We were lucky to catch up with Chris Dummer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Chris thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Yes, I have been able to make a living by creating. Ever since the end of high school / beginning of college I knew I wanted to make creating things with a camera my full time job. For me though, it was all about doing in a way that gave me security and stability. So when most of the creative people I knew started freelancing full-time, I continued too focus on finding an opportunity that was full time with financial stability. Was that path an easy one? No. Sometimes it felt like freelancing would have been better way to go, but in the long run, working in a full-time roll was the right decision. Not only did it mean security and stability from a financial perspective, but it allowed me to still take on other projects and opportunities, without the stress of living project to project. The time between jobs is always a bit stressful, as full-time creative jobs are still not the most popular opportunity out there, but I don’t regret choosing the path I’m on.

Chris, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am content creator. In short, I make YouTube videos and take photos for my job. Pretty great, right? I have always been a creative person. First, it was musically, playing instruments as a kid. Then being introduced to technology led me to see how you could be creative with a camera and a computer. I market myself as a videographer and photographer for clients who need that, but client work has never been my main source of income. I am happy to have found the balance of being creative for work and creating things just because it makes me happy. Covering concerts has been my latest area of exploration, but I still work with any client who can work with on my timeline of weekend and evening hours. as I love helping people solve their creative problems with my skills and knowledge.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The most recent goal in my creative journey is to find a path that combines all of my creative passions. Mainly, music and creating content. I found that intersection in concert photography, where I can listen to my favorite artists, while getting a chance to create content and contribute to history.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is seeing my work impact the world around me. Whether that’s an artist sharing my photo, or people purchasing a product based my photos, I love seeing my work in the world and how it affects the mission it was created for.

Contact Info:

• Website: chrisdummer.com
• Instagram: @chris.dummer
• Youtube: youtube.com/c/chrisdummer