Inspiring Conversations with Christopher Birt of Doc The Shots

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Birt.

Hi Christopher, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
It all started at Carver High School with the help of Mr. Karim.

I originally started out working with AV at the school, but one day I asked him, “Hey, can I take some pictures?” He told me to go for it, and that was really the beginning of everything. He taught me the fundamentals of how a camera worked — what the f-stop was, how ISO worked, what shutter speed meant, and, most importantly, how all of those settings came together to create the shot I wanted.

From there, I started taking pictures at school rallies and smaller events. Then I started shooting sports, and that’s when things really took off. I eventually became the sports photographer for Carver and, before I knew it, I was photographing sports and events throughout almost the entire district.

Mr. Karim was a major part of that journey. He constantly encouraged me to push through, get better, study my craft, and make sure I actually understood what I was doing instead of just pointing a camera and taking pictures. He helped me understand that there was a difference between simply taking a picture and actually creating a shot.

But honestly, my interest in photography started way before I ever owned a camera.

When I was younger, I was always the person taking pictures on everybody else’s phone. I was constantly looking for the best angle, trying different perspectives, and making sure I got the picture that everybody else might have missed. As I got older, people started trusting me with their cameras — everything from DSLRs to mirrorless cameras. Every opportunity to use somebody else’s camera became another opportunity for me to learn.

Then, during my 11th-grade year, everything changed. I was presented with my first camera, a Sony a6400, at Carver High School. Having my own camera gave me the freedom to really explore photography. I could shoot school events, sports, people, and anything else that caught my eye. I wasn’t just borrowing somebody else’s equipment anymore. I had something that I could truly build with.

That’s also when Doc The Shots started.

Originally, Doc The Shots wasn’t even supposed to be a business. It was simply a page where I could post pictures from Carver’s events and sports. But people started seeing the pictures and asking how they could get them. That’s when I started thinking, “Hmm… maybe I can actually turn this into something.”

My senior year, I started taking editing more seriously and continued learning how to improve my work. I started shooting more events, proms, graduations, sports, and different types of sessions. The more I shot, the more my name started getting around.

The name “Doc” came from my nickname. Growing up, Doc was the type of person who either knew everything, tried to know everything, or always had a solution to a problem. Eventually, I gave the name another meaning through the business: D.O.C. — Don’t Over Charge.

That became one of the biggest ideas behind Doc The Shots. I want people to have access to high-quality photography without feeling like they have to break the bank. I work with people’s budgets whenever possible while still making sure they receive quality work.

I started realizing this could become something bigger when I saw my own potential. It went from school games to events, proms, graduations, and eventually opportunities that I never imagined when I first picked up a camera.

Some of my earliest clients were actually the basketball team at my school. My first celebrity opportunity was Bunna B, and since then I’ve had the opportunity to photograph artists, entertainers, athletes, brands, schools, and major events.

I’ve had the opportunity to work around people such as Belly Gang, Bunna B, Pluto, Lil Baby, Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, Killer Mike, No Neck Jay, Pastor Troy, and many others. But one of the biggest experiences for me was FIFA Fan Fest. That experience showed me just how far photography could take me.

Another major part of my journey has been Atlanta Public Schools. I’ve had the opportunity to photograph at schools throughout APS, covering sports ranging from baseball to soccer and many other events. Being able to go from being a student photographer at Carver to photographing schools throughout the district is something I don’t take for granted.

Of course, building the business hasn’t always been easy. One of the biggest challenges I still face is clientele. Sometimes getting people to give you that first opportunity can be difficult. But once I get that opportunity and people experience my work, I’ve found that it can lead to more relationships and more opportunities.

Another challenge has been getting people to understand that photography is more than just showing up with a camera. I take organization seriously. Scheduling, communication, preparation, understanding the assignment, and knowing exactly what a client needs are all important parts of the job. Some people may think a photographer just shows up and takes pictures, but there’s a lot more that happens behind the camera.

