Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Shabay.
Chris, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 2006, I adopted my son, Isaac, from Liberia, Africa. Visiting Africa for the first time just overwhelmed me. I have never seen anything before or since like it. The people I met there and interacted with, and became friends with, were in such desperate need of support.
I made the decision to start a non-profit that would help 94 children in an orphanage in Sierra Leone, Africa. My main source for raising funds was through a child sponsorship program I started. I invested in a fairly good Nikon camera and began taking pictures of these children in an attempt to share their story with the world. I never knew the impact my pictures, and these children’s faces would have on others.
We received an incredible amount of financial support just by bringing these stories to life through the images I was taking. I began to really appreciate photography at that point and was looking for ways to create better and better images of these children. Over the next several years, photography became a natural thing for me, though I never thought about it as a full-time job.
Upon returning home from a trip to Africa in 2014, a mother of one of the high school students that traveled with me complimented me on my work and asked if I would consider taking her daughter’s high school senior pictures. Since I was raising my own support as a missionary, I jumped at the chance to earn a few extra bucks. Little did I know how much fun it was working with kids that age, but I learned that it could be profitable if I threw myself at learning the business side of it.
I watched hundreds of YouTube videos and tutorials, took inspiration from other photographers, and poured my time into learning Photoshop. I started getting clients in 2015, taking traditional portraits. As I improved, my work became more and more creative, and I found that I had a passion, like so many other great photographers, to create more than just an image, but rather create art.
Today, I pride myself on making the experience in taking pictures for a high school senior one of the biggest events of their senior year. I mostly enjoy getting to know their personalities and finding locations to match that personality. I love creating images that are so uniquely different for these kids. I do a great deal of planning a shoot because it shows up in the final product.
This year alone, I have received over 20 national recognition on social media for my work. I still keep up daily with the children in Sierra Leone even though they are grown now and living independent lives outside of the orphanage. I’m one of the fortunate ones that absolutes love their job. To this day, taking pictures for any reason has never felt like work.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The photography business can get frustrating if you’re not ready for it. You have to have pretty thick skin until you establish yourself. The hardest part for me was being confident in my own work to warrant the value they deserved. For people that are their own worst critic, it can be hard to make money in this business.
I’ve reached a level of confidence now that my work is something that you just can’t get for free. As a photographer, it’s more than just a picture to me. I’m putting everything I have in me to create an image for you that last a lifetime and beyond. My images will be ones that you hopefully show to your family from generation to generation. It’s something that will be worth every penny spent.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I specialize in high school senior photography. I am known for capturing kids in their element. I love telling a good story, and I try to tell a story through images of every high school senior I shoot. I want you to look at his or her pictures and know exactly what makes them the unique person that they are.
I’m most proud of the relationships along the way that I’ve made with the kids and their families. It’s by far the best part of the job. I love following them on social media or by text and sharing in their successes as they go on to do amazing things in college and beyond. I think what sets me apart is the time I put into getting to know the senior. Everyone is different.
Some love having their picture made while others are only there for mom and dread the entire idea. I do a great deal of meeting them in person, talking to them on the phone and putting in the time necessary to make this the most enjoyable experience for them. The personal touch is my greatest strength and the most important aspect of the experience, in my opinion.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up in a sports family. My older brother, Paul and I were always involved in whatever sport called for that particular season. We learned work ethic through sports from my dad. He taught us everything that is good about sports… teamwork, community, integrity, mental toughness and how to compete.
I think that shows a lot in my work. I enjoy taking risk when I’m behind the camera. I’ll climb on things, lay on a dirty road, just about anything to get the most amazing shot possible. And yes, like anybody else in their line of business, I want to be known as one of the best.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chrisshabayphotography.com
- Phone: 682-667-1101
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shabayphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrisshabayphotography/
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