Get to know Haas House, a photography company that's making waves with its striking product images. Founded by Michael Hoss, a former graphic designer, this studio combines artistic talent with a keen eye for color and composition.
Michael has been refining his skills at Haas House, focusing on product and brand photography. But his passion doesn't stop at personal growth, it runs far deeper. Michael is equally committed to helping others develop their talents through education, actively sharing his expertise with his own community, his Haas House Editing Membership program and through other creative communities like ours, Creatively Squared.
This shift towards teaching has been a hit. Michael's audience has grown rapidly, now approaching an impressive 100,000 followers. It's clear that his approach resonates with many aspiring photographers and creatives.
We recently had the opportunity to chat with Michael virtually, diving into his background and creative process. If you're looking for some inspiration or insights into the world of product photography, you're in the right place. Read on to learn more about Michael Hoss and his journey behind Haas House.
How did your journey to photography start? Have you always been a product photographer?
Hey creators, I’m Michael! I was born in St. Louis, raised in Springfield, MO, and have lived in Nashville and Oklahoma City. I moved to Los Angeles this year!
Product photography wasn’t on my radar at all. In 2018, I was getting burnt out with graphic design and picked up a camera just for fun as a creative outlet. Then I saw a posting for a startup creative agency in Nashville and sort of BS’d my way into the job. From there, I fell in love with the challenge of lighting and creating something beautiful.
What are some things people might not know about you?
What equipment do you currently use to produce your content?
I switched from Sony to Nikon a couple of years ago and now mainly shoot with my Nikon Z7ii, using a 50mm macro and a 24-70mm lens. I use Manfrotto for my tripod and spreader stands, and Impact for C-stands. For lighting, I use Godox strobes, but lately, I’ve been working with continuous lights sent to me by brands.
What is your favorite lighting to use?
I’m a big fan of using rim lights or backlighting. It adds a sense of drama that I really love.
What are your three favourite props to use?
I still love my Moodelier props, especially the big blocks, random transparent objects for creating cool shadows or light leaks, and foliage/flowers—I just wish I shot with them more!
What is your best advice to share with aspiring photographers?
Keep experimenting with new lighting and camera techniques, and do it often. Don’t get stuck in the YouTube rabbit hole trying to learn everything at once. If you watch something helpful, go try it right away—don’t wait or binge three more videos before giving it a shot.
Your content is really well done, educational and oh so popular, any advice for creatives wanting to produce this type of content?
Stay true to who you are and how that comes across on screen. People watch your content for you. Don’t try to be something you're not. Focus on a content pillars like education, trends, entertainment, BTS etc… to shape your content. Luck plays a big part in going “viral", so don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t happen right away. Keep going!
[#cta]
How do you keep learning and evolving your skills?
I haven’t done as much learning this past year because of some life transitions, but I still love watching courses on platforms like Domestika. As for recommendations, I’ve got to shout out some of my friends: Knotably Creative House for biz, Weekend Creative, and Amanda Campeanu, they’re all amazing!
Which other creators do you admire and find inspiring?
What is next for you?
I'm transitioning into education full-time, focusing on teaching creatives, whether it's mastering lighting, editing techniques, or conceptualization. The response to the Editing Membership has been fantastic. If you haven't already, I biased-ly recommend exploring what I offer! It's the quickest way to learn retouching for product photography. There are 50+ editing tutorials, 35+ lighting guides and now, lighting tutorials available.
Get access to paid work opportunities with global brands. Register your interest by sharing some examples of your work.
Discover how teacher and creator Linh showcases her talent for photography outside the classroom
Discover two effective techniques to create stunning spray effects in your product photos using Photoshop.
