Today we’d like to introduce you to Charis Cheung.
Hi Charis, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a self-taught, 17 years old photographer who enjoys taking portraiture using creative ideas and concepts. I started in 8th grade when I got an Instagram. I was really inspired by many other photographers online and loved the idea of organizing a photoshoot. I watched many YouTube videos about how to use a camera and editing on softwares like Lightroom. When I bought my first camera, I asked my friends/classmates around school if I can do a photoshoot with them. Just through practicing on my friends, I improved my composition, posing the models, and my creative ideas. I posted all the photos I was taking on my Instagram and as my account grew. I started getting a lot of clients for Prom, families, and birthdays.
Because I am in high school, homework and studying take up a lot of my time, so during 10 and 11th grade, I didn’t have much time to focus on my photography. I also started to give up because I didn’t love my work and I felt stuck, with no new creative ideas.
Fast-forwarding to quarantine during the summer, I told myself that I will focus on my passions since there was nothing else better to do. When I got into TikTok, I was inspired by many photographers and just because of all the new trends TikTok starts, I was able to grasp many new ideas. I started planning and organizing photoshoots once a week. During one of my photoshoots, I recorded behind the scenes and posted it on TikTok, it instantly got thousands of views. I started making more videos like that and other educational videos about photography too. It is really nice to see that so many people out there appreciate my work and look up to me. Because I was self-taught, I want to be someone who can teach others who are aspiring to become a photographer just like how many other photographers online “taught” me. Ever since my TikTok has been growing, I’ve been getting many new opportunities to shoot with influencers and new clients! People also really adore the way I edit my photos, so I created a site to sell my presets. Now, I am a senior in high school and I am really content and grateful for the people Ive been able to meet and the great experiences I’ve had.
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 mostly has been a smooth road but some struggles was balancing school work with photography and being afraid people at school would judge me because they might think my concepts are “weird”.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a photographer and specialize in creative, fashion, and editorial photography. I think what sets my work apart from others is my creativity. I know many photographers around my area tend to just follow the LA crowd and take simple portraits pictures of influencers and after a while… all their photos look the same but just with a different model. There is not that much effort put into the photoshoot and no creativity. They just ask that influencer to show up at a certain spot and then take pictures of them.
To me, I find that very boring and I don’t see any growth or uniqueness in that. With my work, I really like to experiment with different concepts, props, and environments whether it be making my model pose a certain way or trying out unique angles. I invest a lot of my time and money to make sure my photoshoot is the best that I can make it.
It’s easy to become lazy and unmotivated but If someone really is passionate about something, they will invest their lives into it.
Recently, I’ve been challenging myself by working with TikTok influencers and “turning them into models”. I find it fun to give a TikTok dancer a whole makeover and get them out of their comfort zone to do a concept that they usually would not do with other photographers.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I am risk taker but I have not taken many risks within photography. I love taking risks and having that feeling of adrenaline or anxiety rush through me… but because I work with models, I want to make sure that they are as comfortable as possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: charispresets.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charis.cheung/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBwNg2xH2R2RbTNlV-1XYww
Image Credits:
Aiden Ricklef Jules MH Kaylee Anderson Lily Soleil Lindsay Rientra Ava Carbonara
