Having an unquenchable thirst to create from a young age Michael Barton has been active in the music community since the age of 4. This course led Barton to complete his Masters degree in Jazz studies from the University of North Texas in 2000. Coupled with a desire to document and study the humanities, Barton has been fascinated with photography from an early age. The belief that music and photography go hand in hand has led him to a great respect for discipline and creativity.  Through Barton’s study of the humanities he has developed an amazing love for people, and photography is a chance to give back.

Barton has quickly become one of the busiest photographers in the Chicago area, shooting over 200 weddings in the past 3 years as well as countless portrait and commercial sessions.  Michael has served as the house photographer for Chicago Jazz Magazine for the past 5 years and has been published in Chicago Wellness Magazine, Modern Drummer, and Jazz Improv Magazine.  In addition, Barton has kept a busy schedule speaking to photographers around the country. 

Barton currently owns and operates Indigo Photographic Inc. located in Downtown Batavia.  The goal of the studio is to shoot portraiture with a contemporary edge and commercial work with the warmth of portraiture. It is the concept that “every person on this Earth deserves a great image that will last for generations” that keeps this studio in high demand.

As a member of the Professional Photographers of America and Associated Professional Photographers of Illinois, Michael is very active in the photographic community. He is also one of fewer than 80 Certified Professional Photographers from the PPA and received his Craftsman Degree for professional service in January of 2008.   Barton is in the process of completing the prestigious Master of Photography and Master of Electronic Imaging degrees.  Barton is a member of the Associated Professional Photographers of Illinois, the Professional Photographers Association of Northern Illinois, and Wedding and Portrait Photographers International.  Barton was awarded the degree of PPANI Fellow in November of 2007. Michael was honored with the Kodak Gallery Awards for Best Wedding and Best Portrait for 2007 along with winning Best Wedding at APPI and PPANI as well as Best in Show at PPANI in April of 2007, August of 2007, and Best of Show at APPI in August of 2007. Barton was named a Top 10 MARC (Illinois and Indiana) Photographer of year in March of 2008 and 2008 a PPA Gold Electonic Imager of the Year and a PPA Silver Photographer of the Year. He also received 2 Fuji Masterpiece Awards in 2008.