Meet Chris Charles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Charles.

Chris, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born in Brooklyn, NY and grew up always interested in the arts. From drawing, painting, to music, I just seemed to gravitate towards them all but eventually took an extreme liking to photography. Fortunately, my parents always encouraged this side of my development. While going on family trips I always wound up with a camera in my hand and being fascinated by the process of photography, which led me to become the designated family photographer. Fast forward to college where I studied architectural engineering and developed a love for space and design while not realizing I was actually honing in on key composition skills that would translate to photography in the future. After that first round of school I decided to challenge myself and entered the military, ultimately serving as an Army Paratrooper for 12 years.

I was ready for a change after my last deployment in 2003 and felt it was time to get out of the military and pursue a career in technology. It was in that space where I rediscovered my passion for the arts and photography. After slowly finding my voice in my area I went back to school and earned a degree in graphic design which helped me combine my photography skills with graphic design. While in school I worked part-time at a recording studio which was a great opportunity to connect with local artists. Naturally this led to me designing album art, collateral, as well as do the photography for the projects. I’ve since been able to combine most aspects of visual creation to suit the needs of various clients today.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the struggles I encountered was struggling with not wanting to present the kind of work that appeared to be the most profitable in my local market. Another struggle was simply working up to becoming a profitable business. It’s never easy jumping out the window and starting a business but I realized we all have a unique gift, the key is finding the people who will appreciate it.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Over the past few years I’ve rebranded myself to simply “Chris Charles’ or “Chris Charles Co.”. I’ve always had passion for portraiture and feel that’s what I primarily specialize in while having the skill sets to service clients with broader needs in photography and design. I’m most proud of the fact that I’m still here after over ten years in business lol… I believe my ability to go left visually when my market may go right is what sets me apart. I believe being technically sound is key, but also knowing how to break the rules in an informed way is just as important and something I enjoy continuing to do.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I started my journey without any official mentors but I was always inspired by the Masters who helped me find my visual voice. Gordon Parkes, Richard Avedon, Robert Frank, Francis Wolffe to name a few. It wasn’t until later in my career when family and friends began to really take notice and encourage me in my endeavors. Specifically my mother and the late Phil Freelon. As a businessman and world-renowned leader in Architecture, he always encouraged me and let me know how proud he was of me as my business grew and I am forever grateful for his encouragement.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://chrischarles.co
• Email: info@chrischarles.co
• Instagram: chrischarles.co
• Facebook: chrischarlesphoto
• Twitter: photoninja357

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