe 2020. One or so.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Okay. Yeah, that's a long time too.

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah. So it's. It's been a while. And the folks at Profoto very much are like family as well. Yeah, I think what. What happens as you are kind of setting down this road of being somebody who, you know, is working and doing workshops and doing these different things, you know, there's just certain level of support that you would like to have that, you know, unfortunately, because of the pandemic, a lot of companies got hit pretty hard. And yeah, I love Profoto. I love their products. I still use them to this day. I'm not official, you know, but yeah, I still use their stuff. And yeah, they're. They're great company that make great products.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Awesome. Okay, one more gear thing and then we're going to move on from that. I noticed. Well, if you're listening, you obviously can't see it, but if you, you know, watch the video portion of this, Miguel has behind him this incredible wall of goods. Like, I love it. It's a white wall with shelves of just. How many did you say? Like over a hundred?

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah, there's probably 140 or so cameras. Actually 141, because I just got one yesterday that I'm super, super proud of because there's not too many of these. So, yeah, I want to say there's like 140 or so.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Are they like vintage cameras or just all varieties of camera? Like, what are they all?

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah, so it's. It basically encompasses the history of Minolta and Sony cameras going back to. I think the earliest one I have is from the 1940s. Eventually I'll. I'll. I don't know, get them all. It's like Pokemon, you know, Gotta catch them all.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah.

[Miguel Quiles]

Started off like I always tell people, I start off with just like, I wanted seven cameras that I just wanted to decorate my office. And next thing you know, I'm like, oh, this camera is really cool. And, oh, the bug just bit and it was just game over from there. So, yeah, it was a good set.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, that's what I was going to say. It makes for a really good background. I even asked you before we started recording, I was like, is that real behind you? Because, you know, sometimes people will just insert fake. Fake photos here on their zoom or whatever. Yeah, yeah. So it's really cool.

[Miguel Quiles]

Thank you.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Okay, let's back up a little bit. You had said that things were starting to kind of take off for you as a photographer in 2013. What was going on prior to that? Like, have you been. Have you been shooting for a while before then, or have you just kind of always been a photographer as your career?

[Miguel Quiles]

So it's. It's kind of a difficult one to answer because I feel like I have two different origin stories. You know, I actually started with photography after I graduated high school. This was back in, like, the early 2000s. Used to work at a camera store, electronic store. And so that's kind of what started the passion for photography, mainly because, you know, I worked in retail in order to sell cameras, as I'm sure you know, you kind of just need to know how to shoot and you need to understand how these things work. And so that's what it was. Was like. I just want to get used to using these things. Fast forward to 2011, and I was working in corporate America and just really dissatisfied with the way my career was going, the trajectory. So in 2011, I decided that I wanted to leave my corporate job that I was working at the time and just see if I can make a career out of something that I would enjoy doing. And I loved taking photos. I loved meeting people and connecting with people, and so didn't know that it was going to become what it ultimately became, but just set out to just photograph anything and everything to figure out what do I want to do? Because what I didn't know at the time was that photography was very much kind of a niche thing. So if you want it to be successful, you couldn't just be, hey, I'm a dude with a camera and, you know, you want a building photograph, I got you. You want a family or wedding or whatever. Like, it all has its things that you need to know in order to be successful. And so settled on becoming a headshot and portrait photographer and kind of never look back.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Wow, you make it sound pretty easy. Like, oh, I just decided I was gonna leave my corporate job and start a business. And this is what I did. Like, did it was at the time. Was that really easy for you?

