Hello, and welcome to another episode of Coffee and code. I'm excited to have a very special guest on the show with us today. Mr. Chris Cox, of creator house. Thank you so much for being on the show with us today. Absolutely. I'm excited for you to be here. And I'm excited for you to share your expertise and knowledge with the coffee and code community. I think you do a lot of things behind the scenes that maybe a lot of people don't know about. So as we kind of dive into this fun conversation here, Chris, tell us a little bit more about yourself.
Yeah, okay, I can probably break it down into four areas. The easiest, so I run the house creates, we are photo video production company, focusing on amazing, very creative, colorful photos, videos, etc. We work with a lot of nonprofits, as well as big giant corporations like McDonald's super cool, all the way down to, you know, our local food bank. So we're really broad in terms of client base, which I love. I, we just wanna work with good people. That's the goal. And then I do the house homes, which is our real estate investment companies. So in Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma United States, yeah, we, we buy rental properties, or buy homes and repair them and make them actually awesome. And then what I aim to do is create like a quality living experience, because I've rented before, and it wasn't great. Yeah. So like anyone that rents from us. It's like, if something has an issue, it's fixed within a week, like wow, yeah, like, just because that's where you live and are always want someone's home to be their safe place or somewhere that can actually go home and not a house. So that is kind of our ethos for the house homes. It's pretty rad. And then the house helps, which was birthed out of COVID. Okay, so the house grades, we really leaned into food and hospitality industry. So we work with a lot of like, like I said, McDonald's or hotel chains. And during COVID, both those things I just mentioned basically didn't exist, you weren't really eating out very often, because restaurants are typically closed by the government. So we lost a ton of clients really quickly. I mean, almost all of them. And so we had a lot of free time and a lot of really expensive equipment. So we just hit up a local business owner here, who under restaurant and a bar, and we're just like, hey, can we bring our cameras and get the keys to your place, just do a live stream in there, like three people Max masks, gloves, whatever, we'll keep it super clean, don't worry. And just did Facebook live and raise money for the people that worked at those establishments. And any dollars that came in, we just wrote a check to the owner, and they distributed to their staff instantly, like 100% pass through, which was super fun, but we just did it because we were bored. Yeah, want to have fun and wanted to help. And then we might raise $2,000. In our first episode, we're like, Okay, well, we obviously have to do that again. Raise $3,000. Again, I was like, Okay, well, we kind of break 2000. So it's like, you got to do it again. So we did it one more time. And then things started to really take off. And then we started doing it for like entire districts in our city. So we did one for the sale Arts District. It's maybe three miles. I don't know. It's not a very large district, but it's very jam packed full of artists and hospitality workers. And so we did a grant based one with that. And we teamed up with the Paseo arts district to do a giant fundraiser. And then a lot of businesses got involved. So not just one anymore. And anyone that lived or practiced or did art, or was the employee of the district could apply to this grant for their electricity, Bill stuff, food, whatever, and they would get their expenses covered from this grant we made from doing live streaming. Are you serious? Pretty awesome. Yes, sir. For that one we raised like 20 or 30,000. Hold on that thing. On the pump. The brakes Plaza might have been set or Paseo might have been seven.
So like a really good meaningful impact.
We did one for Oakmont visual artists coalition, and that one just went crazy. That was the one that was like 30 Plus, and we're like, Okay, so now we have to form a real 501 C three, this Chris is about to pay a lot of tax. Writing a lot of taxes. Yes. So then I'll just pivot on over to my personal brand, where I'm just a creator, allegedly, but I really am and giving back to the community and meaningful Yes, so my goal is just to highlight businesses or people that are just doing excellent things in Oklahoma City or anywhere really, but I just focus on my own backyard because that's where I have the most impact. So pretty plugged in in the city and always trying to link up with nonprofits to make something for them because they always need stuff made, you know, but they just don't have any money. So the quality content um, yeah, for sure. Not just just something that will showcase who they are or something they can put in front of potential donors or potential grant writers, etc. And that is where it's not the most lucrative part of our business, but it's definitely the most fun and the most strategic in terms of communications because we're coming in with like, clear objectives they need to achieve so it's Like, it's kind of super serious. And then they work with us to house creates. So we like make it actually fun. And I think that's a good little two together to where it's not super stale, and it's still digestible. And these people watching hundreds of grant pitches don't get bored. They see this one and it stands out. So that little thing we've been doing lightly secret sauce.
Yeah, because people don't realize and nonprofit world grant writing can be a huge benefit for your revenue. And if you have someone that knows what they're doing, and knows how to captivate that story, and that mission and vision and values and stand out on there, yeah, like you said, that can make a world of a difference. Yeah,
it's crazy. i That's why I started getting so obsessed with photography and videos, because just like, I won't use the word branding here, I think we can. But in my mind, photos and video of your business, whatever is still a part of your brand. Because is if you just have really striking visuals, people already elevate your status and think that your restaurants better your business is better, because your stuff looks awesome. Versus what I call the church bulletin board Instagram accounts, for example, that are just like graphics all day long. You know, everyone's just tuning out. So I just want to cut the noise. And I love doing that with our nonprofits. And I love doing that with our for profit, of course, but they're cutting the noise all day and by Nance so they're doing okay, I want to give a little extra love to our nonprofit. So that's why we do the grant videos and stuff like that. I love that so
Chris, let's do a little recap you're doing a lot of things you have a house creates house helps
homes. Creative with my name.
Well I love that though. It's like a branch. It's
easy to remix or easy in terms of Yeah, digesting and then I literally have my brain almost carp compartmentalize that I'm operating separate businesses. And that really helps me a lot. Yes,
I do the same thing like coffee and cold coffee and consoles. It's good to have it segmented. Yeah, that way. It's segmented in your brain and segmented like financially and audiences aren't the same. Exactly. Yeah.
