🚀 From Student to Storyteller: A Letter to Chef Mike

A year ago, I stood next to Chef Mike Balistrieri at graduation. I was just starting to find my footing in photography—figuring out how to edit in Lightroom, still unsure if this passion would ever turn into something real.

A year later, everything has changed.

What hasn’t changed is the gratitude I feel for the instructor who gave me the space to imagine a future bigger than the one I saw for myself.

Below is a letter I recently wrote to Chef Mike—a mentor, a guide, and someone whose late nights building a better program helped light the way for students like me. If you’re a former or current student, I hope this reminds you that the seeds planted in those classrooms really do grow.

Chef Mike,

In the next month, my business is going to take off like a rocket. I’ve spent the last two months working on it full time, and through that process I built something that feels impossible to fail. And I need to tell you, so much of the foundation came from your classes.

You gave us space to create, imagine, and problem-solve. You encouraged us to use what was already in front of us. I could see how often students missed that invitation, even when you were sacrificing your time, staying up late in your basement, always trying to improve the program. I’m sure it felt like you were spinning your wheels sometimes-between staff, students, and the system.

But I want you to know this: I was listening. I was watching. I was imagining. And it worked.

Sure, it was my choice to go back to school. But the way you taught Tourism, Sales and Marketing, Business Concept Development, and Hospitality Management gave me the tools I didn’t even know I needed. It all stacked up and gave me a platform I didn’t fully appreciate until now.

The first month of working on my business full time was brutal. I had doubts. I struggled to get out of bed. But once my brain turned on for the day, it would not stop. I was constantly solving problems, testing ideas, learning, failing, succeeding, networking, and marketing. And honestly, I’m grateful for that struggle. If I had kept playing it safe by working part time, I would have kept missing opportunities because I felt obligated to show up for a shift.

But I also needed that time to keep learning photography. Working at a camera store gave me access to gear at cost. I was able to build a mobile studio and see firsthand the flaws of owning a traditional studio, overhead, competition, limitations. I also learned the difference between working in a family-run business versus working with unrelated coworkers. There’s a whole different set of dynamics at play.

Then the day before Easter, I quit.

My first week full time, I showed up to Stadium View for the NFL Draft. No one invited me. I just saw an opportunity to be seen. I had my mobile setup, and it looked professional. By day two, I had a press pass for the main stage. Fans were asking me nonstop for photos. I tried to set up a system through my website using a contact form, but most people typed in their emails wrong or couldn’t describe themselves well enough to match their photo. Everyone looked like someone else in a Packers jersey.

So was it a failure? Kind of. But also, it was the spark that shaped what comes next. It was the case study I needed; and it belongs in every Tourism 101 class.

Next came the lens problem. I was renting a lens for $30 to $70 per day. I ran the numbers. With a two-year no-interest credit card, I bought the Sony 28–70mm f2 GM. It is one of the best lenses for events and weddings. It’s like having three primes in one, and it handles low light like a dream. I took a shot of Boogie and the Yo-Yoz that could hold its own in competition. Before submitting it anywhere, I showed it to one of the best wedding photographers in Wisconsin. He said it was a perfect exposure in one of the hardest lighting situations imaginable. Then he warned me—photo competitions often take the rights to your image.

So, I haven’t submitted anything yet. That photo is too valuable to risk.

Then I had to solve photo delivery. I redesigned my business card to include a file number on the back and a QR code that links directly to my website for ordering. I tested the idea at Brau Haus in Appleton during a Gemini-themed party. I reached out to the bar owner, got permission to set up, and brought my iMac mounted to a table. I was ready to deliver digital files quickly.

But the surprise was this, people wanted prints.

A guy from Milwaukee told me that Polaroids go for twenty bucks in clubs, and people pay it. That stuck with me. So, I started researching portable printers. I debated for a week whether I should go deeper into credit card debt. This past Monday, I pulled the trigger. I bought a wireless photo printer and the paper and ink to get started. A pack of ink is $75. A 20-pack of 5x7 paper is $5.59. A 20-pack of 8.5x11 is $15.99. The printer itself was $250.

Then I started thinking about power. What would it take to run a printer and an iMac anywhere? I found a lithium power station on sale, strong enough to run both devices all day with a solar backup. It charges to 75 percent in under an hour. It cost $800. It’s arriving next week.

Then I bought two 3-second pop-up tents. A small and a large. They work. Three seconds and they are up and ready.