[Miguel Quiles]

No, no, no, no, no. It was insanely difficult and insanely scary as well. You know, I had worked full time for so long, and, you know, I think that what ends up happening to many people who kind of pursue the creative and entrepreneurial path is that I was working in corporate America. I was carving out a certain role and certain opportunity for myself within the company that seemed like it was on the horizon and it was going to happen. And all of a sudden it didn't. And there was just no rhyme or reason as to why it was not going to happen. And I was just thinking at home, you know, I'm leaving my success and my failure in somebody else's hands who doesn't know anything, you know. And so it just got to the point where I was like, well, I want to do, I just want to do something on my own and if I fail, then it's my fault. It's not that somebody told me I couldn't do it or I wasn't qualified or whatever. It's, well, you didn't put in enough hours or you didn't learn the right things. And the cool thing about that is that you could pivot and adjust and you can learn those things that you could always improve and get better. So yeah, it was really hard in the beginning. Getting support from people was really hard too because they didn't see the vision. And honestly, I don't know that I had a really good vision either. But you know, part of that was probably on me. But yeah, it's.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

I don't think I did either. I don't think I had the best vision. I mean, I knew I wanted to be a full time photographer. I just had no idea what it was going to look like and how my life, you know, I don't know, just one foot in front of the other and just kind of, let's see what happens. Yeah, well, and it's interesting hearing you say like with the corporate world because I think there's a lot of people who listen who are in a job and they're afraid to leave because of the stable paycheck and the health insurance and all of that. And it's so interesting because just yesterday I was recording a self value podcast with Sue Bryce and we were talking about that and how oftentimes this sort of, you know, w quote unquote w2job or you know, salaried job, it's kind of like a false sense of security because at any time you can be laid off or like the plan that you had to move up, you know, that didn't happen and you're kind of like at this limit of how much you can grow and how much money you can make. And it really is this kind of false sense of security where if you are self employed, it's so empowering because like you said, you have the control. I mean it's scary and empowering, but if things aren't going well or if you're not booking a lot of clients, you can change things and do things. You don't have to worry and rely on someone else to make those changes, especially, you know, like that corporate company or whatever that wasn't going to do what you needed them to do.

[Miguel Quiles]

So, yeah, I agree totally. I think that to me, that's far more scary, you know, and I. I lived it. I worked in different companies and different places where, you know, at a drop of a whim, they could just decide, hey, they don't want you there anymore. And it doesn't matter whether you're the top at whatever it is that you're doing or you're middle of the road or whatever, that you show up on time, that you come in when you're sick. None of that matters when it's time to drop the ax, you know, when. When you're not important anymore, they drop you. And so to me, that's way scarier than being an entrepreneur and just trying to set out and just execute based on your knowledge and skills, you know?

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, and. And not only that, but there really is this sort of. Well, in some jobs, like I was a school social worker, so I was on teacher salary and teacher pay, and you reach the highest point that you. Money that you can make. I want to say my highest that I could make in the district that I was in at the time was like $78,000 or something. And that was after 20 years or whatever it was with a master's degree. And it's like, that might seem like a lot of money to some, but where I was living in Seattle and the cost of living and even here in Michigan, I mean, that would never have gotten me, like, the things I have now. It's just not possible. I would have had to have made money otherwise somewhere else.

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah, there's no doubt about it. I mean, I think that, you know, that style of work ethic worked out for maybe our parents.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Right.

[Miguel Quiles]

You know, nowadays that, you know, the world is different, the economy is different, the way people make money is different. And if you're still on that path, you know, like I said, it worked for people before us. And maybe trading, you know, your time for money is still fun for some people, but there's definitely a better way, you know, And I think that being an entrepreneur, and especially being a photographer, being a creative entrepreneur, you know, you get to meet people and do things that working in corporate America probably would never afford you.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

So, yeah, you hit the nail on the head. Like, I just. I think I've said this a couple of times, so sorry, listeners, I keep repeating myself, but I just got to speak in New Zealand. Like, I was flown to New Zealand, you know, how cool is that? Like, the opportunities that I've had for traveling. Like, I always go, well, I didn't go this year because I took my niece to Greece instead, which I know I talked about that a couple times. Someone's like, you always talk about how you took your niece to Greece. And I'm like, sorry, did you do it? Just because it rhymed as I'm saying that. That's hilarious. That I was just thinking that she chose Greece, though. But, you know, I went to Italy a couple years in a row for a graphy workshop and just. I mean, it's so cool. Even just this morning, I was thinking as I was, like, eating my salt bagel with cream cheese, you know, watching my chickens play out the window, as I was, like, taking my breakfast break or whatever, I'm like, God, what would I be doing right now if I was still a social worker? Oh, I know. Not this. I wouldn't be at home relaxing, waiting to record with you, eating my bagel, watching my chickens. You know, with it raining, it was kind of gloomy. You know, it's just like, I don't know.