You kind of have to do that. Yeah. So my personal brand is the fourth one ish, and it doesn't have a name yet. We've been working on that for a long time. Okay. That's where the apparel comes from, just like the original content. So that's let's talk about
that. Because the first time we had like a coffee conversation, you brought these beautiful stickers of house crates, and I have them in my wallet still, they're beautiful. And I know like when I find the right place for them, it will reveal itself. They let's talk a little bit more about your branding because it stands out. It's colorful. It makes me feel joyous. And you've got tiger stripes, right, which I know has its stories. Let's like dig into that,
man. I wish the Tiger had a better story. I just love tigers. I love animals. I love nature. I love food. I'm pretty simple. Yeah. So Tigers for me, though, I don't know why I'm gonna just always been obsessed with them. And they're just elegant and visually striking, unique and kinds of like, like, in the wild. They're kind. Yeah, to us. Maybe. But sure. But they're also strong, and they're fierce. And so I felt like a tiger lean body what I wanted her brand to be compassionate, intelligent, striking. And it just worked. And I was thinking every photographer has a camera's their logo. Yes, we're gonna do something that's not even in the field just out of left field. But you might notice on our Tiger, it has colorful stripes. And the stripes represent the old Polaroid cameras. No way. So if you see an old Polaroid and it has the little color strip on it on the front, yeah, it's the same colors as a Polaroid camera. So that's a little easter egg for people that see our logo. It's got OG Polaroid camera colors, like the yellow, the blue and the it's got the three of the Polaroids and then we added in our own colors. Yeah,
that's a great homage paying homage to the orgies of color. And then,
like old VHS VHS tape covers without the super colorful design. Yes, I don't know the old blank ones. So we kind of drew inspo from those colors too. And like CCTV, yeah, yeah, yeah. So the logo, even though it is just a tiger, it has a lot of thought put into it and behind it. And so we can make this one up. But the stripes also kind of curve like a diameter of a camera. I love that. I know. Yes. It's got a lot of easter eggs.
It does. But I love that you have found like, really what is your like mission and vision and values and the ethos of house creates in being able to create those branches that give back to the community feel like it's so important to be able to do that as an entrepreneur, right to be able to find that purpose in that meeting and event. Because, yes, like you want to make profit, but it's not just about that. It's about like creating and cultivating that and I feel like you've done a really good job of connecting the dots there and elevating information to people that need that information. Like you do a really good job of sharing content on your social media to help people understand new spaces, do organizations So let's talk a little bit more about like your role in the community, and how that really overlaps so naturally with what you do professionally, and they really just is a it's a natural harmony is what it is. But can you talk about how your commitment to the community has helped overlap in some of your professional adventures?
For sure. Really, things really did go crazy. After we started the house helps because it just gave us one and I would say creative outlet. So giving back to the community can also be something that helps you prevent yourself from getting burnout. Yep, yeah. So there's a win right there. You know, it doesn't have to be super low bar for you to be successful in doing that. But my community's backstory is more so along the lines of I worked with the city and when I first graduated and grading districts, so uptown 23rd district had been around for three years maybe. And then I had joined their team as marketing director with Christina Mallory sugar offski. She's amazing. I'm sure she's probably tuning in and she's read. But really, she inspired me to just talk to people and by people, I mean, everybody, but specifically politicians, for people at the Capitol and just advocate for what I wanted. Okay, so you to be let's, so I did that once. And it worked. I was like, Oh, why don't I just keep doing this. And sending James Cooper's DMS, like you're doing great. I love what you're doing the business and just like encouraging our politicians that are doing great here, council people, yes, because our city is growing very fast and in many different directions. And I get on, like Mayor Holtz are the mayor of Oakland, the city's Instagram sometimes. And it's pretty hit and miss the comments are right here and there. But the people that do leave negative comments, they're not always wrong. That's the best part. But they can be definitely right. Obviously, I think their delivery is not the best, for sure. But I'm just seeing the things people are saying and I'm like, you just gonna comment that on his post, instead of call him or write him a letter or talk to him about it and ask him about it. Yeah. But knowing darn well that you could definitely send him a DM and he wouldn't be like, this is why this is why this is why because it's Yeah. People don't realize they have the power to do that. That's why social media is pretty badass. It is do that
it lowers barriers. And yeah,
I remember when I first start using Twitter, just tweet my favorite artists and they would reply, I'm like, this is incredibly inspiring to know that you're just a person like me, I felt like that really humanized people for me. And I think that's what social media is supposed to do. I don't know that it always does that
Periscope kind of did that for a minute. Oh,
my gosh, I remember Periscope, I remember tuning
into some of my favorite comedians, and we will ask them questions. And it was really cool to be able to have that like, Oh, you are a person? Yeah. Oh, you do think of problem solving the same way as we do.
I think that's what else was interesting to me. When I read stuff like I do on Mayor Holtz Instagram. It's like the miracle, a person still and he lives in the city, and he's working his ass off to make the city. Great. And you don't have to agree with everything he's doing. And he probably doesn't agree with everything. Exactly. But neither here nor there. I just think it's amazing that it Oklahoma City specifically, I can't speak too much to everywhere else. But our government is incredibly accessible. Yes, yeah.
Yes, absolutely. I will say plus one to that. And I feel like we are fortunate to have that opportunity. And I hope that people who are listening will understand that they do have the power to reach out, yeah, and share their concerns and share what they want to see. And one thing that I really want to emphasize, like especially now is letting digital literacy and digital information literacy is so important, now more than ever to be able to identify what it is that you were asking, or what information that it is that you're seeking. And go straight to the source because I think we've kind of like become used to this conditioning of consuming the media that we're seeing. Yeah, without questioning it. For sure. Yes.
So to even it's embarrassing. So like I'm wrong. What are your
What are your tips for people for whenever you let's say someone is listening and wants to reach out to their local politician, but do it in a non combative combative way? Oh, yeah. What are your pieces of advice for communicating?
So I'm a Virgo, so I'm very, I always use it as a joke, but then you read like the whatever signs or whatever, whatever. Anyway, serious, okay? Allegedly, Virgos are very logical, and I'm incredibly to a tee almost to a fault. Very logical, but my thoughts I'm glad you said combative, because I've been very frustrated with some things before and anytime you start putting emotions into the copy, I think you're taking an L I don't think it's going to help you. It's definitely okay to be passionate fired up. And you can add that into like the ends or maybe yeah, definitely the end actually, if you're gonna do it at all, yeah, but just I would very much ask them to be very clear and what they're asking and I think of everything In terms of work, so what are your deliverables? What do you want this person to do? Or what are you trying to influence or persuade? And just open dialogue and keep it as unbiased and very? Just allow yourself to also be wrong, I guess. And hopefully you're not taking your ego out of it. Yeah, exactly. So just tell them your opinion. If they're building something you don't like it. Just say why. Yeah, instead of like, I can't believe your bottle. Because it's definitely not that person doing it. Yeah, that person can affect it not being done. Yeah, just having clear goals in mind not just writing a heated message or letter, because that's not going to do anything other than block.
