Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Lockridge.
Hi Christopher, 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?
I graduated in 2020 from high school during the covid era. My senior year was pretty much canceled and we didn’t have a graduation or prom or anything. During lockdown I started to look for something new to do. I then discovered True Star through Ms. Marti which is True Star Journalism instructor and then she soon introduced me to Trig who is ahead of the Photgrapher program. I took under Trig wing and he taught me mainly everything I need to know until I met Sylus and Eunice who taught me Editing, production set up and the meaning behind story telling and making a flim. For me I say I got here from being blessed soaking in information from everyone at True Star and learning how to become my own brand. I sacrificed time with friends and family and more to learn new skills and to develop another vision in life besides sports. Even though I was successful in sports with my last game being or supposed to be for Shriners Allstar team but again covid I can’t complain
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
If anyone tell you it’s a smooth road I think that is false unless it’s handed down to you. Even then it’s still a bumpy road because you have to learn how to mange what was handed to you. I face obstacles everyday, learning new things take time and in general being overwhelmed with different obstacles. I’m still in school so me managing work and school can be difficult plus dealing with loss of friends or family can add on to the stress. Being burnt out from doing to much, or overall even if your mental health is not right that can push everything back. It’s time where you might feel like giving up because you may not see the vision, or thinking to yourself are you made for this, or is it going to pay off at the end. As I grow older I’m finding out answers to life everyday. To live is expensive and we want everything perfect at a young age. This is something we all face especially me which is putting alot of stress on us and dragging our mental health down. Most of the time I feel I don’t relate to many people unless they are like minded which can make you feel like you are alone but in reality you’re not. Even depending on you’re environment it can take a toll on you’re mental health, as you’re constantly seeing violence everyday, trash on the ground and no one cares about your neighborhood is a obstacle alot of people face. Most neighborhoods doesn’t have a support system or activities in our neighborhood to practice so we can be successful. My advice on what I do to mange different obstacles and reduce my stress I put it in God hands and pray, plus I learned how to just live life and not stress as much. I work in media so everything I see is mainly negative which is what the world pays attention to for the most, for example if someone is doing a dumb challenge or doing something violent the internet thinks it’s funny but in reality it’s making your appearance look bad or it’s killing you. Working in the media field is hard because I have to mange living life and cutting social media and staying off my phone at the same time. I try to limit myself to less than 3 hours a day on social media and I realize doing 3 hours a day help me accomplish alot and it improves my mental as I’m not just looking at anything negative. Just in the year 2024 alone I probably lost my entire friend group outside of my TrueStar family because either we had a disagreement and never patched things up, some moved to a different state, some passed away, and last the rest of us just don’t relate or connect anymore. What’s funny to me is when people ask who do I kick it with outside of work or someone I’m close to and I say no one every thinks it’s a joke. For me I think I have to adjust and learn the tips and tricks to life, so with that in mind I say all of my obstacles are mentally related because as each day goes by we become more mature and I’m learning to adjust to each situation, so if it happens again I’ll be prepared and ready. I’m taking it one step at a time and learning new life tip and tricks everyday. I realize that I have a trust issue when meeting new people and I’m always on the edge and checking my surroundings just do to aniexty. The last main factor I would say is I’m a workaholic I can’t never sit down and relax which is not healthy. Overall if im sick I will push through which puts myself at risk and I think it’s because sometimes when I say no I feel guilty just because I dont want to disappoint no one or overall I just don’t want to fail in life. I was raised as the males are the providers and protectors so it doesn’t matter what I think do what you have to do to take care of yourself and your family legally of course with no excuses. No one in the world is going to care about how you feel as a male excpect your family. In the world’s point of view they just want to know what you provide and how can you help them and I want to adjust that mindset.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
