ALTPICK.COM

Ever since he was a kid, Michael Schreiber has been passionate about taking candid photographs - just ask his father and mother, who he used to surprise while they were napping or taking a shower. His love for snapping candid portraits continued into college, where he photographed dorm buddies who had over-partied. After moving to New York, Schreiber continued to shoot the things that fascinated him, most notably visionary hip- hop artists like Mos Def and DMX, and dogs at play. Although Schreiber couldn't have known it at the time, he was building a portfolio for success.

"At the time," says Schreiber, referring to his post-college days, "a lot of people were reluctant to shoot hip-hop shows because of their reputation for violence. But if I knew an artist I liked was performing, I would call his publicist and ask for a ticket and photo pass. I would lie and say I was working for some magazine. I would then bring my pictures to Vibe and The Source for their party pictures sections. I made $85 a picture, sometimes less. I was living hand-to-mouth for about a year, but I didn't care because I was having fun."

Schreiber's determination and unique perspective eventually brought him both name recognition and street credibility, which translated into a steady flow of freelance work from top magazine editors.

But don't attribute Schreiber's success to luck or fate. He doesn't. "I just make the most out of every opportunity," he says. That instinct to recognize an opportunity when it presents itself goes back to Schreiber's college days at the University of Connecticut. That's when he took his first photo class, and everything clicked.

"I took it on a pass/fail basis so I could have the freedom to do whatever I wanted without worrying about the grade," Schreiber says. "While everyone else was being very serious about being an artist, I was having fun photographing my friends drunk and passed out on the bathroom floor of the dorm. Then I worked for the school paper and began to learn more. Working for the paper taught me how to go into a lot of different situations and come back with something the editors could use. I learned how to think on my feet. That was the most important thing for me to learn."

Although Schreiber still does his own projects, he is turning more of his attention toward advertising campaigns and feature photo work. He is determined to maintain a level of financial success that will allow him artistic freedom. I recognize a possibility and pursue things," he says. "Making a living doing what I love is the greatest thing in the world. I really just like taking pictures. If it seems easy, it's only because I've chosen my own path and done things my way."

Altpick.com spoke to Schreiber from his East Village apartment.

What did you do after college?
I moved back home with a one-year-old puppy. I had no job. I was an anthropology major, which doesn't prepare you do to much besides think. So I got a job at the Gap. I had to be in the stock room because I wasn't good at folding. One day I said to my friend Dave, "We have to get the fuck out of here." We got a place in Brooklyn; I got a job at a used clothing store, then at a photo agency. But they fired me because they found out I was shooting for another agency. After that, I just said my goal in life is to not have a job. And I did it. So far, it's worked.

What's the dog thing all about?
I would take these pictures when I took my dog to the dog run. I had all these pictures of him and of other dogs, and people really liked them. The dogs were just so ridiculously funny. I wanted to capture their joy and complete lack of ego. I would bring my camera whenever I went to the park. I did that for about a year, I had a few gallery shows. Then they ended up on Gap T-shirts, cards and book covers. Chronicle Books recently put out a box set of them called "The Dog Park". I just thought the dogs were so funny and innocent. They had personalities that came through in the pictures and people responded to them.

What's your dog's name?
Blue.

What is he?
He's a lab, pit-bull mix. He's looking at me right now. He knows I'm talking about him.

So in addition to advertising work, you're still doing personal projects.
I just got back from three weeks in Cuba, and I shot 40 rolls of film. I love travelling and taking pictures without any restraints. It's nice to shoot strictly for fun and get home, develop them and see what I've got.

My goal is to do a book and show of the Cuba photos. It's kind of like the dog pictures -- I think they're good because there was no thought that I wanted to make any money with them. No matter where I am, as long as I have a camera and some film, I'm good to go. Everywhere you go, there are interesting people and things to see and take pictures of. My goal is to find those things, capture them on film, and share them with the world. If I can continue doing this for the next 50 or 60 years, I'll consider myself successful. That would be a good life."

- Contributed by Kelly McEvers