We recently connected with Christopher Love and have shared our conversation below.

Christopher, appreciate you joining us today. Too often the media represents innovation as something magical that only high-flying tech billionaires and upstarts engage in – but the truth is almost every business owner has to regularly innovate in small and big ways in order for their businesses to survive and thrive. Can you share a story that highlights something innovative you’ve done over the course of your career?

There was a point in my career when I realized that I was creating content just to produce it as quickly as possible, without a clear purpose or vision. This approach began to feel stagnant, and I felt I wasn’t creating anything that set me apart in the field.

I took a step back to evaluate what my work was missing and realized it lacked character and life. This prompted me to explore what truly inspired me and brought me joy. I decided to shift my style toward a more cinematic direction, drawing inspiration from A24 Films and the color grading techniques of David Cole.

My goal is to create work that captures energy, emotion, and moments that make people feel alive. While technical perfection is often prioritized, I strive to infuse a humanistic touch into everything I create.

Over the past two years, I’ve dedicated significant time to developing a realistic grain preset for my work. This process involved extensive experimentation and invaluable guidance from industry professional Claire Burke, whom I deeply admire. So far, I’ve completed two film presets that I’m proud to call finished, though the process remains challenging and ongoing.

I believe this pursuit represents the most innovative work I’ve done to date.

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?

I started in my early 20s, ironically, out of arrogance. As someone who used to draw, I assumed photography and videography were simple—just point a camera, shoot, and you’re done. I quickly realized how wrong I was. The complexities of storytelling, composition, and technical skill captivated me, and that’s when I began to truly respect the craft.

When it comes to problem-solving, my approach is about taking a client’s idea and bringing it to life. Challenges are inevitable, but they’re part of the process. Some projects come together seamlessly, while others are far more difficult. Regardless, my focus is always on putting my best foot forward, pushing boundaries, and striving to innovate beyond what I’ve done before. It’s about constantly challenging myself to create something new and meaningful.

What I’m most proud of is my persistence. There were times I wanted to walk away from everything. The pandemic was one of the lowest points in my life—it created a conflict between my tech job and my growing passion for photography. I made the leap to pursue photography full-time at the beginning of 2020, and it felt great—until March of that year, when the world turned upside down. The challenges compounded, and I found myself in a dark place, struggling with clinical depression.

If it weren’t for the support of my family and friends, I wouldn’t be here today. Their encouragement gave me the strength to keep going. That experience ultimately led me to move to San Francisco for a fresh start and a better opportunity to build my career.

My biggest takeaway from this journey is simple: don’t give up on your passions. Even if they don’t become your career, they’re worth pursuing. Humanity wouldn’t be where we are without creativity and passion.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When COVID hit, I had to pivot my photography approach significantly. With large events no longer happening, I shifted my focus to portraits and business marketing. This transition taught me a great deal about adapting my shooting and lighting techniques to fit new contexts and client needs.

During this time, I also took the opportunity to deepen my understanding of business marketing, especially in the realm of online strategies. This knowledge has been invaluable in helping me better position my work and support my clients’ goals.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

My side hustle did evolve into my full-time business. It all began with shooting small private events in the EDM scene, where I found my initial footing. Some local photographers were kind enough to teach me the basics, and I turned it into a personal challenge to continuously learn and improve. This competitive mindset drove me to hone my skills and push my limits.

As my work gained traction, I eventually hit a plateau and realized I could no longer grow in the direction I wanted to while staying in my hometown. That’s when I decided to expand into larger markets like Los Angeles and San Francisco. I started traveling for gigs, gaining more experience, and building connections. Over time, I became more comfortable shooting at venues and eventually landed one of my biggest gigs at the time—working with Head Hunterz.

From that point forward, I focused on consistently reaching out to clients, engaging with different teams, and building my portfolio. This journey took years and came with its fair share of doubts and setbacks. However, I didn’t let those challenges stop me. Staying persistent and learning from failures were key milestones that shaped my growth and allowed me to scale my side hustle into a thriving career.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kitsunekreations.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kitsunekreations/