We recently connected with Christian Lopez and have shared our conversation below.

Christian, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Love your art!! That’s what it takes too be successful. Not giving up on yourself and making those ideas come true. We are so stuck and comfortable with our current life’s that the idea of failure frightens us. The only way for you too learn is from your mistakes. Then you get back up and do it over again no business is successful if their isn’t some failure involved.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My original name is Christian, but go by “8th”. Im a freelance photographer and business owner of “FATAL8”.

I got into the photography industry 8 years ago. I started off taking pictures of my family and friends for $20. So to me that was a lot for taking a few pictures and not even having to edit them. Throughout the years I started learning a lot more about editing photos. I learned about amping up my photography production. Now we are here doing photography for big clients like Vans, Suavecito, HatClub, etc.

Recently I started my own business. The shop is called FATAL8, I provide pins for fitted hat collectors and pin enthusiasts. I got into this business from my brother law. Shout to him for the guidance and the consistent help. I’ve learned so much watching his company grow. My goal is to grow my business and start making collector pin pieces for that community. Especially when it comes to anime that’s the goal. The excitement of people unboxing my designs and ideas is unreal the best feeling a business owner can feel. I appreciate everyone who’s been rocking with the vision since the beginning. It’s only up from here. As for now I’m in the process of releasing 3 new designs, a full hat collection & finally get into the clothing industry also. I want my brand to be top when it comes to anime gear.

If theirs advice I can give someone trying to start a business is MAKE IT HAPPEN. You won’t learn if your business is successful or it fails if you don’t try. I know at times money can be an issue but if your dedicated and work hard you’ll see an amazing outcome. Stop dreaming of a business and make it happen it’s the best feeling ever. That’s coming from someone who sat on the idea for years.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

As for building an audience, all I can say is “CONSISTENCY” being able to constantly provide new content. That’s very important and it’s something I’ve learned throughout the years of taking pictures for Hat Club, Suavecito etc. Having a balanced life to be able to provide your client everything they desire will encourage audience to follow you on all platforms.. Now I go above and beyond to provide that consistency to my own brand. I want my products my photography to tell a story. At the end of the day that’s the mission, my goal to provide an amazing pin that will compliment any hat.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

I got started last year, I own a lot of hats and I wanted to create and bring to life one of my designs. That was the Godzilla which is now called FittedZilla. As a kid I enjoyed watching old classic Godzilla films. So it was just right that he would be my first pin design and the face of my company “FATAL8”. As for the manufacturing I had to go out and learn about enamel pins. I had to find a good company to get that into production. The hardest and most complicated thing about it is, the communication with my manufacture. The language barrier is tough so I have to very precise with what I want and need. But I love working with them and they definitely provide A+ products.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fatal8.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/8thisdead
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/8thisdead

Image Credits
@officialwittlebears @officialjacklondon @maythelord @FATAL.EIGHT @8thisdead Letty Rodriguez // @54Chingona @marily.rose