Meet Chris Tracy | Photographer

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

Hi Chris, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve been involved with the music industry ever since I was in high school way back in 2000. I was in a local band back then, but I booked all the shows and handled the business side of the band. I’ve also had a long history with photography. I mainly got into it when I took photography class in high school, back when we had to learn how to develop film in a darkroom! After that class, I’d take a disposable camera to local shows for fun. When I was older I started my own concert booking company and realized I could just merge my two loves and shoot my own shows. After a few of those, I realized how much I love photography and decided that was what I wanted to pursue more.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I moved to Denver from Chicago, and photography in Chicago is TOUGH. There is a ton of competition, basically everyone has some sort of camera and aspires to be a photographer, whether for a career or just for fun. After moving to Denver, I learned I was having a lot more luck in getting paid gigs, whereas most of my jobs in Chicago were for free, or as they call it in the business….exposure. I also knew I wanted to set myself apart by not nailing down one specific genre of photography, which is why you’ll see me working with models in RiNo one day, and at a punk show at Lost Lake the next. I like to be working constantly, so I try to create my own work when I can. I will say, all of the people I’ve met through my photography, from the models to bands to other photographers, have been nothing but kind and helpful.

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?
My answer to this question might be very “touristy” since I’ve lived in Colorado less than a year, but here we go. I’d start with breakfast at Snooze, go for a quick hike at Cherry Creek State Park, followed by lunch at Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar. Hopefully there would be a punk show at Lost Lake or Herman’s Hideaway to end the night. If not, probably a Rockies game. The other days I’d want to take them into the mountains or drive down to Pikes Peak and drive up to the summit.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to recognize my parents. They put up with a lot when I was in my high school band, lots of late practices and lugging heavy equipment to suburban bars. They also bought me my first camera and would pay to develop any film I needed.

Website: christracyphotography.com

Instagram: @christracyphoto

Facebook: @christracyphoto

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk57G2NjD3HBFxppCBRlVQw