[Miguel Quiles]

God bless the people.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

I just love it. I know, I know.

[Miguel Quiles]

God bless the people that do it because they need it, you know, but it doesn't happen.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

I don't mean to sound like it's a. That's a bad thing. It's just for me, it was not what I personally wanted. And some people thrive in that. Very structured, go to work from this time to this time every day. Just me personally, I just. It just wasn't for me. I'm not a good employee.

[Miguel Quiles]

You and me both. I mean, I can't say that I wasn't a good employee. I just feel like, okay, yeah, I don't know. I'm very idealistic when it comes to work. I feel like if I come in and I do a good job and I keep my head low and work hard, that good things are going to come. And oftentimes they do. But, you know, any little thing could just sidetrack that whole thing. And I saw it happen over and over and over again. And it just got to the point where I was like, you know, what if it's going to happen? Like, I want to be the one that's in control of it.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah. Yeah. Well, and for me, it's the freedom of time. I like to do what I like to do. Like when I say I'm not a good employee, like, I don't do many things. Half. I don't do anything really half ass, unless you ask my husband about like hanging pictures or like painting the walls and things like that, who likes to do that? But when I, it's my job, like when I'm working with someone or for someone or for my clients or whatever, like I don't half ass that ever. But there's something about freedom of having that freedom of time to design my life, how I want and travel when I want and eat when I want and go to my kids classrooms when I want. You know, that I think is truly for me has been the most priceless part of being self employed.

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah, I think what's crazy about all of this, to be honest with you, because everything you're saying is like, that's me. Like my soul speaks to that. I think what's crazier above all of that is that I would not have thought when I graduated high school that that type of life would have been afforded to somebody who was just a photographer. You know, like I would have thought you needed to be like a, like an athlete playing in the NBA or something, or being like a famous music artist or a movie star or something like that to live that kind of lifestyle and to be able to do that as a photographer, as somebody who, as many of my friends would tell me, you know, as I was coming up, that, oh, all you do is just push a button and it's like, yeah, ridiculous.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Oh man. Well, speaking of pushing buttons, let's talk a little bit about this. Tell people first of all, where, where are you located and what do you shoot most of? Like who, who's your, your clientele base? And I know you do a lot of teaching and speaking and things like that, but just as far as like your client work.

[Miguel Quiles]

So for me, I moved to Orlando, Florida back at the beginning of the pandemic. So Orlando, Florida has been home since 2020 actually. Yeah, since beginning of 2020. And you know, I primarily shoot headshots and portraits. That's kind of just been my thing from, from day one has been just working with people and trying to make them look their best. Oftentimes that's for commercial purposes. So, you know, photographing headshots of artists or athletes or business people, whoever. Right. Whoever needs a good photo of themselves to basically market themselves to the world and to others. You know, that's, that's primarily what I've done from day one.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, that's pretty unusual to hear people say that they stuck with the same genre for that long.

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah. You know what I think it is Is that for me. And I realized this early on, I just like people, and I like talking to people and engaging with people. And I think that, you know, doing portrait photography allows you to connect with people. So that just kind of became my. My thing, you know? And I think, in a way, it's a little bit selfish, too, because I actually get, like, deep joy and happiness when I take a photo of somebody. And all of a sudden, like, if I'm friends with them on social media, I see them change their profile picture to something I took the best. You know, it's one of those, like, little wins in life where it's like, you did good, you know? So that. That was it for me, like, getting joy in these little things. I was like, okay, this is what I should be doing.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, it's so funny you say that. It's. I can relate to that so much. I just photographed a senior who. Well, I had tons of seniors this summer, more than last summer, for some reason, but. And one of them, she was kind of shy and quiet, and, you know, normally I can tell if someone's really enjoying the session. And I was kind of like, I couldn't. I couldn't really tell. And then as soon as. Of course, as soon as she got the photos and she right away switched the photo on her Instagram, and I was like, yes. You know, I don't know. Yeah, she loved them or whatever, but even after all this time, I still get that feeling when I see someone react that way. You know, really love their photos. It's still such a great feeling. So that's really cool.