Today, I’m focused on promoting myself and Doc The Shots even more. I’m working on growing my social media presence, increasing my views and followers, showcasing more of my work, connecting with new clients, and continuing to build relationships with brands, schools, artists, organizations, and communities. I’m still learning, still improving my editing, still studying photography, and still figuring out how to turn every opportunity into the next opportunity.

At the heart of everything, photography is a passion for me.

I believe memories captured in a camera can last forever. I do this because I want people to have something they can look back on years from now and remember exactly how they felt in that moment. You can lose a phone, lose a file, or have pictures buried somewhere in your camera roll. But when you have a photograph printed, in an album, or hanging on a wall, it becomes something tangible — something you can look back at and say, “Wow, I remember that.”

That’s why I always say, it’s the shot that matters and the photographer behind the camera that makes it happen.

My goal for Doc The Shots is to take it national. I want to bring the brand into schools, events, games, concerts, community programs, and much more. I want to eventually build a team of photographers who share the same vision — creating high-quality memories while making photography accessible.

I don’t want Doc The Shots to just be known as a photography company. I want it to be something that touches people’s lives.

No matter how big the brand gets, I want to remember where it started: a student at Carver High School, asking Mr. Karim, “Hey, can I take some pictures?”

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest struggles has been trying to build my name while still learning the business side of photography. Getting consistent clients, finding opportunities, investing in better equipment, and balancing photography with school, work, and everything else hasn’t always been easy.

There were also times when I questioned whether I was really good enough or if this was something I could actually turn into a real business. But every setback taught me something. I learned how to be more consistent, how to network, how to promote myself, and most importantly, how to keep going even when things weren’t moving as fast as I wanted.

I think those struggles are a big part of why I’m still passionate about it today. They pushed me to take photography more seriously and turn it from something I enjoyed doing into something I’m building for my future.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Doc The Shots is a photography brand built around making professional photography accessible, creative, and affordable. I specialize in event photography, brand shoots, graduations, proms, school photography, community events, concerts, real estate, and other special moments. My goal is to capture the moments people want to remember while also helping brands, businesses, and organizations tell their stories visually.

What sets Doc The Shots apart is the combination of affordability, creativity, and the way I connect with the people I’m photographing. I’m not trying to make every shoot feel the same. Whether I’m shooting a major event, a small business, a graduation, or a community event, I try to capture the energy and personality behind it.

The name “Doc The Shots” also represents what I stand for: D.O.C. — Don’t Over Charge. I wanted to create a brand where people can get quality photography without feeling like professional photography is out of reach. I’m especially focused on working with young creatives, entrepreneurs, brands, schools, and community organizations.

What I’m most proud of brand-wise is seeing Doc The Shots grow from me simply asking if I could take pictures into a real business with its own identity, clients, opportunities, and vision. I’ve had the opportunity to photograph events, brands, artists, students, businesses, and community initiatives, and every opportunity has helped me grow.

I want readers to know that Doc The Shots is bigger than just taking pictures. I’m building a brand around access, creativity, community, and opportunity. Photography is where it started, but I want Doc The Shots to continue growing into a platform that connects with businesses, organizations, creatives, and the community while creating opportunities for other young people interested in photography and media.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My biggest advice is to just put yourself in the room. A lot of opportunities come from simply showing up, introducing yourself, and being willing to learn. I didn’t find success by waiting for someone to reach out to me—I had to ask questions, introduce myself, and show people what I could do.

When looking for a mentor, I think it’s important to find someone who is already doing something you want to learn. Don’t approach them just asking, “Can you mentor me?” Show genuine interest in what they do, ask specific questions, offer to help, and build a relationship naturally.

Networking has worked best for me when I focus less on what I can get from someone and more on what I can bring to the table. Whether that’s photography, helping with an event, creating content, or simply connecting someone with another person, you never know where a relationship can lead.

And most importantly, don’t be afraid to start small. One conversation can lead to an opportunity, and one opportunity can completely change your direction. Be consistent, be respectful, follow up, and let your work speak for you.

Pricing:

• Starter- $75
• Signature- $150
• Premium- $250

Contact Info:

• Website: https://doctheshotsllc.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: @doc_theshots
• Facebook: @Doc the shots
• Twitter: @doctheshots