Today we’d like to introduce you to Christophe McWhorter.
Hi Christophe, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have lived and worked in/out of Los Angeles for the last 13 years as a photographer. Once I settled into a place here in LA, I started work at the modeling agencies doing test shoots for new talent and signed models. Eventually started to work on a web series that evolved into working for Buzzfeed creating viral videos about body dysmorphia and how we perceive ourselves in social media. After Buzzfeed, I started working with a lot of social media clients and working on various photography series. When the Covid 19 pandemic hit, I worked for the movie studios as a Covid Testing Coordinator for the Cast and Crew. Now, I am currently going to school for my Sociology Degree and will continue taking on new clients and models for photoshoots.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think in most artists’ lives, it is a guarantee that not everything is a smooth road and you will have to work really hard for the life you want. I know that for me, money and business management has always been a hurdle to get over and work through. I started out by working/ surviving paycheck to paycheck in order to secure the equipment I needed and an apartment to live in. LA has one of the highest rents, so I sometimes find myself working multiple jobs to pay the rent and bills. With art and photography, there are no guaranteed hours or a promise of money coming in, so you have to make sure you take care of yourself by always reaching out and booking clients.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Are you familiar with a photograph that tells a story like you are watching a movie in front of you? That is the type of art I love to make, something that you can stare at and feel like that is you or another world you made up in the photo. I tend to book and shoot editorials and make social media content for actors, models, and influencers. I creatively love to produce horror-stylized photo shoots and storyboards for indie movie projects. People have always been the focus of the stories I create or the shoots I produce. I have a background and past dealing with Body Dysmorphia from an Eating Disorder, so I do what I can to create a positive outlook about our bodies and how we see and feel about ourselves. I also, as a gay man, love to capture the queer experience and individuals of my community. How does my work set me apart from the others? I would say I try to invoke as much feeling into the photo as possible, and I want the person I’m shooting with to leave the experience feeling empowered and feeling love for themselves.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
We are already seeing the shift in what the photography industry is going to look like in the next 5 to 10 years by the way people consume media. It’s fast and ever-changing, so people are left wanting more even when you just shared something or did something current. I know I can produce a shoot, and it takes five weeks to organize and do, but after it’s delivered, I’m still asked what is next. To be in this industry, I have felt like you have to make sure you have ten projects in your pocket to keep up with the demand.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://christophemcwhorter.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcwhorterphotography/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MCpounder
Image Credits
Nick Angelillis, Angi Kim, Spencer Breslin, Kyle Kuhlman, Therese Curatolo, Vance- The Glitteress, Daysha Veronica, Brad Gibson, Clayton Cranford, Spencer Paez, Rogelio Cardona, Bryan Cruz, Nick Masc, Pulp Fictionally, Conor Linick, Max Adonis, Cameron Reck, Mark Ozzie, Sam Vangelos, Aaron Valenzuela, Guillermo Diaz, Chris Greenwell, Adrian Hart, Joshua C Parker.
