Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Waymon.
Chris, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I currently have two different business that I’m running. My first business I do production for concerts, festivals, fashion shows, film and Tv. Also business management. But when Covid hit everything was on pause so I had to figure something out fast. And I remember I use to do photography just as a hobby so I decided to pursue it as a career. That was the start of CLW Photography and videography. At the time I didn’t have a portfolio so I did photos and videos for friends and family. And over time people saw my work and I started to get booked for different jobs. My first year, I booked three weddings and I was truly nervous. But the little fact that of people don’t know is that I build a photography and videography business just off my iPhone 11 at the time. Every photo that I have ever taken (every single one) has been done with my iPhone along with most of my videos. My first wedding was the first time I used a camera and that was still for videos. All my photos have been done with my iPhone. So because I have a business background I was able to build a business with just my iPhone.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
For the most part, it was a smooth road. I started the business in January and I booked my first wedding in September. Matter of fact a booked two weddings a week apart. So I was extremely nervous because I never used a camera before and I had to borrow a friend’s camera and I bought a professional gimbal. But I got the camera and gimbal on Wednesday and the wedding was on Saturday so that didn’t give me much time to practice on top of that, I had a cousin that I was really close to past away from Covid and his funeral was on the same day as the wedding so I was a wrecked. When the wedding started the camera said if couldn’t record and the gimbal had an error message on it and I had no ideal how to fix it along the bride is starting to walk down the isle. I had to improvise and for the couple was still happy with the over video and photos. I did make a few mistakes and it was a learning process but they were still happy. I had a lot to learn in a week because I had another wedding the following Saturday. But that was wedding was some of my best work which lead me to book 4 other weddings over the next nine months.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
So my business does photos for any occasion birthdays, weddings, family photos, commercial you name it. I guess I can say I’m proud that I have truly a creative eye and mindset. A lot of people question my abilities because I was using my iPhone but once they saw the final photos or videos, they always say I have a talent and eye. When doing my photos, I try to be creative and capture different angles and I think that what’s set me apart from other photographers. At the same time, I’m always looking to grow and learn different styles and techniques. I’m constantly watching YouTube videos or looking up new ways to get better. And that’s what helps me with my clients because I’m not doing simple photos or videos with my iPhone.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
YouTube and the internet has been my best friend. I’m constantly thinking of new ideas and then go to YouTube to learn how to do it. There are so many photo and video apps to use also to make things easier. I have a background in music where I know how to produce music so editing videos just came easy. It’s not much difference in the process of editing music and editing videos. One is audio and other is video. So I downloaded an app called LumaFusion only for iPhone and iPad and I edited all my videos on my iPhone and it was really easy.
Pricing:
- A lot of people were booking me for my photos and videos for $150-$250 because I was using my iPhone
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shotbyclw.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clwphotographyvideography/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/clwphotography82/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/chriswaymon
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/Clwphotography82
- Other: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm5855308/
Image Credits
All Photos taken by CLW Photography and videography