I agree. I agree. And I like to remind people that like, for example, John Maxwell, he wrote as Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. I don't know if you've read that. No, but it's yeah, I highly recommend it. Because one of the principles is begin with the end in mind. Okay. And I always remind myself of that when I go into a conversation, especially when I do overreach person Yeah, like, what do I want to get out of this conversation? For sure. And then I don't always like propose that question that people have, like, if you're angry, and you're passionate about something, love that. Let's channel that and Tic Tac Toe wave, like, what do you want to happen? Do you want action to happen? Do you want commitment to happen? And I think channeling that in the right way can lead to more sustainable change, where people are listening. Yeah, it becomes a conversation and a collaboration conversation.
That's what I was looking for. Yeah, conversation, not an argument. Yeah. Pitch on the argument. Yes,
it becomes a two way street. So I think there's something there's a lot of value into that. And you're a good model of behavior of how to do that.
And there's just a lot of opportunity to get educated to. I don't understand a lot about a lot. Yeah. Likewise, you can admit that you're already going in the right direction. You know it all Oh, man, your inverse
drill never will never students of life. Yeah.
For Yeah, I would just say be reminded that they're human beings, and there's people wouldn't name drop that in. I'm not fans up at all. And I just been so adamant about being respectful. Sure, sure. Yeah.
I agree. 100%.
And I also like to always remember, when I'm writing most things is like, if my mom read this, if blah, blah, blah, like, you know, nothing's really one to one. Unless you're using telegram the app. Allegedly. Yes, but I'm just always imagined, like, imagine that if this got leaked, lol, but I wouldn't. That's why I also don't want anything mean or savage or because it just has no value. Like, it doesn't matter.
Exactly. But uh, you bring up a really good point about the digital footprint here. And I was actually talking to a friend about this today is like, people don't realize the permanence of their action. Oh, man. Yeah, of what they like on social media with a common social media that like that's not just going away. That's there for decades. Yes. And I think we will see a point in which that stuff starts to really elevate. And I think people might be a little bit naive of thinking that whenever they apply for a job, that someone's not going to look at their social trends. So like, what are your thoughts on that?
Man, I keep mine clean. I just always focus on making good constant for sure. It's for meaningful, meaningful, sometimes just beautiful. This I have to have a education purpose. Yeah, always. But I'm just always shocked when people are posting photos of illegal activities
for sure that you know.
It's it is permanent, like you said, there's just I mean, you can delete your tweets or whatever. But it's just like a point in your time has been in point a moment in your life has been frozen on social media. And even if it's been 10 years later, and you've grown immensely, and said a word 10 years ago, or whatever. It's like if that could Kevin Hart is a great example. Actually, that just popped in my mind. Kevin Hart is a comedian. He's super funny. This happened like five years ago or something, but like stuff he was saying in like 2000 was like using words that in 2000, no one really cared. Yeah. But like Kevin Hart now is very sensitive and very inclusive. And like he's never been not he just was a different kind of funny back then. And I remember he was getting hit really hard. Just by everybody. Like, I can't live his title that I'm like, that was like 20 year old Kevin Hart. And then Kevin Hart's grown up and changed and it's good that you agree that that's not good that he was talking that way. He agrees with that too, because he's grown. Anyways, that's an example of maybe a dish of a digital footprint. That's like, come back to haunt him. Okay. It's not that you didn't say those things because he did. But yeah, I'm just like, you should also just cater your online appearance because it's so important to the socialist society of like jobs.
Yes. I appreciate the transparency there, though of like, Yes, I was like this, but I no longer have those like views. Yeah. And showing that like, it's not just a This sucks. There's nothing to do about it. But yeah, this happened. But here's how to move on beyond that, I think is really important. The repositioning and the Restrict play. Yeah, like that perspective can be more productive.
Yeah. Just yeah, there's no reason to have a lid on social media.
True. But it's interesting, because like, in this age of artificial intelligence, like you know, that what we react with becomes tailored with our algorithm. Yeah, right. Like we're in the age of like, we potentially might see tailored news headlines depending on what we like, and what we interact with. And that's a really a really wild thing to think about. But like, what you like, what you comment on what you spend your eyeballs time on looking like that is all like a part of your digital algorithm. So it's like, it's beyond what you say. It's also like how you act on social media. Yeah. It's becoming a part of your digital persona, which we don't know what that information is going to do, like many years from now, for sure, but it will impact our digital experience. And depending on how we see the world, currently, that can really influence a lot. I just, I just don't think people realize the influence that that type of content has on a psyche.
Yeah, it's, it's subconscious. Exactly. It happens to me. Yes, I'm definitely not exempt from this. It's disgusting. I hate it. I literally have to set my phone in a different room some days, because I'm like scrolling on Instagram for long. Thank goodness for the time limit. But same, it definitely. rabbit holes can be good in rabbit holes can be very bad. Especially right
now with like, what's going on? It
is real. Yes, it is.
It's a high, high intensity news cycle.
It's yeah, I mean, this morning, this morning was waking up and seeing all that stuff. And it's horrible. It's bad for everybody. That way to start the day, that's fine.
But, but I think it's really important right now are people to be able to grapple with understanding their boundaries, because we can't just ignore what's happening around us. Because even though it's happening 1000s of miles away, it will impact us on a domestic level. And just ignoring it is not going to make anything better. Yeah. What I've
appreciated is saying a lot of other creators speak out. And I saw Casey Neistat on YouTube, posted a video and it's just literally titled Jewish. Really, he just speaks Spanish Jewish heritage experience. I'm like that is very, very vulnerable view. And I've always been a fan but just really solidified me for a great person. Yeah. But he was very open about his experiences. And I have no dog in the fight. And I don't know a lot about what is going on other than what I've read from the curated news pages that I've read. But speaking about that, we can dive deeper into social media because I think social media has changed how the world sees things like that, like war. And I can't speak to this because speak to this, because I'm not an expert. But the Russia Ukraine war. I just remember that blue social media. Like, that's a terrible choice of words. But that was that were really impacted social media greatly. But then I remember thinking like, Oh, crap, we're like actually seeing war now. We're not watching it in from Hollywood movies or playing Call of Duty real time seeing kids. I'm seeing young Russian men like, not even they're like, I don't even want to be in the army. I had to, like that's fucked or yeah, what's going on for you? But it really, I don't know if this is the right word, but it really humanize that whole war. And like, it's different than reading a ticker on the news that 1000 People die in a bomb and it's like, Okay, continue on. It's like you're seeing it. It's like, oh, shoot, people find this disgusting. Terrible. Why is literally happening anywhere in the world?
