Big Mike Phillips is a photographer that has been shooting for about seven years now. He got his start by “just loving to take photos.”

For years, Phillips used film photography, then one Christmas his roommate, Joey Arruda, gave him a digital camera, and it changed Phillip’s life.

“I started traveling with my camera and taking photos of people and places every where I went,” Phillips said.

Since then, Phillips has captured many important and meaningful events: Christine Kehoe being sworn in as a state senator, Toni Atkins acting as mayor of San Diego, and the swearing in of the first openly gay men, Carl DeMaio and Todd Gloria, to the city council.

Phillips even had the opportunity to photograph Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama while they were running for President of the United States and witnessed the opening of the Clinton Library, capturing four living presidents and first ladies all together. Phillips is also very grateful to have photographed the last two GLBT marches on Washington, D.C. as well.

“I love taking individual shots of people and photos for events and outings,” Phillips said. “I try to bring out the best in people while encouraging them to have fun at the same time.”

Besides photography, Phillip enjoys raising money for organizations and people who need it the most.

“Over the years, with the help of many wonderful friends and community members, I have helped raised hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Phillips said.

Phillip and his friend Nigel Mayer started a 501c nonprofit, called Ordinary Miracles, which has raised more than $300k to San Diego.

“It’s good to be apart of a community that opens their hearts and shows compassion the way this city does,” Phillips said. “We are all better off for it.”