Life & Work with Chase Tipton of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chase Tipton.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My photography journey started in high school. A close friend of mine played in a punk rock band, and the Inland Empire punk scene was thriving at the time. I found myself right in the middle of it all, jumping into mosh pits with my camera, dodging flying elbows, and capturing the chaos as it unfolded. It was an absolute blast, and the moment I realized how much I loved photography.

From there, I started taking photography classes and learning new techniques to sharpen my skills. When I moved to Massachusetts for college, I continued to build my experience by filming content for my campus sketch comedy team, while also working as an event technician.

After graduating in 2021 and eventually moving back to California in 2023, I knew I wanted to re-enter the energy and excitement of live events. As the event scene came back to life, so did my drive to shoot. All of those experiences have led me to where I am today, nearly two years into building chasetakephoto and continuing to chase the dream of making photography my full-time career.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Life as a creative rarely is, but that’s part of the journey. One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced recently was having my camera equipment stolen. For a photographer, that’s devastating. It was a huge setback both emotionally and financially, and it felt like everything I had worked for was gone.

But from that struggle, I was shown how strong and supportive my community really is. People showed up for me in ways I never expected. I was able to raise some of the money to start rebuilding, and even more meaningful was hearing from my high school photography teacher after nearly 10 years without speaking. He reached out and lent me equipment to help me get back on my feet.

That experience reminded me that photography is about connection, community, and the people who believe in what you do. I couldn’t be more grateful for everyone who has supported me.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I work throughout the Inland Empire and Los Angeles as a photographer, covering a wide range of both personal and professional projects. While I shoot many different styles, I’m best known for and specialize in nightlife and event photography.

What I’m most proud of is the connection that I build with event promoters, organizers, musicians, and DJs. I believe those relationships are what truly set my work apart. When I work with an artist or an event, I want to understand the community and audience behind it. I immerse myself in the environment, interact with people up close, and capture moments as authentically as possible.

That energy and authenticity naturally come through in the photos, and it helps create excitement online that makes more people want to be part of the experience. More than anything, I love sharing my work and helping bring new people into the spaces and communities I get to capture.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
To get the part I don’t like out of the way first. I definitely don’t enjoy driving into the city, sitting in traffic, or dealing with parking. But beyond that, I love Los Angeles for its nonstop energy and creativity. There’s always something happening, something worth capturing, and I constantly feel pulled in a hundred different directions trying to experience it all.

What inspires me most about LA is how every community has a place here. No matter your interests, background, or scene, there are people working incredibly hard to create spaces where others feel welcomed and included. That passion and sense of community are what make the city so special to me.

Contact Info:

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