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OM Media, LLC.
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OM Media
by Chrysa Smith
Argentinian Photographer, Gerardo Suter said: “I did not choose photography. Photography chose me.” Suter wasn’t alone. Like many creative people, Bucks County photographer, Oscar Mikols of OM Media tells the story of a boy mesmerized with a camera—a young man who chose to study something else in college and ultimately returns full circle to his original love.
Located in New Hope, Oscar has built his primarily real estate focused photography business in only four years. Not only did he build it in that short time, but he also went from an army of one to a staff of 12 photographers and two administrators. That speaks volumes about his work. It’s just that good.
To get a taste, you might want to visit one of Oscar Mikols websites. There you’ll find some of the most inviting photographs of high-end home interiors and exteriors, food, hospitality, and fine art. “Anyone can pick up a camera,” Mikols says, “but I try to tell a story—a story of memories made and memories to be made.”
Oscar’s work finds his way into real-estate ads, brochures, websites and even on videos in which he tries to capture a Hollywood vibe that tugs at your heartstrings. With real estate photography primarily located in Bucks and through the Princeton corridor into New York City, he also has found himself in Nosara, Costa Rica, working with Nosara Real Estate where he photographed a property that found its way onto the HGTV show, House Hunters International.
Oscar has worked with global companies such as Marriott and local properties such as Odette’s River House. But his favorites include Bucks County farmhouses on his residential OM Media side (luxury residential and commercial real estate). “There is so much detail in these homes. It makes photographing them that much more interesting,” he says, “While there’s so much history, new homeowners create their own unique story.” On the commercial side, Oscar most enjoys working with architects. “It’s really fine art photography—both an art and a science, and architects understand how design works for angles and perspectives.”
But his angles and perspectives are not only reserved for interior and exterior design. You’ll also find beauty shots of food, which recalls his time around his mom’s restaurant, and people—which of course, are most interesting subjects. Over the last year more projects have come his way. Particularly hospitality, food, lifestyle. In fact, some of the subjects I found interesting are his photography of Dierks Bentley, the country music performer, The Hotel Irvine in CA and his newest venture to be: Sandals/Beaches Resorts. So Oscar Mikols has branched off into more high-end art photography on his own, with his team doing much of the real estate photography.
Oscar has not studied under a master photographer nor has he attended one of the region’s fine art schools. He’s self-taught. His parents and brothers were involved in catering and restaurant management. In fact, his mother opened the former Café Avocado in Perkasie. And at 14 or 15 years old, Mikols picked up a camera and took some photos of food. Fast forward to time spent bartending, when one of his customers asked if he photographed real estate. He accepted, and that was his first real gig. In fact, he recently re-photographed that location and laughs when he talks about just how far he has come. As for school, Oscar took the business route and studied things like marketing and human resources. They never felt like a driving passion but they have served him well with his operating his business.
With as much emphasis as there is on social media, Oscar’s education came in handy for identifying trends. “Now, with analytics,” he says, “You can learn about what’s working.” In fact, like many small business owners, he finds that it’s about 80 percent marketing and 20 percent running the business. Identifying his brand has helped him locate the hundreds of clients that have come to him through word-of-mouth.
Everything is digital these days. And Photoshop is one of his strongest tools. It enables him to edit photographs, retouch imperfections, remove shadows. The result is making pictures that pop. Oscar says, “We manipulate the image just enough where the content is not fake, but t enhanced for the viewers to have the best experience (colors, removal of outlets and cords, lighting, so on). People think that we just point and click with our cameras and these images are magically beautiful. Behind the scenes there are hours and hours of editing taking place to make sure that the photos reach our high quality standards to deliver the best product possible for our clients. This goes for real estate photography and commercial projects.”
With the fast-paced real estate market, Oscar says, “Our business has exploded in the past year or so. Our clients realize that everyone is trying to sell their home for top dollar. The best way to do that is by having an extremely good online presentation of photos, video and strategic marketing strategies in place. At OM Media, we specialize in real estate marketing and how to best service our clients so they can worry about selling real estate and not taking photos with their cell phones.” His real-estate clients need quick turn-around, so photos are always delivered the morning after the shoot.
Since Oscar Mikols is known for his luxury real estate work, some potential customers might be put off, thinking their standard-cut home might not warrant such a photographer. But Oscar says not to be scared away based on property values. He and his team are there to help everyone. Clients can view the work of his entire team, then pick and choose who they feel might be their best fit. If there is one thing Oscar wants everyone to know, it is that their focus is on servicing clients, even throughout this pandemic, and maybe especially important, because of it. In fact, he made the Doylestown Strong video, maybe indicating that like his first love of the camera, this home-town guy will be shooting Bucks for a long time to come.
OM Media, LLC is located at 4162 Upper Mountain Road, New Hope, PA; 215-713-6445. To see stunning examples of real estate photography, visit www.oscarmikols.com. To see Oscar Mikols’ commercial, hospitality and fine art photography, visit www.oscarmikolsphotography.com.
Chrysa Smith is a freelance writer and a mom who lives in Bucks County.