About Us
History & Bio
 

Our History  !

Michael Scalf Sr began working in photography and filed a business license for Mike's Photo & Design in Houston , Texas , on September 11, 1980.  Mr. Scalf operated a part time business out of his home doing weddings and some portraits while working a salaried job full time.  A new business license was filed on April 4, 1988 to change the name of the business to Mike Scalf Photography.

Mr. Scalf's college degree and work was in Mechanical engineering where his salary jobs were in the oil field equipment manufacturing business.  He was a Mechanical Engineering designer and in 1979 was subsequently promoted to department manager with as many as 40 individuals reporting to him while being responsible for an annual budget of more than one million dollars.  He was also responsible for creating and implementing operational procedures and policies for the corporation.

He also worked assisting the company’s commercial photographer from November 1978 through February 1982. In 1982, he was hired by another company as their department supervisor while also being responsible for all commercial photography

He signed a lease in the Clear Lake Area of Houston on a 1200 square foot storefront studio and completely remodeled the facility himself. He officially opened for business on September 1, 1988 with the studio being incorporated on December 20, 1991.  Upon outgrowing the first studio, he leased another space within the same shopping center with 2100 square feet and moved there on October 1, 1993. He occupied that location until March 1, 1999 when he moved to a 3000 square feet studio at 17066 Highway 3. Michael also designed and completely performed the build out of this location.

The first store front studio grossed only $ 45,000.00 in 1988. The studio more than doubled their gross sales in 1989 and added a part time employee. The studio again more than doubled their sales in 1990 and added another part time employee. In 1991 their gross sales grew another 50% and they placed one of their part time employee's on full time status. He continued an annual steady growth pattern while employing, in addition to he and his wife, two full time and one or two part time employees. He annually grossed at or above $500,000 a year. On August 27, 2004 Michael sold the studio to another studio owner, Dean Grimes who owned Arrant Grimes Photography of Alvin, Texas. He relocated his Alvin studio into the Clear Lake location. Michael worked with Mr. Grimes until December 31, 2006 doing some photography, database management, price list development and studio marketing along with writing policies and procedures. 

In 2007, Michael moved and relocated to Blanchard, OK, which was outside of his non-compete limitations. There  he has rebuilt a home based photography business specializing in location portraiture and commercial photography. Also he is the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Professional Photogrphers Association. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Photography and Business at the Oklahoma City Community College, OCCC.

During the many various cycles of the studio transition, his studio has evolved from a single photographer studio to a multiple contract photographers studio doing several weddings each weekend and then returning full circle to the single photographer studio. Consequently, he can provide a realistic perspective of the pros and cons of the various challenges, hurdles and pitfalls you may encounter regardless what your studio size may be.


Degrees

 
Master of Photography

Photographic Craftsman

CPP (Certified Professional Photographer)

API (Approved Photographic Instructor)

Oklahoma Grand Fellowship Award

Oklahoma Full Fellowship Award

Oklahoma Associate Fellowship Award

Southwest PPA Full Fellowship Award

Southwest PPA Associate Fellowship Award

Texas Full Fellowship Award

Texas Associate Fellowship Award

Houston Full Fellowship Award

Houston Associate Fellowship Award

 

Memberships

Professional Photographers of Oklahoma (PPOK)
(Executive Direcctor 2012 - Present)

Professional Photographers of America (PPA)
(BRE - By-Laws, Rules & Ethics Committee 2002 - 2008)
(Affiliate Leadership Meeting Chair - 2013 - 2018)

American Society of Photographers (ASP)
(Board of Govenors 2009 - 2010)

Southwest Professional Photographers Association (SWPPA)
(Executive Director 2003 - 2018)

Texas Professional Photographers Association (TPPA)
(2002 – 2003 President)
(Life Member)

International Photography Hall of Fame & Museum (IPHF)
(Executive Director 2009 - 2013)

Professional Photographers Guild of Houston (PPGH)
(1996 President)
(Life Member)

Metro Photographers Association of OKC

Masonic Lodge of Oklahoma
Blanchard Lodge #395

Scottish Rites of Freemasonary

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR)
(Life Member)
(Special Attractions Lifetime Committeeman)

 
 

PPA National Award Recipient 2008
(From Southwest PPA)

State of Texas Senate Resolution #1072 Recipient – May 16, 2001 
(Awarded for accomplishments in Photographic Industry)