Why not? Leave it like humanity? Humanity? Yeah. perspective.
It's, and, and then for me, being a helper. It just makes me feel helpless. And I think that's what is difficult for me to grasp is the message I received this morning was someone asking if thous helps his ability to donate or help her. I was like, I don't even know who or how or where, like, I would love to, but I don't know. And I'd like wouldn't know who to trust it to necessarily. Yeah, so that's what else is difficult about an OS like this trust? Oh, yeah. Technology has related but yes, and where would I even send money to help people in Israel. Truth. Yes. Where would I send that money for Real Red Cross? No, probably not like maybe 1% of it gets used the right way. Yes. That's what's been very difficult about seeing that and being powerless, right? Yeah.
Yeah, I thought about that today as well of like, you know, the only thing you can do is trying to spread awareness of what's happening and try to do what is good, but it's so early in the stages, it's, um, it's like, we don't know what to do for that help besides, like, you know, what, what you do to, like, care and think about those people and maybe pray or send good energy?
For sure. Yeah. It's when I know there will be opportunities to help that are very transparently, you are helping type opportunities, like housing people and stuff like that. But yeah, I don't think I don't know. I genuinely don't know. I don't think it's there quite yet. But
you, it's an example, that, like, we have a lot of freedoms in the US
to be grateful. It is amazing. Yeah, yes. And
but I think it's a really important time that like, you know, we are not susceptible to some, what I'm saying is that sometimes we can get too comfortable in our own routines and our own little, like, small environments to not forget about like, this is happening. Yeah, like, we could easily like, um, go to a music festival, and have experience like the atrocities that these poor people have experienced of having to Yeah, you know what, it's just it's wild to me. So I guess the call to action is like digital literacy. Yeah, fact check. Yes. Your things. If you're consuming digital media, make sure you limit yourself right. Yeah, it's important to know when to stop scrolling or set time limits. Like you mentioned, limits are great.
Yeah, yeah. Accountability for yourself. Yeah, terms of usage. And
I do that on my own, like, I'll set like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, anything that's categorized as social like, yeah, I have a set amount a limit for that day. If I get close to it, it will tell you like, Hey, you're getting close to your limit. Just FYI. That's a good little just kind of like, like, you know, quick little reality.
Yeah. So you're like, Oops, I definitely spent too much time on it.
Yeah, but I do see a correlation of like, when I'm like out in the mountains, hiking and like spending time away from my screen, like my stress level is much lower. Yeah, I love it. I love that little screen summary every month, Sunday. Oh, yeah, your screen went down. 50%.
Man, I would love to live in a world without phones. I'm not gonna lie. I love the convenience and the power they bring to us. But I don't like being accessible by everybody all the time. True. It's not my favorite. Yeah, it happens. Yeah. Let's talk about one more
about House House creates because you are an innovator and your creative and your Creator. So do you want to talk about a couple of projects or a project that you're working on right now that really excites you, like kind of intersects a lot of your passions together?
Well, we're really all over the board, to be honest, when it comes to our client base. But I really love working with our product clients. And that comes from my like business brain. I have a Master's business from OCU, my alma mater, university, City University, it's a pretty amazing school. But I like to see or like to, obviously, we work in the creative field. So we work with the clients, we create a mood board shot list, etc, we capture it, and we ask them what their intended purposes usage, etc. I love when we do products, because we're able to kind of behind the scenes deduce like, Okay, this image is probably worth this much, because we know it'll move this much product or like this new thing is launching. And we know that if it has this with it, it'll go crazy, you know. So it's more interesting for me to work with product based photos and video because it kind of has a tangible ROI. And it's harder for things like a testimonial video from the food bank, where we're just trying to make an awareness impact, it's harder to measure. So I like the measurability and then it really makes creativity business very fast, which I like because it's very hard to sell someone a photo. But it's not hard to sell someone a marketing asset. You know, it's like this goes on your website, this goes on your newsletters goes on your Instagram, your Facebook, your xx, x, x, y, z, you know, it's like, oh, yeah, this photos got a lot of value for you making the intangible tangible, exactly. So some creative product is so hard until we like business fit in. And we use those business words with our clients. Like, what is your objective, increased sales, increase awareness increase? So working with them from a business perspective is definitely our unique edge I would say. And still being a creative firm because typical greater firm, you'd come to them with a product or an idea and they would just capture it and give it to you done deal. Whereas we're a little bit more in pre production to where we're creating the shortlist, the mood boards, the models, the castings, everything, so that's awesome. I love doing all that. I love the pre production. I love the production. Not a big post project. Sure.
Oh, yeah, yeah, very few people. Yeah,
those people were amazing and very talented. And luckily, we have, I do really like to edit my photos. But yeah, I'm not a big video editing fan. So like we would have that on our team.
Yeah, that's awesome. I like they are able to be authentic with the projects that you take on, instill, infuse that creativity, but that business component. Yeah. And that's where I feel like a lot of people that are listening can find value in what you're talking about, like business of finding your creativity. Yeah, it's important to have those things.
This is a buying or like product, making your privatizing your service, making your service or product makes it so easy for for makes it much easier, I should say, and more tangible to our clients. Because it's very much more about the numbers for both of us now. And that's like the team you want to be on. And then it's very collaborative at the same time. So for photo shoots, for example, we have our designated shot list. And we'll work off of that, of course. And then if we get inspired in the moment, we definitely grab that too. But we have what's called a 20% rule. So if there's an image we're about to take, and its composition already all set up. We're like, can we make this 20% better? If so, how, and let's like add in a hands grabbing this or highlight the can with XYZ, there's different things, but we always go in with our 20% ideas and try to like work them into shots. And not every shot gets a 20% idea. But that's how we do it's like you freaking notice they do and I'll send you some took a really amazing one of a chef at a local restaurant. Yeah, and our typical portrait is smiling, you know, facing camera, this chef instead had a plate or a table full of all his favorite dishes, and dish right in front of him and he's leaning down, you can you can always see maybe 30 40% of his face, because he's taking a big old bite into this amazing burger. And I'm like, that's actually the best picture. Because the chef loves his own food eats his own food. This is like the actual chef you're gonna see is like him chowing down like it felt way more real and way more like him. We're able to capture that. And that was our 20% was like, I just want to deck out this table for you, man, and just whatever you wanna do at it. Start snapping. He's just like, you have fun with this like.
