Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Fleck.
Hi Chris, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Photography, for me, started as a hobby over 20 years ago. I would take pictures of sunsets and nature, learning everything as I grew. As most photographers, I started in “full auto” where I would let the camera set everything for me. Over time, I worked on learning how to manually set all my setting to get the look I wanted. From there, I added flashes into the mix to “create my own light” and get the look that I wanted.
A few years went by and I had someone comment to me that I should start my own business because my photos were so good. It took a while, but I decided to take the leap and started photographing people. I did Senior portraits, family portraits and even weddings. I was trying to find my niche in photography and was trying so many different styles. It was fun as I was learning as I went along, but still was wondering where my passion was leading me.
Fast forward a number of years and I finally found what I enjoyed. Portraiture. This included senior portraits, glamour and boudoir portraiture. I had discovered that what I enjoyed the most about my art was the positivity and confidence that I could instill in all of my subjects. That reaction of, “That can’t be me?!” is one of my favorite reactions because it lets the subject know that they are beautiful just as they are.
Today, I continue to follow that path of portraiture and help people see themselves in a different light (all puns intended). Nothing makes me happier than seeing someone walking away from a shoot feeling more confident in themselves!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
To say that the road to business ownership is easy is just lying to yourself. There has been many struggles over the years, even recently.
Photography tends to be a very seasonal business. Summer and fall, you see seniors and families scheduling sessions to get the quintessential beach images or fall colors so business is always very strong during that time. However, when winter and spring hit, the business tapers off. This one of the perils of not having my own studio.
I always do all of my shoots on location. This could be a park, a client’s home, a hotel or even an AirBnB. Because of this, people often feel that photography sessions I. The off-season just can’t happen. The pressure for me comes in helping individuals understand that, yes, they CAN happen. It all depends on what style they are looking for. Today, there are so many options out there for settings, especially for glamour and boudoir sessions, that it takes convincing for people to understand that these sessions can happen year round.
Another difficult aspect to my business in particular is that I am a guy. When it comes to Senior portraits or family sessions, that is not a problem. However, when it comes to glamour or boudoir sessions, this can make people pause. “Having a guy taking my boudoir pictures is just creepy” or “why would I have pictures taken by a guy” are common comments that I see across those particular genres.
What people tend to not understand is that I have a thousand different things going through my head at the shoot. Is the lighting set properly? Are necklaces and hair looking good? Is the pose set right? What about camera settings or composition? All of these thoughts and more are ALWAYS in the forefront of my mind for one simple fact: I want the best images for my clients. They are trusting me to be a photographer, not a gawker.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a photographer who specializes in portraiture, specifically Senior portraits, glamour and boudoir,
I am most proud of my ability to portray each client in a positive light. I want each of them to feel special at the session and after for years to come. It should be the goal of every photographer to treat every subject with respect and not make them feel like they are just a number.
What sets me apart from others is that I take my time with everyone. I try to connect with each of my clients to learn more about their personality so that I can capture their true essence. For boudoir sessions, I make it a point to have a meeting or two before the session so that the subject and myself can meet and get comfortable with each other. And get a vision for each session.
Ultimately, I want to make sure that each session is positive, empowering and an experience so good, they want to repeat!
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
To collaborate, simply reach out and let’s talk. I am always open to collaborating with others. Make-up artists, stylists, models and other photographers are always welcome to reach out and discuss how we can work together to benefit each other.
To hep support my craft, word of mouth and social media are king in this area. If you love what you see, like, comment, share and follow. If you are talking to friends, family and coworkers, mention my name and site. These, by far, are the best ways to help me collaborate with others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Christopherfleckphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christopherfleckphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherFleckPhotography
- Other: https://CFPBoudoir.com
