Michael Kitada earned his bachelor of arts degree in communication with an emphasis in photojournalism from California State University, Fullerton. After graduation, he was employed as a staff photographer at the Orange County Register where he was able to travel and document top events of the time over the last 25 years. For the last 10 years, he managed his own photography business and taught photojournalism as an adjunct at UCLA, California Baptist University and Biola University.