And you'll have fun with it too. Yeah. symbiotic relationship.
Yes. So that's, that was pretty much my absolute main goal. When I started the house grades, it's like, I don't want to work I want how can I get paid to have fun? Can I get you to have fun? Yeah. Yes.
What you're doing as you you were you were highlighting that you can be creative, but you can have a business at the same time. But it's important to remember those metrics and those data points. Yeah, to be able to sell your value to your client. Because I feel like there are some artists that have like, tremendous talent, but they don't have the business savviness Yeah, for sure. And knowing how to pitch your work is really important and not selling yourself short.
Yeah. So I think one thing I do get in my job is we have those people that are incredibly talented, and don't want to touch all that stuff. And that's where I come in. And I love doing all that stuff. I love preaching production. I love working with the clients, I love collaborating, they do too, but they don't want to have clients they don't want to. I'm like I'm so here for all that. So I get to let my artists be artists. And I can be an artist and a business manager. So I like that I get to walk both lines, because I do love business. So it's nice that I can do both. But I love that my artists can just be artists and focus on getting better at being artists, right? Tog refer videographer, their skill sets are just continually being built. They don't have to spend three hours of their workday, emailing people. I want them to spend three hours watching YouTube and getting better learning
a new skill. Yes, right. Because love that is so important. I'm really glad you mentioned that because that is a call to action for anyone listening that manages people, please, for the love of everything holy bake and professional development time into your employees schedule at least an hour to three hours a week.
It's risky in terms of obviously people leave your business, but it's not risky in terms of everybody that your business is getting better. It's going to show and you're gonna make more money in your land more clients, and if they get really good and leave. Who cares? I think that's amazing. I remember working for many businesses, corporations, and whenever I would leave finally they're like, Oh, well, you're nobody does anymore type vibe. You know? I'm like, no way the minute one of my homies gets a bump up, I'm like, let's go. He goes in over there. But I'm just getting what it's all about. I think what else I wanted to create with the house greats was just, it's gonna sound lame because the big corporations do use it but like that family vibe of like, we're all here to make money. That's Fact number one. It really is. In fact number two is we're here to have fun. We're here to learn. We're gonna get better. We're here to create. We're here to buy cameras. We're here to like, do what we want to freakin do, and be able to eat dinner. So we do that. And I feel like it hasn't always been that way for other creative businesses. Because they may not have they're more about cutting throats and having cheap labor come in or bidding really high on projects. And then subcontracting and I hate that, like, we love to do our own projects. Yeah.
And that's where you were extremely valuable in the market and providing that value to your clients that wants that quality and want that transparency.
I think that's what Lanza is such a big, professional organizations and they will work with us because we are, we build trust, we clearly communicate. You've read emails for me, and they're over the top, I need to relax.
But I love over the top email. Yes, more detailed, the better.
I'm just like, you can access me anytime in the day. We're here to help you guys. We are your creative partner. That's how we want to be presented. And so our whole team is like that to always on the up and up and professional. And still people and want to have fun. And so I love that. Yeah, we also handpick not handpick, but we also pick our clients. We do say no to clients. Nobody. We're still up there. Yeah. So, because I just don't want to work project I'm not excited about. I mean, I don't have to. Exactly
when you're a business owner, you have the flexibility and freedom. Like yes, being your own business, when it comes with a lot of things.
I've definitely said yes to a lot in times of need, you know, exactly. And that's just a part of it. It is that's part of it. Don't don't think that I'm saying that I say no to people just because it's not like that at all. It's that it's either one we're too busy, or our values don't align or it's outside of our actual skill set. We'll just tell people that see, I'm not going to be a jerk in a bid and then subcontract it I'm just gonna say, we're really good at this, this and this. But But yeah,
yeah, but I know this person is better like that abundance mindset. Yeah, of like community over competition, like I'm way cooler, referring to someone that is much better, like people will come to me for social and I'm like, I could do that. Yeah. But like, I know, someone else is better at that. Yeah, happy to refer you. And it's a much better relationship at the end of the day.
Yeah. And then you land them as a repeat client, I would only imagine because you've given them a great referral, and their business is doing successful. So when they need to come back for more, they have more resources to spend with you.
And love, right. And there's like, I feel like, you know, some, sometimes people forget the humanity behind entrepreneurship. Right. You know, it's, it's still like, yes, we're in 2023. Yes, for the 21st century. But there are still business practices that are timeless. Oh, yeah. And I feel like community over competition and having that intent that is good. can go a long way.
Yeah. Especially in a city like ours, where you're gonna cross paths very often with a lot of people in the same field. Yeah. So that's what we're all for. I mean, collaboration is key is what we say all the time. It sounds so cheesy now. But it's true, because it's true. So true. But we rarely take on a project where we're just being told what to do, but we take them on because they pay but you know, we like to be creative and have collaboration.
Speaking of creativity, and collaboration, you know, technology is moving very quickly. Every day, there's something new or some curious, what is your vision for the like, you know, five years into the future? What does house creates look like? Yeah, what are you doing? Are you branching into augmented reality or extended reality? Are you staying in the traditional mediums? What does that look like for you?
