Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Dibble.
Christopher, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My father and grand-father were both photographers, so photography has always been in my blood. I wanted to be a cinematographer, inspired deeply by Kubrick’s films and photography, but I knew if I was to be a great cinematographer, I needed to understand still photography first. Although I had learned much from my father, I decided to go to school and entered into the Photography program at Art Center College of Design. There, through working with amazing photographers, I feel so in love with still photography, that I decided to make that my focus. During my time at Art Center, I was shooting small jobs around Los Angeles, but I knew I wanted to shoot fashion and celebrity portraiture for magazines. At the time, in 2005, the editorial world was quickly changing and evolving, with many magazines folding and photo editors becoming scarce, particularly in LA. So upon graduation, I began making pilgrimage’s, four times a year, to the magazine capital of the world, New York City. After several years, and countless 30-second meetings, I finally had a fairly steady stream of editorial clients supplying me with a variety of shooting opportunities, including fashion and celebrity shoots. About a decade into shooting editorial, I decided to take a photography position at a fashion company. This gave me a steady income, and allowed me to focus in on, and hone my fashion skills. I stayed on for about three years, growing as a fashion photographer, learning new skills and refining old ones, at which point I decided it was time to move on. I went back to freelance so that I could continue to grow in other areas. I continue to shoot for the fashion company I worked for, now photographing catalogues. I’ve also recently begun shooting interiors, which has been an exciting new challenge, I’m learning so much, and able to work with an entirely new set of creatives. With my fashion background, I’m able to approach my interiors in a different way, setting me apart, allowing me to bring something different to the shoots.
Has it been a smooth road?
It’s nice when the road the smooth and quiet, but I think it’s important to have bumps along the way, from which we are allowed to learn and grow, My road has certainly had its fair share of potholes, speed bumps, and unpaved patches, but it’s those that have made me into the photographer I am today and will push me to develop even further. There have been many struggles along the way, including, but not limited to, reaching potential new clients, navigating the constant changing digital space, keeping up with new trends and technology, budgets getting smaller, not getting lost in a sea of new photographers, and knowing which advice you should take and which you should leave. Everyone has an opinion on your work and advice for what you should do. Some are good, some are bad. It’s important to know who to take advice from, and who to simply thank for their input.
What’s the hardest part of your job?
The hardest part of my job is marketing. Finding the time to market myself and my work to new clients is difficult when I’m busy meeting deadlines for current clients.
What are you striving for, what criteria or markers have you set as indicators of success?
In terms of photography, my core desire is to create images that resonate with the viewer. That is something that I always strive for. I think that is different than success, though. While success is attainable, such as meeting goals and milestones, I also believe that success is fluid, and ever evolving. What I thought made me successful 10 years ago isn’t necessarily the same thing that makes me successful today. My definition of success has changed along the way. I’ve achieved certain goals and have simply lost interest in others. I like to guide myself towards goals, as opposed to pushing myself towards them. Flexibility is important to me, and it allows me to grow as a photographer organically. And, I think it’s important to celebrate even the smallest successes.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I look forward to working with new clients, meeting new people, and creating images that resonate with people. I look forward to further exploring interior photography, as well as building new relationships with fashion designers, approaching each project with an eye that can see both worlds.
Contact Info:
- Website: christopherdibble.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @dibblephoto
