We recently connected with Chamcee Blackwell and have shared our conversation below.
Chamcee, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later?
If I could go back in time, I would have started my business two or three years after I picked up the camera for the first time. I learned later in life that being passionate about what you do in life yields better work- better outcomes. I initially picked up the camera as an outlet because O didn’t know how else to express what I was going through in life at that time. Being 16, there aren’t many outlets to actually convey what words couldn’t and I understood that a picture was worth a thousand words, so, why not paint a picture? I started ColorMeCham Photography because I got tired of the same old senior pictures and school photos. I knew I needed a more creative way to share my thoughts and viewpoints with the world. This need- this sort of yearning, if you will, led me to start my company and pursue creative photogrpahy in the fashion and conceptual photogrpahy world. Starting sooner would have saved time with jobs that drained me physically, mentally, and emotionally. Ultimately I’m glad I started my company at all. It has truly been an amazing ride thus far and I look forward to what the future holds for ColorMeCham Photography.
Chamcee, 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 Chamcee(Chám) Blackwell. I started ColorMeCham Photography with the idea of creating real, raw images, that still look like you. I promote a helthy Journey of Self-Love through use of intricTe lighting, vibrant colors, and unconventional approaches to life. I believe that beauty is everywhere at all times, and that you do not need to look a certain way, or dress a certain way to find beauty within yourself. Whether it be a fashion shoot for a magazine, a boudoir session, or a conceptual theme, I am to show not only the client/model a new sense of what self-love can be, but also the viewer. When you look at an image of mine, I want you to be able to not only invision yourself in the models shoes, but to also be able to understand the story behind the picture. I walk my clients through every step of the process to ensure we have crwatively met all og their needs. Having been published in well over 30 magazines, I am to keep disrupting the “beauty standards” industry professional have set that alienate people who don’t fit “their look.”
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I think the love for creative arts helped ultimately build my reputation. I truly believe that when you do what you love, it really does show. Now, couple that with things like: humility, consistency, hardwork, dedication, and willingness to push the boundaries and people start to pay attention. I try to focus more on the love for what I do, rather than the income it produces. I also try to maintain a personal relationship with what I do. The idea of being “corporate” does not sit well with me.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is when people notice the intentional decisions I make as a photographer. Nothing feels better than people understanding the story behind and image, or picking up on the lighting or details in an image that are sublte, but impactful. It pushes you to go further- to do more when your impact happens the way you intended it to.
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