I think video will always be incredibly important. Such a powerful way to tell the story. Yeah. I think I'm just some random guy in Oklahoma City. But it'd be impossible for a video to go away for sure. So I think we're locked in there. And in terms of AI and technology, it's only making it's only making making video easier. Yes. So it's making editing easier. It's making pre production easier. GPT can assist in writing shortlist and writing call times or whatever. And then you start building out more scripts or whatever jacked up starts learning even more it can help you get influenced or inspiration, creativity, fired on faster, I feel like still need to be you. But you can create creative prompts really fast. Editing is really where I think AI is moving towards fastest. And I think that's amazing. Because creating is the best part. If you asked me sorry, editors. I would just love for AI to assist me in some of these things that take forever. Like I actually do enjoy editing. I'm very excited about it at times. Yes. Whenever there's like a giant catalog. Yeah, it's not so fun. So AI can definitely help and like bulk editor changes, which would be amazing. But in terms of the house helps where they're moving. I would love to say towards original content. Oh, yeah. It's very scary because money, right? Yeah, most original content. I mean, if not all starts with $0 right making $0 So you can create an audience or platformer. So it will be more risky, but it would be very cool to start having original content and Then I also aim to just have fun. Instead of us taking on a lot of new external projects, just having just more retainer clients, because it's fun to do the one offs, and we'll still take those for sure. But the retainer clients is really I can build a relationship and really start to understand the brand. And every photoshoot if we do more than one with a client, it just gets better literally, because we're getting better at achieving their brand. After the first session, we do a recap with them and get feedback. They say these are the shots we liked. We liked that you took these from these angles. Let's get some of those next time. We'd love the one with the girls nails. Let's get some more nice nails on our next shot too. It's like we are literally getting better and better every single time. Why would we not keep working together? And nails is a real example. Actually, really, someone came with like a blood blood vessel burst and under their, their nail. And since we're doing product photography, hands are like taking up a lot of our composition and framing. So it's very noticeable if you're taking a picture of a can for example, since like, shoot, so we had to go back in and post and redo their fingernails. Oh, wow. Pretty tall. We have to be like, yeah, it's not worth it in our fault ish in pre production. And yeah, anyway, so what we learned from that is keep a nail kit in our gear bag and then have models. If we're gonna do a lot of hand photography, make it very clear in our ask that there's gonna be a lot of hand imagery. If you come with prepared fingers, hands. You don't have to go above and beyond for us, but just get them clean cut. We're gonna basics. Yeah. You got a busted finger? Let us know. We'll get you in the next shoot. We don't want you on this one. Sorry.
I had someone show up to a photoshoot once and they were literally doing their nails in the car. Yeah, I get it. We're like you just photoshopped my other hand. I'm like, no, no. Yeah.
Don't be mean to your I jokingly onset say a lot. Oh, we'll fix it in post. Only knowing that one. We're not going to fix it. If we need to truly work, but it's like something we're going to fix right now. Truly, I don't want to fix anything. If I don't have to real Yeah, it's a good joke, because everyone seems always like, looks around like, are you serious? No, don't worry. I think I would add one more thing to the ethos of the house is this is the most asked backwards thing. But my team comes first customer. Yeah, so it's good. We, again, are incredibly collaborative. And it's never really actually ever been an issue. And I don't think it ever will. But my team is with me forever. And a client. I would love to be with me forever. But let's face it, they're just not. And my team I see like every day, so obviously they're gonna come first. I've never understood I do understand the mindset. customer's always right, but doesn't always work like that. Yeah, this customer has to have respect and, you know, treat people right. And that seriously hasn't happened any years. And as we've grown to be more of a creative firm versus like, event photographers or stuff like that, it's totally changed our client base. But I just everyone that joins the team. I'm like, hey, if anything ever is wrong, or you heard something weird, you tell me because we are on the same team, you will never be in trouble. If they're mad. Screw them. They can get a refund. Like it doesn't matter. Yeah. So just letting my team know, we're the best we can keep being the best. Let's do this thing. We are all on the same page here. You need help editing. Let me know don't just let it slide. And then two weeks later, it's like, oh, I need like a team always. Yeah.
And it's not that's not coming. I know you because that's not coming from an ego centric place that's coming from it like I want to help you. And that's like the long term win there.
Oh, for sure. Yeah, I don't want to micromanage anything. Yeah, not at all. I love like, I'm yeah, I'm the opposite. I probably need to manage more sometimes. So. But that goes into technology again, because we just got monday.com. And we're gonna start using that for project management. Yeah, because it just fires that automated checkpoint stuff. It really we have so many projects that sometimes that it's like, I even forget delivery dates for certain projects and have to go back and find them. But building the mountain Monday is going to be awesome. I'm excited to do that. Which is weird to say that I'm excited to build our monday.com or not
at all. Yeah, I know. Like I'm working on a workshop right now. Like for my business of like helping business owners understand like, how to vet which one is right for them. Yeah, there's so many. There's so many. But also if they can't afford those options to build things in Google Keep or so yeah, you could definitely you can build your own little tree if you know what you're doing. It's really about like what process you're doing at the end of the day.
And I really think that you should build your own and the instance that like your brain definitely works differently than others and monday.com stuff are not perfect for me in a lot of ways and I wish I could do certain things to it, but it's pretty but it's so close to being most of what I need. So it is what it is
and I ain't sometimes it's worth it to pay Without premium for the great UI, the great notification.
And if it's more than just me, I wanted it to be a little sexier, because I was using, like, click up. A Google Drive home based love built by me systems is really archaic, but it worked really well. And then team members started getting added. And it was still working. And then we just hit like a flow of like, okay, now team members are adding to, and then that was not working anymore. So that's always expanding Well, of more so like, my OCD and my organization if videos misplaced, you know. And so going around data calm and another service we use called SmugMug is what helps us keep there's still a very, very crazy around, they got bought by Flickr. And so they are like, what a throwback I saw which is also wild. Yeah, flickers wild, but they are even worse, we turned me on to SmugMug and showed me about it. And I was like, Really, and I remember SmugMug from years ago, and it was like kind of crappy, but now it is. So it's baked into aperture. What's your? Oh, yeah, that's right. Yeah. Okay. But yeah, it's so easy to create galleries and share them and mark them up sell pictures if you want to. It's incredible. So technology in my mind you it's very scary. I agree in terms of like the randomness of it, and grasping it. And for me, the issue is shiny object syndrome, there's so much cool technology that I know about it, I want to use it. And it has nothing to do with what I'm doing, though. So be careful about technology, because software and apps and etc. Same shiny object objects syndrome
might be a real thing. I just made it a brilliant hat. I'm gonna I'm gonna search that hashtag. That's really good.
