We had the good fortune of connecting with Gunnar Michels and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gunnar, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
My relationship with risk has always been intense, a constant presence in my life. Whether it was the daring leaps from cliffs in my younger years or the thrill of racing to catch the bus just in time, risk-taking has been a defining part of my life. This inclination has continued into my adulthood, leading me into unique situations, such as marrying someone I’d never met. Embracing risk has been instrumental in shaping the person I am today, placing me in unexpected scenarios. I’m drawn to risk not solely for its outcomes but for the beauty found in the process itself. Embracing uncertainty has been one of the most thrilling aspects of my life. However, I should note that all my risks are calculated, or at least mostly so.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Having a creative outlet I have recognized to be very special to me. For a long time sports was the outlet, however, music come into my life in HS and i quickly realized what I had been missing. Soon videography took over in my college years even overshadowing my business career. I then very naturally became a freelancer shooting anything I could get my hands on. The only massive obstacle is making sure I am doing enough passion projects on the way to my end goal. Passion projects are the fuel every creative needs. It is the “secret sauce” if you will to a fruitfull life as a creative but there is a healthy balance. Too much Passion projects means not enough money is coming in and too little passion projects leads to a lack of motivation.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was coming into town to collest thing we could do is load up the car and leave town and get somewhere far into nature.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My loving wife – Danielle

Instagram: danielleandgunnar

Youtube: danielleandgunnar

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSouthCarolina is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.