Meet Chad Chisholm | Commercial Photographer

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

Hi Chad, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I run on tight timelines, so organizational skills and time management have always been great tools I incorporate into my personal and professional business. When I was represented child talent, I remember our agency telling us 15 minutes early is considered “on time” and that’s a habit that has stuck with me.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I started Custom Creations in 2005 after graduating from the University of Northern Colorado. I had been around photography my entire life, but this was decidedly different as a business venture and career. Starting at first with a fine art inclination, my light paintings and travel works were in shows across the county. Pivoting to more commercial application, I started covering events, weddings, and corporate functions, shooting over 200 events a year. Opening my commercial photography space in 2014 in Sunnyside, C2 Studios helped to pivot to a more refined commercial application and refinement. Specializing in the hospitality industry, I now shoot in studio and on location for a plethora of publications and clients for food & beverage, lifestyle and architecture subject matter. My mother was the one to encourage me into becoming a business owner. She was the CEO of a welding supply company and was one of the only women in her industry at the time. I started my first company at the age of nine with her encouragement, Chad’s Hats, importing solar-panel fan hats and umbrella hats from Hong Kong, which was on my dad’s flight route as a United Airlines pilot. From there, during grade school I started a stained and fused glass company, creating frames and ornaments that I sold in local shops in Evergreen, where I grew up. Homeschooled as a child, Mom would teach my brother and I about a country for a month, and then we would visit the country for a month; this proved to instill a love of travel within me that thrives to this day and fuels many of my projects. Having to write reports on the history and culture of the places we had visited, as well as our personal experiences, lent to another career in travel writing, which pairs with my acumen for photography (and which editors were thrilled they could send me on assignment and get both the article and original professional photos). Business ownership is not easy, but I can’t imagine anything else. My brand continues to grow and evolve and Custom Creations Photography aims to be a resource for the community, whether for restaurants and hotels to create imagery, or fellow photographers and creatives to rent our studio space to create their own work and projects for their clients. I marvel at the growth we are experiencing here in Denver and the talents who come from all over the world to make our city a multi-faceted Mile High City.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love this question as I get to write about it all the time! So, my best friend from out of town live in Chicago, I’d want to send her to some of the best culinary spots in the city. I’d suggest she take the A-train from DIA to Union Station, where she could stay at the Born Hotel as a home base, then have dinner at Tavernetta. I’d then advise a trip to the world-class Denver Art Museum followed by lunch at D Bar in Uptown. An afternoon at the Denver Botanic Gardens and either a picnic at the Monet Garden or heading over to Atelier by Radek on 17th for a decadent culinary experience. No trip to Denver is complete without at least touring the RiNo Arts District and murals. Denver Central Market has a plethora of food options and the nearby Ramble Hotel with Death & Co bar a great place for a cocktail. Il Posto is a perfect spot for brunch or dinner, on the patio or upstairs overlooking the city skyline. Authentic Italian recipes from Andrea Frizzi will leave you licking the plate. Near my studio in Sunnyside, Acova serves up some spectacular frozen Sangria and fresh, seasonal fare. El Five also affords some of the best city views and outstanding food with a fun cocktail menu. For some Chicago-style pizza (and to compare to her city) Crush Pizza creates not only killer pizza and wings, but a friendly neighborhood atmosphere. Cooper Bar is where I’d suggest she finish up her last night, overlooking “Colorado’s Living Room” from the vantagepoint above the hustle and bustle below, with vintage touches and elegant cocktail menu in the heart of LoDo.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
John Tobey is definitely the person I want to “shoutout” to for his unending support and patience, encouragement and team player attitude. Anyone who knows John well knows how much passion and support he brings to any project he is involved with.

Website: www.foodphotographerchad.com
Instagram: @chadjchis
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-chisholm-622a2531/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Custom-Creations-171384102937412
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5w6Iyn1YcXjp718lWP55bw
Other: www.cchisholm.com; www.c2studiosdenver.com; www.creationize.com; www.seechadwrite.com

Image Credits
Chad Chisholm