But you know, like, Adobe's always got cool stuff and Firefly, they drop something and go use it. Even if I don't have like, I will literally, yeah, I waste time. But I appreciate all the design stuff. And it's good edit photos, and I'll never share with anybody. But what I'm doing is I'm actually learning some using the software's the minute I need to use them for a client. I'm already an expert, but
which thank you for the recommendation for open AI for editing podcast clips. Yeah. Which is been a huge time saver and recommended it to my clients. Well, yeah, it's affordable. It's really affordable. It's great, because you can type in the keywords, but you're driving that experience
auto caption on the video, which is amazing. Like, it's like the cool social one to like a gross. Like,
it doesn't overlap with closed captions, it's
a very exotic thing. It's still very readable because the outlines like it's
you can change the colors if you want to. And I appreciate that it takes so much of that time. Because like, I want to emphasize that, like, you know, this, I know this, but like we as content creators know that like it takes time to create that quality content. And that is the invisible process that we don't talk about where the secret sauce happened. Yes. So like emphasizing the people that it takes a lot of time and expertise to create this quality content that you're creating, that your team is creating. That's what we have
people on. Yeah, we are different than, hey, come take a picture of me my dog gets to Joe Park, like I would love to his friends but as professional now. We do, which I would do that for sure for I love dogs. Yeah, I do take a lot of pictures. But just being pre production focused and post production focus makes it to where we are in creative firm versus we are photographer. So the post production really is insane on some of the videos we do. And it is like 3040 50 hour plus things. And it sucks, but it's part of the process. And most of the clients we work with understand that totally. But it is difficult when you have a new client or new business and they don't get that we're not just billing to show up in capture. But if you want this to be edited and delivered afterwards, there's like, double the amount of work behind afterwards. And I think a lot of people forget that piece of it. Yeah. And they're like, oh, you can't just show up and take 10 pictures and like I totally can. But why is it worth it for me to leave my house and working with other clients or editing photos or getting video to come shoot 10 photos for you like anyways, it's like,
someone asked me college like can you just come take one headshot of me? I'm like, no. Why? Work? Yeah.
And how long would it take to set up your lights, your backdrop your camera settings? Yeah. I'm like, go stand in front of mirror take your picture. But I think more than anything, it's just we really want to emphasize that we like to build visual campaigns and do half day full day projects and not like one officer of it photos which I do have in Serbia a lot because it is enjoyable and I get to learn a lot and get to meet a lot of people really fast for sure. But
it's good as an introvert to to be able to be like oh hey can I can mingle but also be behind the camera. Yeah,
it's a hack. But yeah, doing events. It's a really, really my hack to learning so much and getting free access to conferences and stuff. That's not even free. Paid X paid. No, no,
that's one thing I want to mention is that people don't realize how, you know, media passes are really, I don't wanna say relatively easy, but they're more accessible than some of their passes.
Media pass, I made myself and I printed it myself. And I went to Staples and got a cute little badge holder. And I was at the Oklahoma State Fair and said, I was media and they said, Go right in, I save $10. But this is what's even crazier. I took pictures, and I guess I was on like, I don't have no idea how, but they had contacted me the next year to actually shoot the fair for real and pay me for it. I was like, so we. Yeah. So like, I broke into the Oklahoma State Fair and recorded a YouTube video. And then the next year, they hired me, let's go. Yeah, so just be bold and be cool to
think outside the box. You know, really, and that's a great I love I love hearing that story. Because that's just like, just the spice of life. Yeah, right.
I was like, what's gonna happen, they're gonna kick me on the State Fair. And I can never come back, boohoo, or I pay the 10 bucks or nothing. Yeah, nobody cares. And I'm not here to hurt anybody. I'm gonna make cool stuff. So if anything, yeah, it was, it was fun. That's really cool.
So I'm curious, Chris, if you were able to, like, tell an entrepreneur or someone who's listening who's interested in doing what you're doing, or being a part of like a team like yours, wherever they may be, what would be those pieces of advice, or those nuggets of advice that you would share with them, if they're looking to pursue a career like you have?
Yeah, um, figure out your style, and your voice and your flavor and embrace it, because that's what makes you that is your competitive advantage. When it comes to creativity. The tools are accessible, they're expensive, holy crap, and you don't need the expensive ones, you get the you get the affordable ones, you have a phone, most likely, you're listening to this podcast. So get started. It's really as easy as that. It's just get started. And you talked about digital footprint earlier. I think about it less from the perspective of youth thought about it from and more from the perspective of if I make this piece of content, and I make it really good, and I spend a lot of time on it. And it goes viral on Instagram for a week. That's cool. But it does live on there forever, in a good way. And that now I'm building an online portfolio. So if I just go practice and spend a lot of time, that's what used to frustrate me all the time, it's like I'm spinning 10 hours to get one picture. And then it's on Instagram per week. And then it's out of the algorithm. I hate that. But then it's like, people go to my page, and they start scrolling. And it's like, oh, yeah, we got to hire this guy. He's been in it, he's been doing it. So just do it is what I would say and spend time on it and just do it. If you can not be as frustrated as I was doing it for free at first. Try that. But if you're frustrated, you're maybe not doing the right thing. But you should just be having fun. Yeah, I think is key. But editing is frustrating. It truly is. And you're gonna learn but not in a negative way. It's just a challenge, I should say.
I like that. And I think somebody that you've highlighted that's really important is that like business is never ever going to be black and white, that it's always going to be a meet in the middle. You never know what that's going to look like. And when you say paid and free work, you know, I've been there. I've been like earn my stripes doing my fair share. You're free, you're pro bono work. But it's important to be able to be able to market yourself and understand when it's time to start positioning of like, Yes, I'll do this as an in kind donation. Yeah, or like actually not giving away or time for free.
