Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Woodland.
Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I served 22 years in the United States Army as an Infantryman, MOS 11B. An Infantryman is part of the Army’s primary ground combat force, trained in weapons systems, tactical operations, and mission execution under pressure.
Those years shaped how I approach everything in life. Discipline, accountability, preparation, and execution were not optional. They were the standard.
When I retired, I knew I would carry that mindset into whatever came next.
After the Army, I started a company called M-W Tactical. It was a firearms training company focused on safety and helping citizens in South Carolina obtain their Concealed Weapons Permit. Then the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division confirms that residents must complete an approved training course before applying for a CWP, SLED CWP Program.
I also competed as a shooter and worked with sponsors in the firearm industry.
At the time, I thought that was the direction my life would continue.
One of my sponsors asked me to do a product review for their new coffee brand. I do not drink coffee, but I put together the video anyway. When they saw the final product, they were impressed.
Then they asked me to take photos of the coffee product, and specifically not to use a cell phone.
I pulled out the camera I had purchased for video work and quickly realized something, I did not know how to take a proper photo with it.
Instead of ignoring the problem, I decided to solve it.
I went to the campus of the University of South Carolina and found a student studying photojournalism. I asked for help, paid them for their time, and we captured a few images of the product.
Right after that, I went straight to Midlands Technical College and asked if they had a photography class I could enroll in. This was October 2022. The class did not begin until January 2023, but I signed up immediately.
When the class started, I expected to learn how to take great pictures. Instead, much of what we learned was how to operate the equipment. Every day the instructor would ask, “What do you want to photograph?”
Every day my answer was the same.
“I do not know, but I know it will be of people.”
About a month and a half into the class, a fellow student said she needed a headshot and asked the instructor to take it. He declined and said that since this was a class, a student should take the image and she could choose the best one.
She was not thrilled with that idea.
I said out loud, “I am going to make you wish I would have taken your headshot.”
That was the moment everything became clear.
From that day forward, I went all in on perfecting the art of the headshot.
In April 2023, I officially launched ESNTL Headshots. The studio is located at:
1421 Calhoun St., Suite 1,
Columbia, SC 29201
I built this company with a simple goal, to make sure every professional has access to a high quality headshot that truly represents who they are and the brand they stand behind.
Professional images matter. LinkedIn reports that profiles with professional photos receive significantly more engagement than those without. In a digital world, your image is often your first introduction.
The Army taught me that every mission deserves preparation and precision. I bring that same mindset into every session.
When someone steps in front of my camera, I do not see just a photograph. I see a person who has worked hard to build something, a career, a business, a reputation. My job is to help them represent that well.
I did not grow up dreaming of becoming a photographer. I grew into it through discipline, curiosity, and a refusal to quit when I realized I did not know something.
Once I committed to mastering the headshot, I approached it the same way I approached my military career, with focus, determination, and the intent to get better every single day.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road.
When I started, I was stepping into an industry I knew nothing about. I had spent 22 years as an Infantryman, where clarity, structure, and defined standards were part of daily life. Photography was different. There was no rank, no clear path, no built in credibility. I was brand new, with only a few months of experience behind the camera.
That meant I was asking people to trust me before I had a long track record to point to.
The hardest part was convincing people that I could deliver. I knew the level of focus and discipline I was bringing to the craft, but the market did not know that yet. I had to earn that trust one session at a time. Early on, there were moments where I questioned whether I would break through, especially when you are competing with photographers who have been doing this for years.
I was also learning publicly. Every session was both an opportunity and a test. I had to study lighting, posing, communication, and business all at the same time. I was not just learning how to create strong images, I was learning how to run a company, price services correctly, market effectively, and build relationships in a community that did not know me as a photographer.
But what helped me was the same mindset that carried me through the Army. When I did not know something, I did not avoid it. I leaned into it. I invested in education, asked questions, practiced relentlessly, and sought feedback. I focused on getting one percent better every day.
Looking back, the struggle was necessary. If it had been smooth, I would not have grown the way I did. The early resistance forced me to sharpen my skills, refine my communication, and clearly define what makes ESNTL Headshots different. The road was not easy, but it built the foundation for everything that followed.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about ESNTL Headshots?
ESNTL Headshots is a professional headshot and branding photography studio based in Columbia, South Carolina, serving the Midlands and beyond. We specialize in high quality headshots for executives, corporate teams, entrepreneurs, and organizations that understand their image is directly connected to their reputation.
At the core, we solve one specific problem, people who do not like being in front of the camera. Many of our clients walk in saying they are not photogenic or that they hate taking pictures. What we are known for is changing that experience. We create an environment that is structured, collaborative, and relaxed, so the final image looks natural, confident, and authentic, not forced.
We specialize in individual professional headshots, on site corporate headshot sessions, executive branding sessions, and what we call our New Hire Program. That program allows companies to maintain consistent, high level imagery for their teams throughout the year. We also provide event photography and on site headshot booths for conferences and corporate gatherings.
What sets us apart is not just the lighting or the equipment, it is the approach. My background includes 22 years of military service as an Infantryman, and that experience shapes how we operate. Preparation matters. Details matter. Execution matters. Every session has a clear objective. We guide clients through wardrobe selection, posing, expression coaching, and image review so they leave knowing we were intentional about every frame.
We are also known for consistency. When a company brings us in, they know every employee will receive the same level of attention and quality. That consistency builds trust internally and externally for the organization.
Brand wise, I am most proud that ESNTL Headshots has become synonymous with professionalism and connection in the Midlands. We are a veteran owned business, and our core values reflect service, integrity, and respect. We are not chasing trends. We are focused on creating timeless, powerful images that elevate personal and corporate brands.
What I want readers to know is simple. A headshot is not just a picture. It is often your first introduction. Whether it is LinkedIn, a company website, a speaking engagement, or media coverage, your image speaks before you do. We exist to make sure it speaks clearly, confidently, and at a level that matches your ambition.
If you are serious about how you show up professionally, we are serious about helping you represent that well.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I do not lean heavily on the idea of luck, I lean on preparation and action.
That said, I can look back and see moments that some people would call luck. For example, a sponsor asking me to do a product review for a coffee brand, even though I do not drink coffee, turned into the moment that pushed me into photography. If they had not asked for product images without a cell phone, I may not have discovered how much I did not know, and how much I was willing to learn.
At the time, it felt like being exposed. I realized quickly that owning a camera and knowing how to use it are two different things. That could have been a setback. Instead, it became a turning point. I sought help at the University of South Carolina from a student, enrolled in photography classes at Midlands Technical College, and committed to mastering the craft. Some would call that lucky timing. I call it responding to opportunity.
There have also been moments that felt like bad luck. Entering a competitive market with only a few months of experience was not easy. Convincing people to trust me early on was difficult. There were slow seasons, tough conversations, and moments of doubt. But those periods forced refinement. They made me sharper in how I communicate value, how I structure sessions, and how I build relationships.
In business, what looks like luck from the outside is usually consistency behind the scenes. Showing up to networking events. Investing in education. Following up with clients. Delivering on promises. Treating every session like it matters, because it does.
If luck has played a role, it has been in the form of being willing to act when opportunity presents itself. I believe you create momentum by being prepared and by moving forward even when you are new, even when you are uncomfortable, and even when you are not yet fully confident.
For ESNTL Headshots, the real advantage has not been luck. It has been discipline, relationships, and the decision to serve people at a high level every single time they step in front of the camera.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://esntlheadshots.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esntlheadshots/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ESNTLheadshots
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esntlheadshots/
- Twitter: https://x.com/ESNTLheadshots
