Mike Mitra holding a Sony FX6

a Mike
of all trades

Hey there, I’m Mike, a creative director, cinematographer and photographer
based in Austin, TX. I’m a proven creative team leader with experience in design and direction for advertising, branding, CRM, web, app,and print. I’m also a video and photo storyteller with experience producing, shooting, and editing engaging content for everything from TikToks to a feature-length documentary.

Let’s work together

Experience

Creative Director

Row One Productions (Jan 2020 — Aug 2024)
Director of Photography and Editor on the documentary feature film ‘How to Be Queen: Philly’s Quest for a Senior Pageant Crown.’ Directed creative, shot and edited video content for Indeed, Church’s Chicken, HostGator, Expressable, Susan G. Komen, Upliv and Dell Children’s Medical Center. Acted as photographer and photo editor for various projects with international brands and nonprofits.

Clients:
Indeed, Prime Video, Amazon, Church’s Chicken, Upliv, Expressable, HostGator, Epicor, Dell Children’s Medical Center, Center for Child Protection, Jacob Bromwell, Certified Employee-Owned, Susan G. Komen, MDS Foundation, Magdelene House, Christy Maz Network

Associate Creative Director

Drumroll (Jun 2017 — Jan 2020)
Oversaw a team of creatives and creative lead on digital campaigns and video content. Lead a creative team to support digital content and strategy for Microsoft Store digital CRM, Amazon DSP, Capital One, AMD and Macerich retail, among others. Directed and shot photo and video packages for clients and pitch work. Worked alongside clients in quarterly planning and strategy meetings. Conducted digital innovation initiatives with other members of the creative and development teams.

Clients:
Microsoft Store, Microsoft Surface, Xbox, Microsoft Rewards, Amazon, Capital One, AMD, Macerich, Natgeo Kids, Epicor

Senior Art Director

Drumroll (Jul 2013 — Nov 2017)
Oversaw a team of creatives on digital campaigns and large-scale email marketing lifecycle programs for major brands. Designed UX and UI for responsive websites and internal web tools. Shot photos and produced videos for clients. Managed internal creative engagement program.

Clients:
Microsoft Store, Xbox, Bing Rewards, Macerich, NatGeo Kids

Interactive Designer

Drumroll (Sept 2012 — Jun 2013)
Designed websites, web experiences and emails for national clients including Bing, MSN, NatGeo and Macerich.

Art Director

Roger Black Studio (Nov 2011 — Sept 2012)
Designed responsive digital publications and websites with CMS implementation for a startup. Art directed covers for Harper’s magazine. Designed identity work for MIT Technology Review and The Sporting News.

Clients:
Harper’s, MIT Technology Review, The Sporting News, Dent conference, Treesaver

Senior Graphic Designer

Texas State University (Apr 2011 — Oct 2011)
Redesigned Hillviews magazine. Art directed a rebrand of athletics print collateral. Directed photo shoots for the athletics department. Designed print collateral within brand standards and conducted press checks on offset and digital print material.

Production Artist

Old Hat Creative (Sept 2009 — Jun 2010)
Built and designed print pieces (media guides, brochures and other print material) for collegiate athletic programs such as Michigan, Georgetown and Florida State. Co-designed OKC Thunder’s Thunder Magazine. Acted as assistant photographer for shoots with the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA basketball team.

Skills

On Set (Video):
Sony FX6 & FX3, Panasonic S1H & GH5, iPhone social,
Aputure Light Storm series, Rode audio, small crew lighting, grip and electric for interview and scripted narrative, documentary cam op on location, UGC for social

On Set (Photo):
Nikon Z series, Canon R series, Sony A7 series, Profoto lighting, manual strobes, tethering on Lightroom Classic, portraits and products in studio, environmental photojournalism, live action on stage, live sports

At the Computer:

Video/Photo - Premiere Pro, After Effects, Lightroom Classic (editing, color grading, audio mixing, motion graphics)

Design - Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, XD, Figma (design for responsive web, apps, print, branding and identity)

Audio - Adobe Audition (producing, editing and mastering)

Familiar with basic HTML & CSS

Google Suite, Microsoft Office, project management tools (Airtable, Asana, Basecamp, Jira)

Experience using Generative AI models in workflows for concepting and final deliverables: Veo 3, Firefly, Nano Banana, Gemini

Bright Spots

Munich New Wave Film Festival -
Best Cinematography (2024)

‘Flower & Fly’ short film

Webby Award Honoree - Public Service & Activism category (2024)
‘Letters to Christopher’ short film

New York Tri-State International Film Festival (2024)
‘Flower & Fly’ short film

Roma Short Film Festival (2024)
‘Flower & Fly’ short film

Tokyo International Short Film Festival (2024)
‘Flower & Fly’ short film

Webby Award Nominee - Public Service & Activism category (2022)
‘Flower & Fly’ short film

Webby Award Honoree - Branded Entertainment, Scripted category (2021)
‘HostGator’ YouTube series

Speaker at Austin Design Week and guest mentor at SXSWedu (2016)

Instructor at General Assembly, teaching visual design and typography classes (2014-2016)

Education

University of Oklahoma
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication
Norman, OK

Just for Fun

Co-produce and edit the podcast
DCOM Decoded