Mike Chudley’s rise as a street photographer has been remarkably swift – so much so that he still has “pinch-me” moments as he finds himself in places he didn’t expect to visit and amongst people he never imagined he would have the opportunity to meet. So, how did this young photographer make his way into a circle of renowned street photographers and build such an impressive social media presence? Let’s find out.
As we talked, I was reminded of David Byrne’s evocative imagery in the 1980 Talking Heads song Once in a Lifetime, about a man who suddenly finds himself living a life he could scarcely have imagined and wonders how he ever arrived there.
So, how did Mike Chudley get here?
Kickflip into the world of skateboarding
But first, a quick diversion into the world of skateboarding because, as you will discover, it has far more in common with street photography than might first appear.
By the age of 12, Mike was a devotee of the physically demanding sport of skateboarding — a sport that requires exceptional balance, coordination, agility, strength and endurance, but above all the mental strength to fail repeatedly over a long period. The skateboarder must persevere despite constant failure and repetition.
Although skateboarding is often enjoyed with a group of friends, it is fundamentally a solo pursuit, where success comes only through the tenacity to keep trying in the face of repeated failure.
Looking at Mike’s journey, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that skateboarding helped shape the character that later enabled him to pursue excellence in street photography. As many of us know, street photography can be a uniquely disappointing way to spend time – — hours of walking, hundreds of exposures and only the occasional reward of an image that is slightly better than “meh”.
Building his street photography brand, Mike has shown exactly that capacity to fail repeatedly over a long period, allowing his skills to develop slowly, incrementally, until the rewards became possible.
Skateboarding also brought photography into his life. He became the designated photographer for his crew, capturing the tricks (and, no doubt, the spills) of his fellow skateboarders.
London calling
Escaping his hometown — as Mike put it, “no place for a creative” — after completing his college course in Film and Media Studies, he relocated some 200 miles to Essex, wisely choosing a home close to a railway station that provided a 40-minute commute into the street photography heartland of London.
In late 2019 / early 2020, Mike began posting photography videos on his YouTube channel. Growth was slow at first but, during the Covid pandemic, his commitment to consistent posting and the development of an authentic style centred on first-person experience and education — rather than gear reviews — steadily attracted a growing audience.
Today, after publishing more than 250 videos, his channel has over 143,000 subscribers, making him one of the best-known voices in online street photography.
Commercial recognition
As Mike’s subscriber count increased, commercial recognition soon followed. Smartphone manufacturers looking to showcase their latest camera technology, together with an increasing number of sponsors, recognised the value of a photographer who could combine technical credibility with an engaging and authentic style.
Beginning with Honor and later Xiaomi, Mike was invited to provide a photographer’s perspective on the capabilities of their latest camera phones. In 2024, things ratcheted up when an out-of-the-blue email invited him to become one of just ten creatives selected to help promote Andalucía, in southern Spain, as a destination for creative people.
In 2025, Oppo invited Mike to Croatia to experience and evaluate its latest camera phone. Later that year came a rather different invitation. Leica requested the pleasure of his company in Italy for what was subsequently revealed to be the launch of the EV-1.
That invitation marked Mike’s arrival among the top echelon of YouTube photography creators. There he found himself alongside well-known figures including Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake of PetaPixel, David Farkas of Red Dot Forum and Gajan Balan, Leica’s global ambassador for the SL3-S.
Meanwhile, Squarespace, Storyblocks and Saal Digital had become regular sponsors of Mike’s YouTube channel, while 2026 brought another invitation from Xiaomi — this time to China for the launch of its latest flagship camera phone. Mike later described it as “The Photography Trip of a Lifetime.”
Californian dream
Not every memorable journey, however, was work-related. Under the cover of a photography project, Mike took his girlfriend to California for a week’s holiday, staying with fellow Leica photographer Dave Herring. He returned home, not with a girlfriend, but with a fiancée.
By now, Mike’s reputation extended beyond creating photographs and videos. Leica commissioned him to lead a two-day workshop in Vienna, followed by street photography walks in London — a further endorsement of his standing as both a photographer and an educator.
“Good” street photography
I asked Mike how he crafts “good” street photographs. He explained that he has developed a mental checklist of visual cues that his brain is constantly scanning for whenever he is on the street. A primary colour, people in matching outfits or a group sharing the same gesture might each act as a trigger point — the building blocks from which a frame begins to emerge. But then, and that’s where the magic happens, that initial trigger is joined by another unexpected event, creating something altogether more compelling.
That ability can be developed, but to refine it to Mike’s level requires, I think, more than repetition or visual awareness alone. It also demands a rare sensitivity to the unfolding scene, an appreciation of emergent behaviour and the confidence to commit to the moment when everything comes together.
…Oh, and despite how enjoyable it may be to spend a day photographing the streets with friends, Mike believes that if you really want to get into the flow and create exceptional work, it is ultimately a solo pursuit — just like skateboarding.
Photographic books
For Mike, Instagram may be the entrée, but a carefully sequenced hardback book is the main course – the ultimate expression of a photographer’s work. Images viewed one at a time on a screen can certainly inspire, but a thoughtfully curated book allows the photographer to tell a richer and more complete story. Mike has built an impressive personal library of photographic books and, in late 2023, added one of his own with the self-published “Learning to See” (now sold out).
On 1 October 2026, his library will be further enhanced by a new collection of his photography, “Find Your Focus — A Street Photography Masterclass”, to be published by Quarto Publishing.