[Miguel Quiles]

Being able to deliver. That is awesome.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

It really is. It really is. Okay, so tell us a little bit about. Well, I was gonna say how you grew your business, but I'm kind of curious. You started over. Where did you live before? Florida.

[Miguel Quiles]

So before I moved to Florida, I lived in New Jersey.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Oh, that's right. You said that. Okay. Yep.

[Miguel Quiles]

And so that was kind of the catalyst. I know I said in the beginning that, you know, as. As a Sony ambassador, I switched over to Sony in 2013. Right around that time, I actually used to live in Orlando, moved to New Jersey, and that kind of just accelerated my photography career. And so being close, so close to New York and being so close to, like, the mecca of all things photography, in my opinion, you know, I just really kind of supercharged things. But family and friends and everything else was here in Orlando. And once you have kids, it, you know, becomes more and more important to just be close to them. And so that kind of just brought me back here and.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Okay, yeah, yeah, that makes sense. So you already had a network there. Like, it's not like you had to full blown regrow your business or remarket thing like, or did you have to do that? Like kind of.

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah. So you would think if, if it would have happened at any other time, that would have been the case.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah.

[Nikki Klosser]

However, hey, just a quick break to tell you that since you're here listening.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

You have access to a really great.

[Nikki Klosser]

Offer for our listeners only. We have a special promo code you can use to get 50% off the cost of membership. Just go to theportraitsystem.com or click the link in the description and use the promo code PODCAST50 to get 50% off of a membership. We rarely discount membership, so this is a big deal.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

As I hope you already know, the.

[Nikki Klosser]

Membership is how I and so many guests on this podcast reached our success. And it gives you access to countless amazing videos, an awesome community, and all the tools you need to build a massively successful business. So use the code podcast50Now to join the community and to start building the business of your dreams.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

I'll see you there.

[Miguel Quiles]

What had happened was there was this thing called Covid that just threw a monkey wrench, the whole thing. And so the day that I moved here was actually the day that the NBA and all these like different leagues started to close down because they realized like the whole threat of COVID So it was like, I don't know, early to mid March of 2020. And meanwhile that's when I'm coming down, you know, with my three dogs in a car, driving from New Jersey down to Florida. I had done some work to basically find a studio to rent because I'm primarily a studio photographer and all of those realtors and people were like, yeah, we're not showing properties in person because of, you know, the virus. And so we'll walk around the office with like our phone and show it to you. And I'm like, you want me to sign a three year lease and you won't even show me the property? I mean, how are we going to do that? You know, how am I going to rent a space sight unseen? And so, you know, I found two realtors that were very cool. One of them showed me the property and it just wasn't the right fit. Second one wasn't the perfect fit, but it was better than the first and it was one of two options at the time. So I went ahead and jumped on it and opened up my studio. It Was a little smaller than I had hoped, but everything else just kind of worked out, you know. And then a few months later, as the world started to kind of figure out what was going on, things got better. Moved into a bigger space. Still kind of struggled early on, to be honest, because people here in Florida, even though I know the news, kind of made it seem like everybody's just running around just partying and breathing on each other's faces or whatever.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Oh, the news.

[Miguel Quiles]

Gotta love the news.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Miguel Quiles]

It was portrayed in a very interesting way because I'm here and I'm just like, I don't see any of that, you know?

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Miguel Quiles]

But, yeah, there was still this reluctance of people to go out and have their pictures taken and just being in close proximity. And so right around that time, I did kind of a little bit of a pivot with my business where I still, you know, was. Was taking clients when I could get them, but I pivoted more towards content creation. And I think, honestly, that was like the best possible move that could have been made at the time, because, you know, it set me up for the next two, three years, you know. Well, two years, I guess, at this point. So it's. It's been great.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

I've had a lot of people on the podcast say that. That, you know, 20, 20, you know, that year or two there. 20, 20, 20, 21. Really helped them kind of reevaluate things and maybe start some things and try some things that they normally wouldn't have done. Like, I know I ended up, you know, recording my first and filming my first photography course, my personal branding course. You know, I would. I have done that. I don't. I don't know. I don't know if I would have done that if it wasn't for, you know, it's just you never know where life is going to take you when things get real weird. So that is the truth. Yeah. So, okay, tell me a little bit about, like, the YouTube content creation. Like, is this something that you monetize?

