Check Out Phillip Thalheimer’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Phillip Thalheimer.

Hi Phillip, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In High School I was having trouble deciding which career path to take. I wanted a general college course until I made my decision but in my senior year I was placed in the school photography club.
Unknown to me I had a talent to capture and create unique photos.
I won every club contest.
The year book team requested I join the yearbook team. Thinking it was nerdy and didn’t want to put out myself out their I declined several times.
I would occasionally use a hall pass to visit the library, that a study hall teacher would provide.
Teachers thought I was doing research.
The librarian and director of the year book noticed I would show up at a certain times often and was chatty with a creatin girl there.
She took this opportunity to change my study hall to a library class if I would use the time to take candids for the year book.

It was after my senior year when I enrolled in a Photography school near Philadelphia, Pa. The school at the time ranked 3rd in the nation. RIT number one, Brooks number two and Antonelli Institute of Art and Photography, the school I attended in Plymouth Meeting , Pa.
Tution was expensive, as much as going to an Ivy league school for the year. A two year degree in specialized technology..
Antonelli’s Taught hands on with some of the worlds best photographers. The school was an serious vigorous education.

While in school I won awards, which for students were critiqued by some of the best photographers in the world.
They were invited to addend the certique ceremony where hundreds were elimated. Quite a prestigious outcome. This was an all day event and would even go on for three days. All were invited and we would all listen. It was quite the learning experience.

Money was a serious problem. Loans weren’t enough to pay all the tuition and in early 80’s loans were capped. Grants were not much I received 80.00.

Working 7 days a week two jobs that amounted to 40 hours a week and then school 5 days a week I worked late afternoon nights until late at a local restaurant Friendly’s.

I remember washing dishes for 3 months then asked to work the grill and then a customer service supervisor. The hard work paid off. While keeping up with my photography assignment’s. I took the required Marketing, Accounting,communcations and business classes at the local community college at nights during the summer months which saved a good bit of money.

After a year and a half I realized in order to archive my A grade I would need more money to compete the projects they were demanding. The restaurant offered me an Associate Managers position, complete with visits to the company head quarters once a month with all the other managers. I all felt good. I was in charge of 36 people and 20 years old.

I decided to free lance photography, ( the school was giving me some work) and take the position that paid 20,000 a year in 1986 which was a decent salary at the time with all benefits.

I was now able to afford a car. I had been taking the bus to the mall and catching the connector or walking. Usually when it snowed because the bus was late.

I decided to give the last semester a break, save some money and finish up next year with the best grades.

The time finally came in 1988. I started a 2 year degree in the winter of 1984 and finally finished in 1988. Not because of bad grades but because of money! My grades for A’s.

I put my two notice in to the restaurant, leaving the associate manager position and pay behind with a plan to return to college and graduate.
The restaurant VP Dick Calvin flew into Philadelphia from Mass. and paid me a visit where we talked about everything.

He guaranteed me my own store and a district manager position in Philadelphia and a possible executive position later in life.

I declined the opportunity to peruse the career path in the restaurant business. He told me the money I would make with them would be far greater. He was right

But something, I still remember today. My photojournalism professor said. ” If your not whistling while going to work then your not doing what your supposed to be doing for a career”

I graduated with an A and a 4.0 average.

At the time I was working in a studio and a custom black and white printing lab. Shooting head shots and printing black and white custom prints.

An opportunity then presented itself in Wilmington, NC. Working as a photojournalist at WECT TV 6.
I worked for the company for 5 years and had some wonderful experience’s.

It was a sad day when I had to say good bye and start a new chapter with an ABC/Disney owned station in Durham NC WTVD ABC 11.
I worked there for 21 years in all possible fields of News and Special Projects.

In 2016 after 26 years of news photography I started My Pro Photographer and later in 2017 Event Streaming Services.

Photography, Video and multi camera Live Streaming.
I have 6 people who work with me to give our clients the best possible photography, video and live streaming available.
With my helicopter news experience in the 90’s I have applied to aerial drone photography for commercial and residential real estate.

The background I experienced from high school, college and TV broadcasting for 40 years has given me a PHD in experience in all types of photography.

I strive for perfection, listen to the client and give them a service they could rely on. I am a professional photographer and the career has lead me on a path to exciting, challenging and eye opening experiences.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
oh my I just wrote all that

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have already wrote about it

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I like that raleigh is growing. I don’t like the protests and destruction to businesses and the downtown business life is now gone that the city worked so hard to bring here.
I remember all the walking traffic on the sidewalks. No they are empty.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://MyProPhotographer.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myprophotographer
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-thalheimer-639a7864/
• Other: https://EventStreamingServices.com