There are many street photographers, but few attract a publisher willing to publish a book devoted entirely to the work of a photographer who has built his reputation in little over six years.
So, how did he get here?
Many people have talent. Many create excellent work. Far fewer possess the personality that can genuinely connect with an audience of more than 143,000 people.
Of course, there is an element of luck. As the old golfing saying goes, the harder you practise, the luckier you seem to get. Mike certainly puts in the practice. He walks the streets for hours, day after day, week after week. When I asked him to name his most valuable camera accessory, his answer wasn’t a lens or a camera. It was simply, “good shoes”.
Street photography is not an armchair pursuit that can be mastered from a book (although I’m sure Mike would be delighted if you bought his latest one!). There is no substitute for putting in the miles, training your eye to recognise opportunity and being ready to respond when it presents itself.
And so, we return to the foundations laid by skateboarding. It taught Mike that achievement comes through persistence, repetition and accepting failure as part of the learning process. Try. Fail. Try again. Over time, the muscle memory develops, those visual cues become instinctive and seeing becomes almost automatic.
Then you simply keep doing it, day after day, so long as you enjoy it.
What happens next?
There can be little dispute that Mike is living the dream. He spends much of his time walking the streets, seeing and capturing unique moments, then sharing both the photographs and the experience with an audience that continues to grow.
I asked whether he could imagine a time when street photography might lose its appeal. We discussed photographers who have admitted to questioning the balance between the countless hours spent walking and the relatively small number of images ultimately worth keeping.
Mike’s answer was refreshingly pragmatic. He loves photography and, perhaps more importantly, wants to go on loving it. If that eventually means turning his attention to another genre, then so be it. For him, the enjoyment comes first. If the fun ever disappears, it may simply be time for a new direction.
For now, however, there is no sign of that happening. Mike is doing exactly what he loves, and there is every indication that he intends to keep doing so.
Personal perspective
I’ve had the pleasure of talking to several photographers over the years. Every one of them has been interesting, each different from the next, but memorable in their own way.
Mike is another exceptional individual. While I would not presume to analyse precisely what has contributed to his success, I was struck by just how personable and straightforward he is. The person you see on YouTube is the Mike Chudley you meet in the flesh.
His videos are authentic. They invite the viewer to share his day-to-day 10,000-plus steps through London and beyond, generously sprinkled with practical advice that helps people understand not only what he sees, but how he sees it. Mike’s success is built not simply on being an accomplished street photographer, but on a genuine desire to help others become better photographers themselves. It is, perhaps, a simple recipe, but it has proved remarkably effective.
Desert Island Discs
Before we finished our conversation, I asked Mike three “Desert Island” questions: one camera, one lens and one book. The camera and lens were exactly what I expected — a Leica M11 paired with a 28mm Summicron. The book was more revealing.
It was not a photography book at all; it was The Daily Stoic.
Stoicism teaches resilience, acceptance, the importance of focusing on what lies within your control, finding beauty in ordinary life and measuring yourself by the quality of your work rather than the approval of others. Those values seem to sit remarkably comfortably alongside both skateboarding and street photography.
After our conversation, I found myself looking back through everything we had discussed — the skateboarding, the persistence, the long hours on the streets, the generosity in sharing what he has learned and, finally, The Daily Stoic. It felt entirely consistent with the person I had just met.
And that, dear reader, is how Mike Chudley got here.
Mike’s gear
Mike uses a Leica M11-P for his digital work, usually equipped with a 35mm Summilux. For film, he shoots Kodak Portra 400 with a Leica M4, usually equipped with a 28mm Elmarit.
MORE READING
| Macfilos Articles | External Resources |
|---|---|
| More from Andrew Owen-Price – The author’s full back-catalogue of interviews and features | Mike Chudley – His own site, portfolio and workshop details |
| Introducing Matt Osborne, better known to photographers as “Mr Leica” – A comparable creator-profile piece from the same series | Mike Chudley on YouTube – The channel behind his 143,000-plus subscribers |
| Leica SL3-S launched: new 24MP, faster autofocus, content credentials, better video capabilities – Background on the camera carried by Gajan Balan, Mike’s fellow SL3-S ambassador | Mike Chudley on Instagram – His street work in still form |
| Street photography: are you a poser or a snatcher? – A companion piece on the craft Mike has built his name on | Find Your Focus: A Street Photography Masterclass – Quarto’s listing for Mike’s forthcoming book |
| The best camera and lens for street photography – discuss – Macfilos readers debate the tools of Mike’s trade | Red Dot Forum on the Leica M EV1 launch – Coverage of the Italy launch event Mike attended alongside David Farkas |
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This article cheerfully confounds my stereotypes: other things being equal, juxtaposed terms “creator” “Youtube” “street” would likely lead me to turning away. Now I find myself having to go beyond those simplistic reactions: these are photos I might hope to achieve someday, with enough hard work.
Many of these photos show a certain whimsey I hadn’t expected at all, certainly not from someone so young. All together, quite enjoyable. Certainly this creator has earned his fame; it will be interesting to follow his career.
Good to see this article. I had never heard of him and will keep an eye on his output from now on. He’s done well for himself.
Many thanks for this interesting and entertaining post. It is both exciting and reassuring to see that these images are the result of hard work, patience, and, of course, an eye for the situation. These images strongly remind me of Siegfried Hansen.