Mike Ojo: Through the Lens of the Game
For Mike Ojo, photography wasn’t always the plan. After spending most of his life on the court, the last thing he expected was to find a second calling documenting the game he once played. But through persistence, relationships, and an instinct for storytelling, Mike carved out a lane that’s led him inside NBA arenas, behind the scenes with the league’s biggest stars, and into moments that live far beyond the final buzzer. In this conversation with Flight Club, Mike reflects on finding purpose behind the camera, earning trust in elite spaces, and the sneakers that continue to move him on and off the court.
FC
You spent most of your life playing basketball. What made you transition from being an athlete to shooting the game?
MO
The funny part is, I didn’t want to shoot basketball at all. After spending nearly 70 to 75 percent of my life playing the game, the last thing I wanted to do was stay around it. But some of my younger friends had a men’s league and pickup runs they wanted content for, and eventually I gave in and decided to shoot for them.
When I got home and started uploading and editing the photos, something clicked. I remember thinking, “Man, this might actually be it for me.” From there, I started tapping into my connections within the basketball world. I reached out to my former teammate CJ McCollum, who was with the Pelicans at the time, and asked him for a media credential. He laughed because most people usually hit him up for tickets, not access to shoot.
That Lakers vs. Pelicans game ended up being my first NBA game ever photographed. The moment I stepped into the arena with a camera, I made the decision that I was going to find a way to turn this into a career—and enjoy doing it too.
FC
What mindset helped you break into such a competitive space?
MO
Honestly, I’m stubborn—in the best way possible. If someone tells me I can’t do something, and I truly believe I can, I’m going to find a way to prove it to myself. Photography is really about repetition and belief. You have to keep shooting, shooting, shooting. You never know which image is going to become the breakthrough moment that changes everything or opens the next door for you.
FC
One of your biggest moments came from working with Barack Obama and Anthony Edwards. What was that experience like?
MO
I was blessed with the opportunity to work with Barack Obama and Anthony Edwards on a commercial for Obama’s presidential library opening in Chicago.
There was a playful exchange between them in Court of Gold, and the creative team wanted to recreate that energy. One of the producers from Court of Gold and Starting 5 tapped me to help capture moments from the shoot.
That experience was surreal. Those images eventually made their rounds and came back my way in a major way, and I’m still humbled by it. Being able to work with a president is something I never imagined would actually happen, even though photographing Obama had always been at the very top of my bucket list.
FC
You’ve photographed some of the biggest names in sports. What’s important to you when documenting high-level talent?
MO
One underrated skill I think I have is knowing when to turn the camera off.
There has to be balance. You never want to be too invasive. You have to allow people to simply be human. Humanizing the subject is more important than anything else to me.
Top-tier athletes and talent deal with people wanting something from them all day, every day. Of course, capturing the moment matters, but understanding boundaries matters just as much. I never want to feel like another person taking from them.
FC
How would you describe your personal style right now?
MO
Cool, calm, collected, and comfortable.
If I could wear Nike Tech sweatsuits every day, I probably would. Lately, I’ve also been wearing the Romeros a lot—they’re honestly some of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever put on my feet. It feels like walking on clouds, especially on days when I know I’m going to be moving around nonstop.
FC
What are some sneakers that will always be essential to you?
MO
The Nike Air Zoom Generation is definitely one for me—specifically the first pair.
I also need a pair of Air Jordan 3 'Black Cement's back in rotation. And I’ve got to find a way to stumble into a pair of Air Jordan 11 'Concord's because those are just timeless. That’s my favorite basketball shoe of all time.
