We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christopher Claxton a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Christopher, appreciate you joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

“Something Light” was a phrase I always said when I received a Complement or I was acknowledged for a job well done. I was always taught the importance of humility & I would remain humble even when receiving praise. Naming my brand “Something Light Media” humanizes my company, you may see me doing something crazy and think it’s out of reach but my name is a constant reminder that you can do it too.

Christopher, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Something Light Media Questions

How did you come up with the name?

“Something Light” was a phrase I always said when I received a Complement or I was acknowledged for a job well done. I was always taught the importance of humility & I would remain humble even when receiving praise. Naming my brand “Something Light Media” humanizes my company, you may see me doing something crazy and think it’s out of reach but my name is a constant reminder that you can do it too.

Can you please tell our readers about yourself, how you got into your industry?

I got into professional photography by accident. I bought a camera during the pandemic, I had a little bit of extra money and I wanted to start taking my instagram seriously. The first step for me was to start posting high quality content. I bought the Cannon 4D on Amazon for $400 and began taking photos of my friends to practice. I posted my work on Instagram just for fun and it started getting noticed. A few months in I got invited to photograph a Jim Jones Concert and from there things started to get interesting. I began to get invited to a lot of private NYC celebrity events and I used these as opportunities to perfect my craft while already shooting at the highest level.

I almost forgot to mention I was doing all of this while being a full time Special Education English teacher. I graduated College in 2021, around a year after I first picked up a camera.

I was getting up at 6am, teaching from 7:15-3:45pm, getting home, changing/ grabbing gear then going to events to photograph.

What type of products/services/creative works you provide?

When I’m not photographing celebrities I’m taking headshots, portraits, engagement photos and making content for brands. So far brand wise Ive made content for Sneaker Con – a global traveling event for sneakerheads of all ages. Where they can Buy, sell and trade and meet influencers. NBA Experiences, Nesquik, Mr Clean, Ezze App to name a few.

Some celebrities I worked with on a 1 on 1 level have been Omarion, Nija Charles & The Girll Codee to name a few.

The main services I provide are Portraits, Event Photography and Concert Photography. But, portraiture blends into a lot of different types of photography so I’m always open.

I also offer Social Media Management and content creation for brands. During my time at Sneaker Con I would travel around the United States and capture the Conventions they would have through photo and video. My job was to create 3-5 posts daily that would resonate with their audience and potentially go viral.

What problems you solve for your clients and/or what you think sets you apart from others?

When it comes to photography people are typically shy and nervous when it comes to being in front of the camera. The one thing I do differently is making my shoots as if we’re just two friends hanging out. I talk to my clients throughout the photo taking process about anything and everything, all that nervousness they felt just goes away. When you look at my portraits and see smiles, those are all genuine and not posed, I tell joke and say small things that bring smiles out of my clients.

What are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc.

What I’m most proud of is what I’m able to achieve through my camera and remaining myself. Through photography I’m living a life I never imagined. I went to college to become a teacher and with photography I discovered my true calling which is creating and teaching others how to do so as well. (I no longer work in a school but I taught for two years.)

Through photography I’m meeting my favorite music artist, breaking bread with them and creating content that they’re posting on their socials. Im traveling free of charge with the sole purpose of doing what I love.

I also believe that all these opportunities are and continue to be presented to me because I remain genuine. Unfortunately when it comes to the photography landscape in NYC there are so many gatekeepers. You ask them a question and they refuse to give you any answers, even to the smallest things. I on the other hand give information freely, I believe we are not in competition with each other and instead of competing we should be working together, creating a community.

I answer questions, give gear suggestions, and share my contacts when necessary. I believe the only way to receive is to give.

I want potential clients/followers/fans to know I take photos because I love it. One of the best feelings you can have is taking a photo of someone and then it’s their profile photo, it’s the headshot they submit to jobs they’re applying to. As a photographer being able to capture the best version of someone is an unmatched feeling.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

So I originally went to school for Education. I received a Bachelor’s for English Literature and a Minor in Philosophy. Im also 50% done with my Masters in Education as well. 

I spent 3 years of my college career with the goal of becoming an educator. My final year in college is when I discovered photography and I loved it. I decided to do photography as a side hustle and as my two year tenure as a teacher progressed I realized day by day that it wasn’t something I wanted to do longterm.

I couldn’t do something for the rest of my life that my heart wasn’t in so I decided to put a date on it. I wanted to solely do content creation but not as a freelancer. I wanted to be able to create content but have a guaranteed check every two weeks for financial security purposes which is something that freelances don’t often have.

By the end of 2023 my goal was to do content creation full time and in August 2023 I accomplished my goal. I left teaching and became the full-time Social Media Manager & Content Creator for Sneaker Con- a global traveling event for sneakerheads of all ages. Where they can Buy, sell and trade and meet influencers. That opportunity didn’t workout unfortunately so the company and I parted ways. But I’m looking for a new role because you can’t left pitfalls hold you back.

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

Non-creatives may struggle to understand the dedication and persistence required in the creative journey. Despite spending countless hours creating content for social media, the results are often minimal. To succeed in content creation, photography, and brand growth, one must exhibit a level of determination that may seem irrational to outsiders. Consistently posting content in the hopes of achieving different outcomes while maintaining faith in eventual success can be perceived as madness. However, the truth is that one breakthrough post can lead to significant changes in followers and clientele. This relentless pursuit of success often means sacrificing time with loved ones and prioritizing personal dreams above all else. Despite the lack of immediate results, creatives continue to push forward, knowing that success is only a matter of time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.somethinglightmedia.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/something_light_media/
• Facebook: https://www.youtube.com/@SomethingLightMedia/featured
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-claxton-5783a9245
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SomethingLightM
• Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@something_light_media?

Image Credits
Christopher Claxton – Something Light Media