First I would like to say im still new to this I just hit 3 years but where do start, I am a Content Creator. I know Production set up, I’m a Journalism, Editor, podcast, alittle graphic design, I can host different shows if needed, but my main thing is Photography and Videography. Photography has really taken me to another level. Me being able to help the youth by teaching Photography and giving back to them to give teens the same opportunity as me is amazing. I look at Photography as a stress relief and since I’m good at it why not use what I love to give back. I’m well known for my sports and concert photography. Some notable people I have done concert photography for are Snoop, Dogg, Frankie Beverly, Killer Mike, Lil Durk, Carly Rae Jepsen, infamous syndicate, Hex Hextic, Fat Joe, Rick Ross, Wingless Angel, Coco Jones, Glorilla, Robert Glasper and many more. On the sports side I have done work with the Chicago football classic, Bulls, Bears, White Sox, AEW(All Elite Wrestling), Harlem Globetrotters, The Bigs and 3 years with the Chicago Sky. I recently became 1 of 200 content creators selected to get content for the DNC which was the first time in history this was every done. I was the 2023 Goalkeeper of the year with WhatsthewordTv, 2023 True Star MVP, I was Nominated for abbey road music photography awards, featured on ABC 7 and Fox news with True Star just to name a few achievements. Concert photography also helped me stay connected to my community by discovering new artist that I still keep in contact with to this day like Z Saj, Big mouf Bo, Dwayne Neff and Niecy Pooh. What sets me apart from others is I’m very supportive and I’m always looking to give back. Doing photography and doing behind the scenes work I have been blessed to meet and stay connected to many organizations and PRs in my community and world wide such as SwankPr, Vee L Harrison Communications, Black Promoters collective, Englewood Branded, Think outside the Block, Developing our youth. And many more. I teach and help offer opportunities to youth so they can be successful just like me. I’m currently working on a plan right now with True Star to bring in Photgraphers, Videographers and Content Creators all over the midwest or the world and we are going to sit in a room and have a training session to teach each other tips and tricks for photography and Content creating. It doesnt matter if you are a beginner or advanced we are going to start from the beginning then grow together. This is a big project and a big deal because most people in the industry won’t even interact with someone they know that is coming for their job. Me being able to meet and soak in alot of information from other amazing Photgraphers, Videographers, and producers like Kayla Sullers the youngest black female cinematography, Sylus Green trains the white house and Disney, Deshaun Adams, Odie, Pemon Rami who also helped me learn Ancient Egypt culture back when I was in 7th grade its a blessing. Just like some of these greats poured into me I want to give those who grew up in bad neighborhoods the hope they deserve. Even when I’m not teaching or doing photography I’m volunteering to help my community and I’m also coaching football at Fenger high school to help restore the image of the school I want people to know their’s good everywhere you go no matter the neighborhood. Throughout my journey so far I had alot of ups and down and I got to say my most proud moment was Winning TrueStar MVP award because it shows how much I have grew. Being able to impact the youth and make your family proud and even having your alma mater asking you to come back to speak or teach to the next generation is great. It’s letting you know your doing something right and keeping pushing to the next level.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love Chicago it never sleeps it’s always something to do. Taking a late night drive on lake shore nothing beats that. The city is beautiful that why we won best city for 8 consecutive years, do I even need to say anything else. We have many historic landmarks you can go to to learn Chicago’s history which just amazes me because I’m always down to learn something new. Everything dope comes from Chicago well spoken words by the Chicago historian. One thing I hate about Chicago is the traffic and how it’s always construction going on besides that I can’t really complain yes we can fix some neighborhoods but that’s with any state or city you go to. Last is I know many people going to disagree with me on this but I actually enjoy the Chicago winters sometimes.
Pricing:
- All my prices are flexible everyone doesn’t make the same so i say be truth to me about what you can do
- Sports start at 250-300
- Lifestyle start at 200
- Concerts start at 250
Contact Info:
- Website: https://clockinterviews.wixsite.com/mysite
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockotb?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CLockInterviews?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-lockridge-84b12623a
- Twitter: https://x.com/clockinterviews?s=09
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@clockinterviews5610?si=ViYKFYq5kB1fgWhb
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@clockinterviews
Image Credits
Christopher Lockridge