We had the good fortune of connecting with Chanell Huecker and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Chanell, what matters most to you?
When it comes to my creative endeavors, one thing I’ve always valued is quality over quantity. I think creating content that is of greater value holds more weight over high volume projects because each piece of content is uniquely and thoughtfully curated. While the process can be eminently tedious, I believe producing high-caliber content demonstrates my passion and expertise. I strive to never half-ass my work or share content on a whim because establishing a foundation of quality, credibility and trust with my audience matters to me. I remain full of gratitude to have cultivated such a warm community on my platform who believes in me and the power of transforming eccentric ideas into awe-inspiring multimedia magic.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
In 2021, I launched my brand ‘bychanell’ and it was always meant to serve more than one purpose. There are so many layers to my craft without limitations in place: creating for the sake of creating, but made with love by yours truly: chanell.
When it comes to creating, I always jump in, heart first – I’ve always favored quality over quantity. Everything about the creative process is my favorite and it’s incredibly fulfilling to see an idea, no matter how big or small, transform into something so magical. I truly love it all.
Whether you’re in the creative industry or not, I think it’s fair to say everyone experiences hurdles of some kind in their career. I’ve definitely faced some challenges, but I wholeheartedly believe it has helped shape me into who I am today.
I’ve always believed consistency is one of the biggest components to success and I struggled to maintain it early into my career over 15 years ago. At the time, my focus wasn’t completely narrowed in on creating content as I solely viewed it as a hobby and, for years, I never wanted it to become anything more than that.
I spontaneously produced video content on YouTube for 13 years before completely abandoning social media in 2019. This was such a pivotal time for me because I prioritized my privacy while also allowing myself to heal and focus on bettering my mental and physical health — which is still a continuous, evolving journey I’m on.
I never knew when I’d publicly return to social media, but I always knew that when I did, it would feel absolutely right – January 2022 couldn’t have been a more perfect time for me to dive back in full-time.
It has been so fulfilling to reconnect with those who have been with me since the very beginning of my creative journey while also building a new and warm community through the content I share on my current platforms (Instagram & TikTok).
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My husband and I recently moved to Colorado, but as someone who was born and raised in the heart of Texas (Dallas-Fort Worth), I’ve always had a soft spot for Grapevine Main Street – Esparza’s reigns as my favorite Tex-Mex restaurant.
Downtown Fort Worth offers such a fun atmosphere for just about any event: a romantic date night at, let’s say, Reata, walking through Sundance Square with after belly-achin’ laughs at Four Day Weekend or spending a Saturday night at Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar – it’s always a good time. Magnolia Street is pretty awesome, too: Brunch at Brewed and experiencing the best vegan cuisine at Spiral Diner & Bakery are a few of my favorite things. As some may already know, I’m a sucker for movies, so Coyote Drive-In is also a must!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ll always attribute the roots of my creative heart to my dad. He is my truest inspiration. Growing up, he was always behind the camera documenting our family adventures and I always admired him for preserving so many memorable moments & milestones. My dad gifted me my very first camera when I was 12-years-old and continued to encourage me to pursue my dreams. He showed his full support by brainstorming ideas with me and helped film most of my earliest videos on YouTube, in what feels like, a whole lifetime ago. He’ll always be my hero.
For all of my life, my sister has loudly cheered me on in all of my creative endeavors. She’s the reason why I finally launched my photography business. There’s never a dull moment between us and it’s always an absolute joy to be in her presence. I’m so thankful to have a built-in best friend who is the most loving sister I get to call my own.
Lastly–and most certainly not least–my husband Brian is my rock. I will never be able to fully express how grateful I am for him. He shows up for me in every way, everyday. He is such a positive force in all aspects of my life and his unwavering support continues to encourage me to bloom through what I create.
Website: bychanell.com
Instagram: instagram.com/by.chanell
Facebook: facebook.com/bychanell
Other: tiktok.com/@by.chanell
Image Credits
Adrienne Salinas Brian Huecker