Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chris Cherrie. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Chris, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

In May of 2021, I quit my day job to pursue photography and videography full-time, at least until I got another full-time job. I originally started the job in 2019 as an office administrator. As my employer learned of my other skills including graphic design, video editing, and photography, they began to expand my role. In 2020, the pandemic began, pushing all of the organization’s activities online, which gave me significantly more work and pressure. Like many workers around the world, I became very burnt out from the huge workload. Eventually it started to take a toll on my mental health and I finally decided it was time to leave. I did not have an immediate plan of what I was doing next. I just knew I had to move on. It was a leap of faith.

It took some time for my business to get some momentum. Things didn’t really start picking up until earlier this year. Since I left my last job, I have gotten into event photography and videography where I have created great connections with different companies, organizations, and event planners. Recently, I officially became a contractor for O Hello Media, Inc., a marketing company based in Colorado. It actually started when they reached out to me to volunteer my time to document a march in D.C. for the banning of assault weapons. They loved the footage I gave them and wanted to bring me into their network officially. While I do not make as much money yet. I have grown a lot as a photographer and videographer, I am more at peace, and I have made some very important connections that will lead me to more opportunities in the future. I like to think I’m playing the long game!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a photographer and videographer located in Silver Spring, Maryland. I have a Bachelor’s from Towson University where I studied Digital Art and Design. I consider myself a jack of all trades since I have experience with graphic design, video production, photography, video editing, motion graphics, and livestreaming. I provide a variety of services across the DMV. I provide digital photos that are perfect for marketing, social media, or for personal use. For my videography, I provide short video recaps of events that show the big highlights as well as more candid moments. I am also able to livestream events to Zoom, YouTube, or Facebook. I think I standout from other creatives because I am very versatile and I am able to capture high quality photos and videos with minimal equipment in a timely manner. I also make meaningful connections with my clients and create a positive experience throughout the process. I am proud with how much I have improved in my craft as well as the connections I have made during my time as a freelancer.

How did you build your audience on social media?

When I first started my photography account, it was mostly just my friends following me. One day, I was buying a used lens from an old friend of mine who was also a photographer. He told me about the meetup groups in the area, StreetMeet DC and Portrait Meet DC. I attended my first photo meetup in July of 2018. While I was there, I connected with several models and photographers. As I continued attending these events over the years and posting my pictures from them, my following started to grow at a faster rate. On social media, especially Instagram, you have to deal with the algorithm which constantly limits your reach if you are not posting specific content. You can always try growing by hopping on the next trend but that may not necessarily lead to genuine connections. When you connect with people in-person, you can actually talk to each other, show each other your work, and share your experiences. As you connect with more people, it’s like a snowball effect. In the long run, I think that is the best way to grow your following.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

As a freelancer, I wish more non-creatives understood that I am not trying to follow the traditional path of working one full-time job for decades and eventually retiring. Being a creative means I want to create my own path that can change constantly. Of course having a regular job has it’s benefits but in my experience, it has not felt as fulfilling. The older adults in my life always ask me what I’m up to and when I say I’m freelancing, they almost seem confused or disappointed. One day, I may have to go back to a regular job but as of right now, I am enjoying my current journey, even if it seems like it’s going slow.

I also wish more people understood everything that goes into being a creative, in my case a photographer and videographer. It’s not just taking a picture and slapping a filter on it. We have to account for time developing our skills. equipment, software, insurance, and paying our own bills. Many potential clients focus on the cost of services but they do not realize how much money we’ve had to put into our careers to get to this point as well as the value of the final product they would be receiving. I love what I do but I am still trying to make a living as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cherrieberrydesign.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/thecherrieberry
• Twitter: twitter.com/thecherrieberry
• Youtube: youtube.com/chrischerrie

Image Credits
Image # 1 Model Tim Stewart Image #2 Model Marie Seagrave Image #3 Models Grace O Gayamfi, @kyanaishere, @getwmysss Image #7 Model Thanos Santos