We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Corey Hutchinson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Corey below.

Corey, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success, to me, starts with believing in what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Faith and discipline have been my pillars through every step. When I launched my food photography business a year ago, I had no guarantees of what would come, but I had faith and a clear vision. That vision became my compass. I spent countless hours planning, refining my approach, and showing up even on the hard days when nothing seemed to be moving forward. What truly made the difference was maintaining discipline, showing up consistently for myself and my clients, even when things didn’t unfold as quickly as I expected.

I remember one of my first shoots, it didn’t go perfectly. The lighting wasn’t right, and I had to improvise on the spot. But instead of letting it shake me, I stayed calm, made the necessary adjustments, learned from it and kept going. Ultimately the photos turned out great! Looking back, those small hurdles were the moments that really shaped my growth.

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

I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio #GoBucks! My family always valued wholesome and fresh home cooking. Flavorful, freshly cooked meals prepared with love always brought our family together.

After over a decade in IT and several years nurturing my creative side, I felt a strong pull to blend my technical skills with visual art. This transition led me to focus on capturing what I love most and what brings people together: food, beverage, and real estate. I love to work together with businesses to help grow their presence and brand through top tier photos and videos. What sets me apart is my engineering background, high level of creativity, and my ability to solve complex problems for my clients.

Based in the RDU area, CORE Photography has launched with a fresh perspective on capturing images that not only attract but also enhance experiences. This journey is supported by a community of professionals, mentors, and love, including my unwavering faith in God and my wonderful fiancée. I’m eager to connect with organizations to capture the critical CORE moments that forge relationships and build businesses.

CORE stands for Capturing Opportunities, Reframing Experiences—values that guide every shot I take and every project I undertake. I’m dedicated to showcasing my client’s offerings in the most captivating way possible.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of this journey has been seeing something I’ve envisioned in my mind come to life through my lens. When I started, I knew food photography was more than just capturing a dish; it was about telling the story of flavors, textures, and the unique culture of the people behind the creations.

There’s this beautiful moment during every shoot when I know I’ve captured the shot—the one that makes the dish look as mouthwatering as it tastes. But what really lights me up, is hearing from clients about how the images impact their business. Whether it’s helping a chef showcase their creativity or making a restaurant’s menu stand out, knowing my work is making a difference for someone else is beyond fulfilling.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I started this business with the goal of helping food creators, chefs, bartenders, restaurant owners etc, bring their passion to life through imagery. My mission is simple: I want to serve others by using my photography to elevate their work and help their businesses grow.

As I continue building my brand, I’m excited for the future and the opportunities to collaborate with more passionate food, beverage, and product creators. It’s about making connections, telling stories, and combining my problem solving skills and creativity to make an impact and support others in ways that go beyond just taking photos. That’s what drives me every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.corephotography.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corephotographyrdu/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/corephotographyrdu
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardcoreyhutchinson
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/core-photography-fuquay-varina

Image Credits

Photos of food and beverages done by me CORE Photography.

Photos of me in kitchen done by Michelle Oats.

Photo of me sitting in chair done by Jebb Graff.