For July, I have 14 days without my daughter. And now, I have a system I can take to any tourist destination. I can offer studio-quality prints and instant digital delivery on the spot. People on vacation who didn’t know they wanted a photo will walk away with something they’ll treasure. I’m not chasing clients. I’m not writing contracts. I’m not spending hours editing. I take the photo, do a basic Lightroom touchup, and I’m done. If they want a premium edit, I can charge a small upcharge and add a couple extra steps. It looks like a lot more was done than it really takes. That’s a win for everyone.

My pricing is simple. A 5x7 print is $30. An 8.5x11 is $50. The cost per print is about 28 cents and 75 cents, respectively. If I sell a 20-pack of 5x7s, that’s $600 in revenue. A 20-pack of the larger size is $1,000. Of course, there will be waste and misprints, so I’m tracking that. But the margins are still incredible. After my $8,000 investment, my only ongoing costs are gas, lodging, ink, and paper.

Eagle River in the summer or fall, I could easily sell 50 prints in a few hours. That’s $1,500 in one afternoon.

At the end of Tourism class, you left a note on my grade. It said, “Nathaniel, I hope you get the chance to travel soon.”

When I was in school and working part time, I couldn’t afford it. I would have been spending money I barely had just to escape the grind. My goal was to graduate and prove I was smart enough for a management role. I didn’t want to work entry level. But no one gave me a shot to move up. Looking back, I understand why.

It wasn’t that I wasn’t smart enough for leadership. It was that I was too smart for that kind of work. I wasn’t built to be part of someone else’s system. But I learned from every job, every frustration, every class, and I channeled it all into this.

I hope you share this story with future students, Chef Mike. Because I’m not just trying to make money. I want to use my passion to support a simple, stable life for myself and create a ten-year cushion for my daughter when she becomes an adult. I want to inspire her to build her own dream too. Because the truth is, working entry-level in today's world is a trap. It doesn’t cover basic needs. The shift that’s coming is faster than anyone expects. Labor is being replaced, and most companies care more about profit than people. No one is building a system for us to just live fairly and equally.

So I’m doing it on my own terms. I’m building something that plays into people’s joy, their spontaneity, their moments. I’m giving them high-quality photos on the spot—prints and digital. And that experience spreads. People share the images, they talk, they connect. That’s the magic.

I even have a plan for the colder months. I’ll offer my photo services at events like galas and fundraisers in one of three ways:

1.     No charge to the event. I keep 50 percent of sales. The other 50 is split between the event and a charity or nonprofit, which I contact personally.

2.     The event pays a flat fee upfront, and I provide free portraits to guests. I still donate 25 percent to a cause.

3.     I offer full event coverage—group photos, speakers, details—for $2,500. If the mobile studio is not prepaid, I charge guests per print.

I’m already a member of the HBBA Fox Cities Referrals. I’m an ally member of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber. I just did free veteran portraits for Vets and Friends of Wisconsin, and they’re connected to the NEXUS network. The Fox Cities Chamber asked me to shoot Octoberfest this fall. I’m also part of the Young Pulse business group.

The Mayor of Appleton told me directly—my event photography is really good.

And here’s the part I want you to know most: This cannot fail. I feel it in my core.

You gave me the space to learn, to grow, to think bigger. You gave me the platform.

I made the fuel.

Now the rocket is lifting off—and I hope my story adds fire to your own.

With all the love and gratitude,
Nathaniel Flauger
Eternal Moment Photography

🧭 Full Circle

Chef Jeff recently asked me to photograph the upcoming Hospitality Gala. That’s a full circle moment if there ever was one.

And if Chef Mike happens to be up in Eagle River while I’m photographing a band at Pirate’s Cove next month, I plan to offer him something in return—family photos by the cabin. My way of saying thank you. Not with words, but with the one skill I’ve worked every day to sharpen.

This story isn’t just mine anymore. It belongs to everyone who helped shape it.

And Chef Mike—thank you for giving me the platform. I made the fuel.

Now the rocket is lifting off.

🎓 Ready to Launch Your Own Story?

If you're considering a career in hospitality, tourism, or culinary arts, I highly encourage you to check out the programs at Fox Valley Technical College.

Chef Mike Balistrieri doesn’t just teach—he gives you the space to imagine, create, and build something real. Whether you're dreaming of running a business, managing a team, or creating unforgettable experiences, this program can give you the tools to succeed.

Your story could start right here. Mine did.