Meet Christopher Hughes | Hughes Photo Co., Founder & Lead Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christopher Hughes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christopher, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Putting people first, no matter the situation.

I’ve seen far too many business ruin their reputations because at some point the money becomes more important to them than the client, and my goal is to always make sure people come first.

Not only that, but really keeping an eternity-driven mindset on your work really helps you focus on what’s important. I Love the idea of having my name and my work tied to other peoples’ stories, especially on one of the biggest days of their lives. At the end of the day money will pay the bills, but there’s no greater feeling than knowing you impacted other peoples’ lives in a way nobody else can.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Hughes Photo Co. started as the product of wanting to spend more time with my family, not wanting to sit behind a desk all day, and the deep desire to travel and Love on people all over the world. As it stands, I’ve shot weddings in over 7 states, and I couldn’t be more excited to have finally taken that leap.

A large part of starting your business means connecting with people and networking — not solely to get their business. Sure, that’s a perk, but really going out and understanding your community, understanding how you can impact it and really, REALLY make a difference is the biggest thing that will set you apart. People aren’t stupid, they know when they’re being played for business and when they’re genuinely being cared for. Aim to do the latter.

Even though it may seem like I’ve been successfully operating my business for several years now, it’s still been a struggle at times to even pay the bills. With that being said, running your own business is obviously not easy by any stretch of the word. Starting your own business is hard, and it’s not for the weak-willed. There have been nights where I’ve just laid on the couch, wallowing in discouragement. There have been weeks at a time where no business comes in, and you worry about how you’re going to make it, especially as somebody with a wife and son. There have been days where I would rather watch TV instead of working on editing my galleries or marketing, but the industry titans we know of today didn’t get there but giving up and simply being lazy. Starting your own business takes guts, it takes heart, and a community that will support you when you’re not supporting yourself.

I want people to know that my business is the result of perseverance through hardships and discouragement, the pursuit of people and relationships, and the desire to build something much larger than myself to ultimately impact the community. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh boy, there’s so much to do in DFW. Most people don’t know this about me, but I actually grew up in Southeast Asia, so my comfort food is Taiwanese / Chinese food. I would start by taking them to my all-time favorite restaurant, Bethany’s Cafe located in Arlington, just off of Cooper. Easily the most Authentic Taiwanese food I’ve had since being back in the States.

If you’re interested in casual drinks, I would have to recommend Taps N’ Caps in Fort Worth off of Camp Bowie. I don’t drink all that often, but when I do, Taps N’ Caps is the place to go. They’ve got over 50 beers on tap, and when one runs out they simply throw a different beer on, so it’s a constantly rotating selection.

Trinity Park in Fort Worth is absolutely gorgeous. It’s a casual stroll next to the Trinity River. There’s plenty of places to stop for a picnic, take your pets or children for a walk, and just hang out and have a beautiful time.

The Japanese Garden in Fort Worth & The Dallas Arboretum are both incredible. Unfortunately, both require an entry fee, but both are absolutely worth it for enjoying the scenery and just have something to do on your day out.

There are also TONS of coffee shops in DFW that you can try out (and I like to edit and work at), but I won’t name any for fear of forgetting to leave some out. Seriously, there are dozens.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Cody Kurtz, a Dallas wedding photographer that actually shot my wedding and got me involved in wedding photography!

Website: Hughesphoto.co

Instagram: instagram.com/hughesphoto.co

Facebook: Facebook.com/hughesphoto.co

Image Credits
Hughes Photo Co.