Inspiring Conversations with Chris McCarroll of McCarroll Media

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris McCarroll.

Hi Chris, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up reading magazines like National Geographic, Life, and Time.

All the great classics and so many more. I fell in love with the beauty of the world. The people and the places and all the amazing wonders. When I was 9, someone put a camera in my hands.

There was something about being able to see the world through the camera. The way you can focus on the subject and capture that moment. It was magical and really changed the perspective of my little world and young mind. I fell in love with the idea of being able to capture life the same way I was seeing it done in the magazines.

Of course, nothing in my world was as fascinating as what I saw in National Geographic but I could sure pretend I was in some wild, romantic, wonderous, part of the world. I knew from a young age that I wanted to travel the world and capture as much as I could to share with everyone. That’s how I fell in love with photography.

I have loved movies since before I could remember. I was lucky enough to grow up in the 70s and 80s when lots of new innovative and creative things were being done in the industry. There are so many great films that evoked a huge emotional response. Mostly fear from horror films but also laughter and excitement, and sadness and joy. As a little kid, of course, I was too young to understand then but the emotional journey that films offered was such a wild and wonderful ride.

Then in 1989, it happened… I remember my mother worked in the local mall at a book store. On one side was the traditional 80s arcade where I went through my share or quarters. On the other side was a magical place, the movie theater. Since my mom was friends with the folks that worked there I was able to get special privileges like free popcorn and going into the projection room. This is where I fell passionately in love with cinema.

Then in 1989, Tim Burton’s Batman came out. This film was so different and so iconic. It made me want to get into the filmmaking business. I already had an interest in the art of filmmaking but the was so much more. It really sparked that desire to not just be entertained by film but to actually create it. Shortly after ’89 Batman, I discovered the classic John Landis film An American Werewolf in London. The overall movie was something special and still one of my favorite films to this day.

The transformation scene was something breathtaking, brilliant, and awe-inspiring. That was some true magic. Still Photography and Motion photography have been passions ever since. I have studied the medium and the artist my entire life. As a young adult, I had dreams of moving to Hollywood and pursuing a career.

However, life had different plans for me. I ended up joining the Navy out of high school. After that, I had a variety of adventures and a couple of different career paths. I always had my camera with me. I have seen some amazing things and met some fantastic people along the way.

Maybe 12 years ago, I tried to open a studio in Roanoke, Virginia. Everything was in place. However, some last-minute deals fell apart with financing and I wasn’t able to make things work. I ended up moving (back) to Key West, Florida to recharge with some much-needed vitamin sea. I decided that as much as I love living by the ocean I wanted to try something new.

I loaded a U-Haul and moved to Phoenix. Sight unseen. I took a job as a long-haul trucker basically living on the road. It was a fantastic experience that allowed me to travel to every state in the continental US. I have been up and down every major highway and made stops in little towns most people will never hear about. I always had my camera with me.

Chasing that long dark road afforded me lots of time to reflect on life and the pursuit of passions. I kept coming back to my camera and the love I have for photography and film. A couple of years ago, I started looking at opening my own shop. Like so many things that venture was slowed down due to Covid. In 2021, I decided “it was now or never” and I opened up my shop.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The biggest struggle, like so many things, comes down to time and money. There was a period in my life when I was lacking in both of those. I also came to the realization that while those are real obstacles I was also using them as excuses. I used it as a crutch to hold myself back because I was afraid of putting myself out there.

As an artist, you are emotionally exposing yourself to the world. And unfortunately, we live in such a polarizing time that navigating negative comments can be a struggle at times. Plus there is always the question that’s lurking in the shadows, “am I good enough.” Not to mention being a business owner, while very rewarding, does have its own challenges.

I have always maintained that obstacles are not roadblocks. They are opportunities for growth and learning. We all have various challenges in life. How we deal with them is what is important.

We’ve been impressed with McCarroll Media, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
McCarroll Media is a young company. It was founded in 2021 however it is built on a foundation of 30 years of passion. Right now, I am a one-person shop. I do all the shooting and editing. Because this arthouse is so small I am focusing on the Still photography side of things but I can shoot video of course.

I do real estate and architectural photography. I have the capability of not just still pictures but also creating videos in stunning 4K. I have 3D cameras to capture/create those wonderful 3D environments so clients can do virtual walkthroughs. I have a variety of drones for capturing epic areal shots. From small residential homes to large estates to larger commercial properties, McCarroll Media is your one-stop-shop for all your photographic needs.

McCarroll Media does Boudoir Photography. Perhaps when clients come in they don’t always know what to expect on this kind of shoot. Everyone who comes in is unique and will have a different experience but one thing is the same. I want women to feel empowered and embrace their form. I want them to have a sense of empowerment and love for themselves and their bodies. One of my favorite quotes is, You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.

Of course, we can capture all of life’s great events such as anniversaries, reunions, graduations, and any other celebrations, workplace events, or street fairs just to name a few. We can do all of this with still or motion photography.

With still photography, I offer, of course, digital pictures. I can also do prints of various sizes. Right now, I do have an outside vendor that does all my printing. I am looking to get some printers myself in the next couple of months so I can print up to 17×22 in-house. We can always go bigger. One of my personal favorites when it comes to wall art is printing on high-definition ultra glossy metal. It makes for a stunning piece of art that will catch the eye no matter where it’s hanging.

I also create photo books. I mainly do this for boudoir but is also great for weddings, anniversaries, or events. Books can even be a great feature for certain architectural projects. I have a great vendor in Italy that does all my printing. They come in a wide variety of sizes, materials, and paper types.

Videos are shot in beautiful stunning 4k so they will look epic on any screen from your phone to your 85″ tv. We can deliver in a variety of formats.

McCarroll Media is staying busy and we are quickly expanding the company and with that what we can offer. I am currently looking for studio space to move into. I would like to have a dedicated and permanent space for doing photo and video shoots. I want both a white and green screen 3 wall cyclorama that is fully lit.

This will be a space that I want to use myself and rent out to other artists. I am also looking for studio space to do motion capture work. We are always adding new equipment as well. I am currently sourcing a rig to mount to the exterior of a vehicle so we can get some amazing shots on the road.

What do you think about luck?
Three of my favorite quote about luck are “Diligence is the mother of good luck.” by Benjamin Franklin. “Luck has a way of evaporating when you lean on it,’ by Brandon Mull, ‘Keys To The Demon Prison’ and “Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.” by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Luck is what we make it. I have experienced ‘Bad Luck’ on a few occasions. Normally, it’s because I was being lazy. Sometimes it was out of my control. There was always a lesson to be learned and an opportunity to make things better.

Contact Info:

• Email: chris@mccarrollmedia.com
• Website: www.mccarrollmedia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mccarrollmedia
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McCarrollMedia/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MccarrollMedia
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4yo84STR8_U9Q0M9uovRuQ
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mccarroll-media-mesa