[Miguel Quiles]

Oh, yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah. I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't do it if I couldn't monetize it. But it's funny because I think that's probably the most common question that I get from people is like, you can make money on just making YouTube videos. And it's like, yeah, you know, it's very. It's highly monetizable. You know, between Google Ad revenue, between sponsorships, affiliate deals. You know, obviously, like, you have your own course that you sell, you Know, having a vehicle to be able to promote yourself in a way that doesn't cost, you know, anything but your time and your skill. Yeah, it's. It's highly monetizable. And, yeah, you know, I couldn't have imagined again 20 years ago that this would be a thing. But, you know, funny enough, I actually knew somebody. I had a really good friend who. This was, like, early days of YouTube, who started a YouTube channel. And he was one of the first group of creators that actually started to get paid for uploading his videos onto the platform. And at the time, he was like, man, you know, I'm making like $15,000 a month, you know, through this thing called YouTube. And I was like, really? Like, that's. And I thought he was BSing me. I'm like, there's no way that's. That's in my head. I was just like, I make just a little more than that in a year, and this dude is making it every month.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

And so it's a significant amount of money.

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah, yeah. And now it's like, yeah, the average creator, if you work really hard and, you know, approach this like a business, you absolutely can make that and way Beyond. So, yeah, YouTube is awesome.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Okay. So I was just looking up your YouTube channel, and you have 256,000 subscribers.

[Miguel Quiles]

Yes, yes, indeed.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Some massive amount of subscribers.

[Miguel Quiles]

It. It's more than a few. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it's amazing. You know, I love my community. Just. Just loved. You know, it's just crazy to kind of think, like, when you're like, I'm here in this little corner of my studio and I make these videos, and it's just me watching most of the time, unless I'm photographing, like, a photography tutorial, and then I'll have some people here. But, you know, you make these videos and you put them out on the platform and it's a very, like, singular, very. You're by yourself when this happens. And then I was just at Sammy's Camera in LA a couple days ago and ran into all these people in person when I was teaching my workshops that are like, oh, my gosh, I know you from YouTube. And it's like, oh, shoot. There are real people out there that watch this stuff. You know, it's weird, but it is so cool to be able to, you know, create content and know that there's actually, like, you know, even one or two people, let alone possibly hundreds of thousands of people that watch it.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

So awesome. I know whenever I meet someone who's listening to the Podcast, I'm like, thank you for listening. You know, you never know if people are actually really enjoying it or really listening. And so, you know, it goes both ways. Like, they get a lot out of it, we get a lot out of it. You know, like you said, you love connecting with people. I love connecting with people. So it's, it is, it's a really neat thing. Now, okay, I have so many questions around this, but one is like, how did you grow to that substantial number of people watching you? Because you had to start at zero. Like, how did you get there?

[Miguel Quiles]

So, you know, it was kind of an interesting thing in the very beginning. I didn't have any ambitions to actually be a YouTuber. You know, I started it right around the same time that I started in my photography journey. And it was really just a place for me to document the photo shoots that I would have and do behind the scenes stuff and, you know, and then I started creating content for Adoramatv. And so at the time, the platform was that channel was right around like 330,000 subscribers. And I created content, content there from 2015 to. Till 2018. And from that period of time they went from like 330,000 to like over 800,000. And I happen to have a lot of videos that were, you know, I was picking very specific topics that were things that I personally was interested in. And thankfully a lot of audience members of AdoramaTV were interested in it. In it as well. So when I left Adoramatv and started to do my own YouTube channel, you know, I think by just like the search algorithm, people just kind of found my channel had a lot of videos that were shared and republished on, you know, Fstoppers, PetaPixel, SLR Lounge, so gain subscribers that way. But yeah, it was just one of those things where you just steadily just show up with, you know, content that people might find interesting. And it just kind of goes from there.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

I'm always like on my soapbox about this, but it's so much of this goes back to networking. Like you were networking with the people at Adorama, you were networking and you know, the F stoppers articles and you know, all of these things, like people aren't just going to knock on your door. You have to quote, unquote, network. Whether it's to find new clients or to find partnerships, like how you were doing or to find speaking gigs or whatever. It's so important and you know, you have to let people know who you are and what you have to offer.

