We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chris Hernandez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chris below.
Chris, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How do you feel about asking friends and family to support your business? What’s appropriate, what’s not? Where do you draw the line?
Asking friends and family to support your business can be a difficult thing. I think most business owners have heard and probably believe the concept that a stranger will support you quicker than friends or family. My personal opinion is that a lot of times, those closest people to you know you as who you were before you started your business, and they can’t justify this “new” you and paying your price. My advice is always to limit or not even set expectations of friends and family, and any support that you get from them is just an added bonus. I believe it’s appropriate to stand firm on your prices and treating family and friends like other customers. I also feel that you operate your business in whatever way makes sense to you. If your business model, profit margins, or schedule allows you to provide discounted work or products to friends and family, then you can do that if you’re comfortable with it. That’s the beauty of running your own business. You are in control. When I ran my clothing brand, when I first opened up and throughout the first year, family and friends were very quick to support. After year one, I had to build a community of customers outside that group because that support started to dwindle. I personally don’t look for discounts or handouts from family or friends. If they run a business that requires me to purchase products, I purchase like a regular customer. If they offer discounts or free products, I’m always appreciative. I do my best to reciprocate that generosity by taking photos or creating content around their products.
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?
First and foremost, I’m a photographer. I’m also a content creator. I picked up a camera for the first time in 2021, and the reason I did was because I was learning how to capture photos for my clothing brand. I really grew a love for photography and really being able to capture things in a way that everyone simply cannot. I’ve been surrounded by a group of guys that I consider my brothers that have extensive experience as photographers and videographers/content creators. I’ve been very fortunate to be able to learn from them. Over the last year, I’ve been able to shoot events for Lids at NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, a birthday party for a friend’s mom, and my first wedding. I’ll also be shooting some maternity photos for another friend, and I was able to shoot some first Christmas photos of my son and my dog. I started with typical lifestyle/outfit photoshoots outdoors. I learned how to capture the details of products that has translated into being able to do that with other things outside of clothes. I’ve created content for Tilly, Lids, Champs, Mitchell & Ness, and ’47 Brand. One of my big highlights was NBA All-Star Weekend. As a kid that grew up loving/playing basketball, being able to shoot photos professionally of Chris Brickley and Jalen Rose along with two up-and-coming NBA players Jabari Smith Jr. and Jalen Williams. I continue to find ways to learn and grow within this skillset. It’s always great when I do work and deliver it to a client, and they express how much they genuinely love my work. I have recently completed a series of videos that will be used for ads for a company that uses an AI scheduler. I love fashion; so, I love to help brands showcase their pieces and show people how to style certain pieces and encourage them to purchase from/support these companies I work with. I enjoy being able to connect those dots. On the side, I help friends with their brands whether it’s connecting them to products, design help, photography/content services, or even designing their website. I have a network of resources that I have been able to tap into in order to help others. I’m extremely proud of my growth so far, and I can’t wait to see what work comes my way next! I pride myself on effective communication and transparency when it comes to timelines and pricing. I work individually with each client to make sure that they’re getting the best out of me and that I’m delivering exactly what they’re looking for.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Authenticity. My following isn’t as large as others, but when I decided to take my social media presence seriously, I focused on always staying myself. My page may show unboxing videos, photoshoots, and other things that you can find on plenty of social media pages. What I do each and every time is stay true to who I am. In my photoshoots, especially the ones I do with friends, you’ll always see a picture or two of me with a goofy look on my face. Those are always my favorite because that’s just who I am. I feel that many people get a little bit of recognition or attention, and they change who they are. I don’t compromise my morals or values just to get a contract or new client. Even as I grow and try to expand from just fashion related things, I still make sure that I’m authentically myself. Whether it’s cracking a joke, incorporating my sneakers or hats, or finding a way to relate to others, I still remain myself through it all. Being authentic allows me to continue to enjoy what I do every day and not get too burnt out. My advice is to know yourself. Know who you are and who you’re trying to appeal to. Once you know that, you create in a way that your audience can relate to which gives them a reason to keep returning to your page.
Do you have multiple revenue streams – if so, can you talk to us about those streams and how your developed them?
As a multifaceted creator, I can earn revenue by doing some sort of photography work (wedding, party, baby shower, etc.), video work (unboxing videos, GRWM videos, product highlight videos, speaking videos, etc.), or even company assistance (website building or maintenance, product design, customer communication strategies, or even connecting to resources to assist with the business). Starting a clothing brand put me in a position to wear many different hats. With that experience, I’m able to pair that with my love for helping others and being a resource. I’m able to work with many different people in different capacities based on their individual needs. While I didn’t continue with my clothing brand, it was purposeful in my journey and my growth as an individual. If I never started that brand, I don’t think I’d be in the position that I’m in today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bychristopherkicks.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christopher.kicks/
