We talk to Photoshop master Mike Campau to discover how it took 5 years to build up the portfolio and brand awareness to go freelance, and we learn about his CGI and photography blending process!

Mike Campau knew at the age of 3 that he wanted to be an artist. Yet his obsession with computer art didn't start until 1991, when he got his hands on the very first version of Photoshop. From there, he learned everything he could about computer graphics and, after graduating from the University of Michigan, he landed a job at a retouching studio. This in turn helped give way to another obsession: photography! Or, more importantly, blending the two together: photography and CGI.



"When I shoot, I know what is possible in post-production and can make adjustments on set to make my life easier when compositing," Mike Campau explains. "On the flip side, learning different photography lighting techniques has really improved my rendering setups and understanding of how light works within the CGI world!"



We chat to Mike in more detail to find out how he made the move to freelance and how his life has changed since!

Mike Campau knows what is possible in post-production and can make adjustments on set to make life easier when compositing

3dtotal: Can you talk a bit about how you made the rewarding move from working for a design/retouching studio to going freelance as Mike Campau Digital Imagery? What had to be in place before you could make the leap, and was it all plain sailing?

Mike Campau: Making the move to go freelance was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made in my career. It was hard for a few reasons. First and most obviously is the security you feel when you have a real job with steady pay and benefits, and to give that up while having a family to support was a heavy decision to make. Second, a ton of work needs to be done to get up and running both mechanically and logistically. Third, I knew I was going to have to put in a ton of hours in the beginning, learning and setting up the business side of things.



To help make the transition smoother, I had started working on personal projects, in my own time, and used online media to build my brand name. By doing this, I was able to gauge the amount of interest in my work and what my level of success could be before I made the leap. It took quite a bit of time (5 years to be exact) but it was definitely worth the wait to do it right and hit the ground running.



Since I took the time to build up my brand name, it was a smooth transition into building new relationships and clients based on my name recognition. Once the word was out that I was ready and available, it just took care of itself. Of course, I still need to do personal projects and spend a large amount of time promoting my work online and in person but that is really the fun part of the job anyways!

Mike Campau says it takes years and years of practice to be able to achieve a seamless process and blending

between photography and CGI

3dt: How has your life changed since you started working for yourself? How do you structure your days to make the most of your valuable time, for both work and play?

MC: My life has completely changed in a good way! I love the freedom it has given me. I can work when I want, where I want, and on what I want. I can be in control of the type of work that I am doing now and don't have to just take on jobs because they are jobs. This was really hard for me to learn in the beginning because, when I was starting out, I would take on anything that walked in the door. But I quickly realized that sometimes it's better to say, "No" and to spend that time on something that will be more beneficial for your career down the road. I also have to balance work, family, and fun. So this means I really have to manage my time and be as productive as possible when working.



I always try to figure out the fastest way to do things, whether it's keyboard shortcuts, running actions, multitasking, and so on. I figure if I can shave a second or two off of every task, I can gain 20-30 minutes at the end of the day! I don't want to look back when I get older and have regrets about not spending enough time with my wife and kids, or not doing some of the things that I wouldn't be able to do when I get older.

"A big part of getting noticed is not only doing something really well, but also different"

3dt: How do you find your clients - or how do they find you? Do you have any advice for freelancers looking to get themselves noticed?

MC: To be honest, I don't do any traditional marketing. I put all my effort into my work, and then put it on the online networks and social media. If the work is good, it will get noticed and spread like crazy. I tell people to spend less time surfing all the network sites to try and gain exposure and put that time into their work. I have never had a client contact me because I left a great comment or "liked" someone else's work. No, they contact me because they saw my work.



Don't get me wrong, though! I like browsing through sites like Behance to see what's happening, and maybe get some inspiration. But I don't put all my effort into it. When I'm surfing, I look for visual trends and what seems to be flooding the market in style and content, then I don't do that. A big part of getting noticed is not only doing something really well, but also different.

Mike Campau uses MODO as his 3D tool of choice! He tried many 3D packages, but MODO felt the easiest to get something

good right out of the gate

3dt: Can you briefly explain your creative problem-solving process when combining photography with CGI for a client? What's your thought process when approaching a new brief for a client?

MC: That's a tricky question, because sometimes the cart comes before the horse. There are two different scenarios that I combine photography and CGI. Sometimes the photography isn't shot yet and the CGI will be the driving force in the image. It sets the tone, mood and environment for the scene. This involves more exploration and brainstorming on my side since I have no reference or "starting point".



On the flip side, sometimes I have an image that has already been shot and I need to build around it with CGI. I honestly love doing it this way a little better, because I can play off of the tone and emotion in the shot and help build that story with the CGI. Either way works, but it's just a matter of the creative need and scenario.

Mike Campau has been working just as hard lately to practice photography, which has helped his CGI lighting tremendously

3dt: When it comes to the photography elements of your work, do you shoot alone or is this more of a collaborative effort? Or does it depend on the brief/client? What are the important things you have to keep in mind on a shoot so that the photography will work with the 3D down the line?

MC: Yes, yes, and yes. For the photography side of my images I can handle it from beginning to end if necessary. But I also like to collaborate with photographers, because it helps push the image in a direction I may not have thought of myself and vice versa.



Also, there are some really talented shooters out there, and I jump at the chance to work with these guys to create some amazing images. Whether I am shooting myself or working with another photographer, we always have to be conscious of our light setups, backgrounds and camera setups. Knowing how photographic light modifiers work and how you can translate that into CGI is a huge help when blending the two. Because, if your lights and shadows are off, it takes away from the power of the image. Same goes for lens draw and camera position in the scene. Perspective lines and camera angles need to match up or your subjects will feel out of place - even if all the lighting and

blending is perfect.

Mike Campau is usually juggling 2 or 3 projects at any time, so it's important for him to be organized and on top of all the aspects involved with any given projects



MC: Each project is unique, so I will setup a workflow once Ive reviewed the creative brief and talked with the whole team to make sure we are on the same page. Then it comes down to specialties and what is required to get the look that is desired. This is when I might bring in another CGI artist who has an expertise in a certain area, like dynamics or simulations. I find its better to just hire out areas that would be too time-consuming to try and learn on my own, and that way I can concentrate on the overall image and do what I do best. Once I have the right people in place, I can focus on the final image. Sometimes, I am juggling 2 or 3 major projects at once, so its important to be organized and on top of all the aspects involved.

Mike Campau jumps at the chance to work with awesome photographers to create amazing images