Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Chavez.
Hi Carlos, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Unlike many photographers, I didn’t grow up with a camera in my hand or dream of becoming a photographer. My career actually started in the nonprofit world. After graduating from the University of Arizona, I spent 11 years working with underserved youth and families through nonprofit organizations.
As I approached 30, I found myself needing a creative outlet. I picked up my father’s old Canon 60D and started taking photos of my dog, friends, and landscapes while hiking around Southern Arizona. What began as a hobby quickly evolved. Friends started asking me to photograph them, and the nonprofits and boards I was involved with needed images for marketing and events. Before long, photography became something much bigger than I expected.
What I discovered along the way was that I loved working with people. Helping individuals and teams present themselves confidently through headshots and branding photography became a real passion. Over time that expanded into commercial photography and video production, which I largely taught myself during the COVID years when businesses needed more digital content than ever.
The business grew quickly, and I eventually became known for corporate headshots and business branding photography in Tucson and Phoenix. In 2021, my wife and I were preparing to adopt our son, and I realized I couldn’t continue balancing both my nonprofit marketing job with Big Brothers Big Sisters and a rapidly growing photography business. It was time to choose.
So I made the leap and went all in on photography. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Since then, the business has continued to grow. My wife Regina is now an incredible maternity and family photographer (you can find her work at @mamahoodphoto), and together we’ve built a photography career that takes us all over the country. I primarily focus on corporate and commercial photography—working with companies on headshots, branding imagery, marketing campaigns, and video production.
The biggest thing I’ve learned is that passion doesn’t always show up early. Sometimes you discover it later in life, and when you do, you appreciate every minute of it. Today I work with companies across the U.S. and internationally, and I’m excited to see where the next chapter takes us.
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?
It’s been an amazing journey, but it definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Running your own business comes with a lot of challenges that people don’t always see. When you work for yourself, the job never really turns off. There are the long hours, the constant need to keep the business moving forward, and the realities of things like expenses—healthcare being a big one when both my wife and I are small business owners.
COVID was also a difficult period. A large part of my work involves photographing people—teams, executives, and professionals—so when everything shut down, that side of the business slowed significantly. During that time I leaned heavily into real estate and architectural photography, which helped keep things moving and taught me how important it is to adapt when circumstances change.
One of the biggest ongoing challenges is avoiding burnout. I’m someone who naturally wants to say yes to every opportunity and push as hard as possible, but that can take a toll if you’re not careful. As my business and family have grown, I’ve become more intentional about creating time to step away and recharge so I can be present for both my clients and my family.
Entrepreneurship is incredibly rewarding, but it definitely requires balance—and that’s something I’m continually learning.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Today my work primarily focuses on corporate headshots, branding photography, and video production for businesses. I enjoy helping companies and professionals create strong visual identities through images and video that they can use across their marketing, websites, and social media.
One of the areas I’ve really come to love is running event headshot stations at conferences and large corporate events. These are essentially pop-up professional studios that we set up onsite where attendees can get a high-quality headshot during the event. Depending on the conference, we might photograph anywhere from 100 to 500 people in a single day.
It’s a unique type of photography that requires a lot of planning, coordination, and efficiency. You have to build systems that allow you to work quickly while still delivering a great experience and a polished final image. I really enjoy the challenge of it, and I also love that I get to meet so many people from different industries in such a short amount of time.
For me, it combines everything I enjoy most—working with people, solving logistical challenges, and helping professionals walk away with an image they feel confident using for their personal brand.
What does success mean to you?
For me, success isn’t just about business growth or the number of projects we take on. I define success as having the freedom to spend meaningful time with my family while doing work that I genuinely enjoy.
It also means being able to give back to the community that has supported my journey. My background is in nonprofit work, so helping organizations, supporting local initiatives, and staying connected to the community will always be important to me.
Another part of success is helping other creatives along the way. When I was starting out, there were people who shared advice, encouragement, and opportunities with me. Being able to do the same for others—whether that’s offering guidance, sharing experiences, or helping someone move closer to their own goals—is something that means a lot to me.
At the end of the day, success is about balance: building a business I’m proud of, supporting the people around me, and having the time to enjoy life with my family.
Pricing:
- Pricing all varies
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cchavezphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cchavezphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cchavezphoto/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cchavezphoto/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cchavezphoto520
- Other: https://www.mamahoodphoto.com
Image Credits
Our Family Photo is from Kristin Bendigo Photography
