Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Bailey.
Chris, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I began taking pictures when I was young, in the 8th grade, spending hours in the darkroom developing my own film and black and white prints. I had great photography teachers at Episcopal High School and then decided to attend the Fine Arts Program at the University of Texas. While at UT, I photographed everything but people. I loved capturing landscapes and urban settings but never incorporated people into my work.
Then, during my senior year at UT, I was commissioned to photograph a wedding by my professor’s recommendation. I was beyond nervous! But I survived it, and quickly vowed never to photograph another wedding again! Funny how that turned out! After graduation, I began Chris Bailey Photography in May 2008 above my parents’ garage. We’ve grown since then, moving into our studio on Blossom Street in January 2014. Today our studio focuses mainly on weddings and special events.
We have a wonderful team of talented photographers and staff who help to capture and preserve some of the most important moments in our clients’ lives. We truly enjoy and are honored for the opportunity to work with every family who commissions our studio.
We are visual storytellers, and our approach is lead by a desire to make authentic images of the people we work with. We believe in the power of photography to move us, to draw out and preserve the emotion and beauty of our life’s most precious moments.
I think the most important thing that helped guide my work was finding others I could relate to in the photography/wedding industry. When I graduated, I had a hard time connecting with a lot of the wedding photography out there. I wanted to make work that was timeless and real, full of connection, images that looked and felt natural, and weren’t contrived or forced. I wanted my clients to feel relaxed and good about themselves, and I wanted to attempt to capture the essence of each person or couple.
But I didn’t really know how to do this successfully. By having other professionals that I could relate to, seeking out their advice (and fortunately benefitting from their willingness to guide me), I was able to navigate myself and grow as an artist and business person.
Has it been a smooth road?
It certainly hasn’t been easy. The market is competitive, and we’ve had to be willing to work really hard. It’s easy to be impatient, but I truly believe that if we stay positive and focused, if we respect those we work with and do our very best, then the results will come.
As an artist, I think “burn out” can be a serious issue when running a business. The question of how to approach each client with sincerity and creative vision is one I had to explore and answer in order to give my best self each time. This probably looks different for every artist. For me, I had to learn to get out of the way!
I had to realize that my job is to be highly present at the moment, to be sensitive, connected, respectful and to honor each special moment in time. When I began to value moments and people more than my art, I began to feel connected and fresh for each story I’m commissioned to tell. It has allowed me to be open at the moment, and feed off of everything around me!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Chris Bailey Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
We are a photography company and have three separate brands that focus on different aspects of the photography market.
Chris Bailey Photography specializes in weddings and special events. We believe in providing our clients with an exceptional experience while creating work that is timeless, classic and artistic. We value authenticity and capturing the essence of the couples we work with. We like capturing moments that are natural and real, full of emotion and connection.
We emphasize the importance of and see value in printing our work! We do a lot of our printing in-house, using archival methods to ensure the highest quality printing available on the market. We also work with some of the best suppliers and album makers in the world. Our hope is that our clients can experience their photos on a regular basis, and that future generations will be able to enjoy those same moments we’ve captured.
Magnolia Portraits specializes in portraiture and does an incredible job making creative portraits of high school seniors, families, babies, professional headshots and more. We have a unique and beautiful studio space, but also take on location portraits. Ham and Cheese Photo Booth is our photo booth company. We have a fun team and an interactive open photo booth that allows users to easily email, text and share their photos or gifs on the spot.
I’m most proud of the team we’ve developed, and how they enhance our client’s experience while working with us. Every member of Chris Bailey Photography, Magnolia and Ham and Cheese Photo Booth is kind, respectful, hardworking and genuinely cares about our vision, product, and most importantly, our clients.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Being in Houston, I think we are in a very strong industry that will continue to grow! Our focus has always been our client’s story and approaching that with sincerity. As things change and trends come and go, we’ll continue to be faithful to that commitment, and are thankful to be a part of this industry.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4809 Blossom St. Houston, TX 77007
- Website: www.cbaileyphotography.com
- Phone: 713.518.1452
- Email: chrisbailey@cbaileyphotography.com
- Instagram: @chrisbaileyphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chris-Bailey-Photography-62851296640/
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