[Miguel Quiles]

Absolutely and you know, the cool thing is that nowadays there's more ways to be able to do that than ever between all the different social media platforms. So now it really just becomes, you know, I think what's happening to a lot of people today is that they are way too much in their own head and their own feelings about themselves and the way how things should be, that they just don't do it. And it's unfortunate because for the people that do it, they will find some level of success doing it, especially if they do it over time.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, it's true. And sometimes the thought of making a video is like. Because like we started a Portrait Masters TikTok and our marketing person for, you know, it's doing our TikTok, she's like, Nikki, can you send me a, B, C and D? And I'm like, oh. She's like, can you voice over that? I'm like, oh. You know, but once I do it, I mean, it's as simple as saying to my makeup artist, hey, will you take some behind the scenes videos? 10 second clips during this shoot for me, one for each outfit. And then as I'm sitting there looking through the, you know, through the video clips, I'm like, this is really cool. Like, I like watching, you know, I like putting this together and sharing it with people. And then people ask me questions like, oh, you know, what is that backdrop color or are you using specifically natural light or whatever? And I'm like, oh, yes, yes, I am. Oh, this fan. Oh, it's this. And I actually, I'm enjoying it. And I've realized how it's not hard to do a voiceover. And it's like once you actually do it, it's not as daunting as it seems initially.

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah, you know, it's, it's interesting because it could be as easy or as hard as you want it to be. You know, there are things that you could do to make it easier and there's things you could do to make it much more difficult. Difficult. I think for me, what always kind of carried me and, and kind of motivated me to do this to begin with was that I wanted to. Like, when I came into photography, this was again, 2011. You know, YouTube wasn't the way it is today. You know, that's actually how I came across Sue Brice back in the day was, yeah, watch places like Creative Live. And a lot of the people that I learned from at the time, I learned through places like CreativeLive. And so, you know, it was just a different platform Back then. And I think that for me, I wanted to be like the content creator for myself. Like, I wanted to make the content that when I started, I would have found valuable and I would have found useful and. And, you know, if anybody vibes with that, then they would join.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, it's interesting. Cause, like, I mean, for me, like, I posted a reel and it's just a constant light, which I typically only use on location. I only use on location. And I had like 33,000 views on this Instagram reel, this one clip of me using a constant light, and I'm like, dang. So that's what people want, but that's not normally what I do. So it's. I mean, I do it, but it's like mostly I'm shooting in studio with natural light or whatever. And so it's like. So I'm curious how you rectify this, like, the things that people really want versus what you usually do and want to show. Like, is there a happy medium there? Or. You know what I mean?

[Miguel Quiles]

That's a sore spot right there. Because it's like my mind, like, so I know the topics right out of the gate that if I make these videos, the videos are going to do well. And then there are the videos that I want to make that I think, like, I wish they would do well, but for whatever reason, people just don't find it to be as interesting as.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah.

[Miguel Quiles]

Or talk about other things. You know, that's. That's the cool thing with having your own platform, like, do what you want. You know, like, if you want to get that type of content, like, make one video for them and make one video for yourself.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, you know, I like it.

[Miguel Quiles]

People that gravitate to that stuff and hopefully follow you for that as well.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

So as when it comes to making money, you said it's. It's Google Ads and like partnerships with advertising, like companies that you're advertising is that that's how you monetize it the most? And is it like, based on view, number of views?

[Miguel Quiles]

Yes, yes, yes, and yes. So it is. You know, the YouTube ad money is probably the least profitable out of the whole thing because.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Interesting.

[Miguel Quiles]

That is all based on views and you basically get paid per thousand views, and it could be anywhere from, you know, $5 to maybe $20 for every thousand views. So obviously, you know, there are content creators that put out videos every couple days or every day. And if you're getting hundreds of thousands of views on those videos, then you're living pretty happy off the ad revenue.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah.

[Miguel Quiles]

But you know, we were in a niche community. There really isn't. I mean, there's a lot in the grand scheme of things, but to get that kind of viewership takes, you know, a lot of work. So you have sponsors that, you know, let's say you've cultivated a community. Like for me, I am an off camera flash studio photographer and there's a lot of companies within that space that they want to reach out to my community. And so every single day I get at least four or five emails from brands and companies that, you know, they'll, they'll say, hey, we would love for you to use our stuff in your video and we're paying you.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Right.

[Miguel Quiles]

And for me, I turn down probably the lion's share of them just because they. I don't like their product or I don't understand their product or it's not something that I think my audience would be interested in. But, you know, obviously good partners do come through and they happen to be companies who I like and enjoy their stuff. And so you get paid from that. And then there's also affiliate revenue as well. So everything that I talk about in my videos, and I noticed this early on when I started making YouTube videos that people would say, hey, what was that one thing that you had in the background that you used? And it wasn't even part of the shoot, but. Or somebody will see my T shirt. You know, I used to wear, I still do wear, like very silly T shirts. And people would say like, hey, where'd you get your shirt? And I'm like, oh, I got it on Amazon. And I would just put the link. And so, you know, it just saves people a lot of time if they see something in the video that they like. And the cool thing is it doesn't cost them anything extra. And it maybe makes you a couple dollars for every sale, if that. But you figure when you have a platform where you have hundreds of thousands of people and everybody is clicking on your links, you know, those couple dollars each time kind of add up to a lot more.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, that's so great. That's so great. Very cool.

[Miguel Quiles]

And then you have content creators too, that make presets and all that as well. That.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Sure, yeah.

[Miguel Quiles]

You know, and so there's, there's a lot of ways to monetize it. For me, I haven't gone, you know, that deep into it because I just haven't felt the need to do it yet.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

But yeah, it's nice to have that option, though.

[Miguel Quiles]

Absolutely. I mean, it's better than Working again, better than working in corporate America where.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

It'S like, you want to make more money.

[Miguel Quiles]

How about you just give up another 20 hours a week, right?

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

You are not kidding. Well, yeah, I encourage people to check out, you know, if they're interested in doing this sort of thing, to check out your YouTube channel because it's really cool.

[Miguel Quiles]

Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. And I would highly recommend to anybody that's out there that you know, as a creative, like, get started on YouTube. It's. Even if you think that you don't have anything to contribute, like you're the world and the community, they need to hear your voice and your outlook on things. And it's the best platform to be able to do that.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah. Awesome. Sweet. Well, this has been really, really great. Thank you.

[Miguel Quiles]

It's been fun.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

I love this.

[Miguel Quiles]

Thank you.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah. I do have a couple more questions, though, that I always ask at the end of each episode. And the first one is, what is something you can't live without when you're doing a photo shoot? Not including your camera? You could say lens, though. Specific lens.

[Miguel Quiles]

I would say my laptop specifically, because the majority of the time when I'm doing my photo shoots, I'm actually shooting tethered. So the ability for me to be able to see my photos, you know, within my raw editor in real time while I'm shooting, it's like my, my guiding compass during a photo shoot. So that's probably. Yeah, it has to be that. It has to be my laptop. Got a lot of other things, but that's definitely the most important one.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yep, I get it. That makes sense. All right, number two is how do you spend your time when you're not working?

[Miguel Quiles]

Oh, wow. Family. You know, I've got five year old and I've got a four month old and so just home and spending time with family and friends, that consumes the majority of the time when I'm not doing this. I wish it consumed a little bit more because over the last year it's been crazy. It's been very, very busy, especially with everything just kind of getting back to normal, you know, it's just, there's, there's a lot going on, but as much as possible, just spending time just, you know, raising my kids and, and trying to guide them through this crazy world.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Beautiful. All right, number three is what is specifically a photography product that you recommend to everyone out there?

[Miguel Quiles]

You know, this might sound cheap and cheesy, especially after we've talked about the stuff we've talked about. You know, I think that truly, that Sony makes some of the best camera equipment out there. To me, any of the modern Sony cameras would be. Yeah. Base level. Like, you. You should have this, because it's going to change the way that you shoot. It's going to change the way you see things, and it honestly just lets you be more creative. So that would be it for me.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

I had a feeling you were going to say something like that. That's awesome.

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah. And you know, it's not, but I.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Know you mean it like it's genuine.

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, to be honest with you, like, my. I have been in situations with my cameras, with my Sony camera specifically, that I would never in a hundred years believe I would be in, like, being with people in a room and photographing them, you know, and just all the opportunities that have come up because of, you know, the. The way I shoot and the way I shoot comes from the gear that I shoot with. And so it's. It's crazy. It's awesome. And I wish that for other people as well.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, very cool. All right, number four is what would you tell people who are just starting out?

[Miguel Quiles]

For people that are just starting out? I would say the same thing that, you know, someone told me when I started out, which is, why not you? You know, you see all these other photographers that, you know, especially if you're listeners to this podcast, you'll hear from other successful people and, you know, you might be thinking, well, why can't that be me? And it can be you. Very much can be you. You know, I tell people that if I can have had all these experiences and opportunities because of photography, I think anybody can. And so that's. That's my. My biggest message. It can change your life. It can put you in, you know, rooms and places with people that you would never have imagined being with. And, you know, it could all lead to positive things. You just need to believe that it's for you.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, fantastic. Great advice. Awesome. Well, thank you again. Where can people find you online?

[Miguel Quiles]

You can find me@miguel quiles.com, which is my website. If you go on YouTube and you search my name, you'll find me on my own YouTube channel. I also create weekly content for Sony's official YouTube channel, which is Alpha Universe. So you can check me out there, probably a little more so than you could on my own channel, because I make a lot of videos for them, but. But those two outlets are where I'm at.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Fantastic. It's so funny because we met, I think, at Creative Live way back when. Right.

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah. I got a 2000.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, that was 2011, I think. Was it that long ago? 2012.

[Miguel Quiles]

It was when. Yeah, it was when. It was like sue and Emily Soto and Lara J. Oh, yeah.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

That was like 2013 maybe, or 14.

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah, it was some. I want to say it was 2013. That was my first time ever going to WPPI, by the way.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Oh, nice. Nice.

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah, it was. It was crazy. I remember, I think we saw. I have the photo on Facebook somewhere.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Oh, sweet. You'll have to send it to me. That's awesome.

[Miguel Quiles]

Yeah, I gotta pull that up. I feel like that was yesterday, but.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

I know, isn't it? Just think about how much has happened and how much has changed for both of us.

[Miguel Quiles]

I know, I know.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

So wild. Yeah.

[Miguel Quiles]

We were such young, young, naive kids.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Young, naive. I know. I was just going to say that. That's funny. Awesome. Well, thank you. Thank you for doing this with me. This has been great. I really appreciate it.

[Miguel Quiles]

Thank you for having me. I've. I've been a fan of the show and been a fan of everything you've been doing since then, so, you know, appreciate it. Working hard at the platform. It's very helpful for a lot of people, including myself. So.

[Podcast Host (likely Nikki Klosser or co-host)]

Yeah, appreciate that. Thank you. Oh, I appreciate you. Very cool.

[Nikki Klosser]

Thank you so much for listening to the Portrait System podcast. Your 5 star reviews really help us to continue what we do. So if you like listening, would you mind giving us a review wherever you listen? I also encourage you to head over to subriceeducation.com where you can find all of the education you need to be a successful photographer. There are over 1000 on demand education videos on things like posing, lighting, styling, retouching, shooting, marketing, sales, business and self value. There's also the 90 day startup challenge plus so many downloads showing hundreds of different poses. We have to do checklists for your business lighting PDFs. I mean, truly everything to help make you a better photographer and to make you more money. Once Again, that's Sue briceducation.com.