What we definitely don't do anymore ever is we definitely work for nonprofits for free, but we invoice them. And yeah, we do this sponsorship and kind of thing. So even I just did this to client recently. It's someone who I just, I would have done it for free once again, but I really wanted to do this project. I don't want to talk about it right now there. I don't want to name this specific project. But anyways, I literally want to do so bad I reach out to them and told them my entire plan the scope of work. I was like, I'll do all this for $350. Normally, I would charge this much. And if you want to do this again, I would have to go back to this other rates. And they're like, let's do it, obviously. And if they said no, that would have been a little silly, but they can say no. But I just went in with the pitch the proposal and the price and they're like, let's go. And I went out like two days later and did the project. That's amazing. Yeah. But you know, now when they hit me up next time, they know how much I'm worth, what I can create, and they know that it's worth it. And they know that we're professional. Well,
I love that. But like you got creative there and you thought outside the box non traditional way. And it's good to be able to adapt and think on the fly and think of ways to meet in the middle and meet people
where they are. Yeah, and it could have been a waste of my time because I put together this big pitch in purple was one shot list and ideas and they could have just not even read their email. But you know, I really wanted to do it. So it wasn't always the time to meet or write that email and get better at writing. Like, I'm always Yeah, I'm always using my time as wisely as I can and trying to improve in like that. There's another book you mentioned. The Seven Habits, atomic habits is also an amazing one seems clear. And then there's one that is like the 1% compounding rule or whatever. And if you're 1%, better each day by then in a year, you're like, 300, or something presented some astronomical I think it might even be higher than that. Who knows? I don't know, the math on it. But anywho I always try to remember the 1% rule in the back of my head and like, Did I do something slightly better today than I took yesterday? It can be as simple as brushing your teeth for two minutes instead of a minute. 30. You know what I mean? But hopefully, something cooler than that. Yeah.
Just getting your vitamin. Yes.
Take your batteries to drink enough water and hydration. Very important. You didn't watch too much YouTube?
Yeah. Yeah, it's hard. And
then other young graders for people that want to get started again, like I would just say, start making content and learning and learn through failure. I love learning to failure and to learn. Yeah, good. Cuz, yeah. And actually, yeah, how about we just read our pillars from the house? Great sellers?
Yes, let's do, but I like that. You mentioned that because I think what I value most is hearing about people's failures. Because that that is such a good learning experience. And once we actually talked about it, we realized like, it's okay, it experienced failure, like you learn the most out of that. Yeah, it doesn't make you weak doesn't make you like unsuccess. It makes you dumb. If you don't, exactly you. Did it? Yeah. Yeah. What is the what are these
pillars? Okay, so this is what our teams worked on. These are just like, kind of our goals and how we aspire to be when we're working in the office or just being in the house create. So create without ego up. Obviously, when you're working on a creative team, it you have to be on the same team. And someone has an idea, run with it. We're all running with it. Yeah, someone else has the opposite idea. We're running, we're discussing. So just setting it aside and realizing it really also doesn't matter. These are silly. If we're constantly Here we go. If we're constantly getting 1% Better, we'll quickly become the best. Oh, I love that. It's so true. Yeah, we don't have competition, because there's because no one offers what we offer us. And it goes back to kind of your ethos of community over competition. That's kind of what we're trying to hit here. But we really don't have creative competition, because creativity is your own being in your own fiber. You can't i can't train your creativity, I can train you in like the rules of photography and rule of thirds, like principles. But your picture you take is going to be different than mine every day of the week, and maybe better, maybe worse, doesn't use to say the audience. You mean, it doesn't like who knows? Creativity is vast. It's open into interpretation. So I
met with a Japanese professor visiting once at ODU. That specifically talked to me about how to teach creativity. Oh, yeah. What was the it was a fascinating conversation. I shared some things. And I was like, I think you can only teach. It's not really something that's
spurred but yeah, exactly. You can teach principles. You can teach concepts you can ways of thinking inspo moodboards. Yeah, but I don't know. It's Yeah,
it's interesting. Yeah, that's it. I love that you have a big sin to your pillars.
Yeah. So we don't have clients. We have creative partners. And our goal is to help them achieve their vision. And have fun, make great friends. If weren't enjoying it. Was it worth it? The answer's no. Be curious. not judgmental. Like, number seven, show up.
Yes. Yeah. Great. Those are great. Just kind of like identity markers. Yeah. To attract your ideal clients. Yeah. And make sure you're filtering the clients that you don't want to interact with. But also attracting the right talent. How big is your team?
I think we're like six. Let's
That's awesome. Yeah, we have huge congrats. That's huge. That's amazing. Yeah.
It's a combo of contractors part time and full time. So it's, yes, it's a nice little business. And then Oakland City has got so many great creatives true for real, like videographers, animators, and then people freaking specialize, ya know? So why not just lean into that and just have, you know, we're a little more broad, I would say on our team, and then we will contract out people that are specific, and freaking wizards and experts in that world. We'll do it every day of the week, because our goal is to make the creative project the best project and that does mean bringing in external creatives and So when we don't have competitors competition, we have allies and friends that are working on other projects sometimes. And sometimes they come and work on projects with us. And that is amazing that we can have people working on our project with us under our business's name. That's been pretty wild. So like white labeling creativity. That's awesome. Yeah.
Have you done anything in the realm of like, augmented reality? Virtual reality? I
know. People have reached out to us for it. But
I'm curious about that. Because like, that is special. My friend runs exactly, yeah.
And I just don't want to invest in that stuff.
No. Yeah. But it's like, but there are some areas of opportunity, for example, like Instagram filters, or like a relatively for sure to get into AR
then like Mater port camera, make it super easy. But really, yeah, I just don't want to buy that. It's just Sure. I think we're really in our lane with Photo Video and live production.
I love that. Because there's like there's there's something for everyone. Right? Or spaces for other.
If someone wanted to join the house crates and was an expert in AR, I would build it out. Yes. How that would work.
Yeah, I think right now, it's like what advertisers are trained to figure out is how to convert it. Yeah. And how to track those conversions and how to make it more than just a parlor trick.
Man, that's very true. The coolest iteration I've ever that I've seen so far in AR other than PokemonGo.
And Sherwin Williams paint. Oh, you.
Oklahoma University, was doing a fundraising development campaign for a new building on campus, basically. And they mailed this brochure to all their big donors. And it was a scan to I guess, yeah, AR and the building came up off the paper, he could see could push your phone into it and see rooms that's like, that's freakin sick. If donors can activate and actually get the AR to work, it's going to it's going to work on so I could see like the rooms, I'm going to get my name named after whatever, like you see this campus like that. And it just, it's, it's like a photo that is three dimensional. And so it's just a photo or rendering of what we're trying to build. If you can show someone what you're trying to create or trying to build, they're much more likely to be along the journey with you. So that's why we do all the pre production the sketches to see like, this is what we're aiming for. You're like, okay, now I get it. Yes, we're visual. Actually, I need it like this. Okay, cool. Thanks. But yeah, AR Thank you, to us really
intensely for stuff like that. Thank you for sharing that. That is such good exists. Really cool. Reaching out to donors. Yeah. And getting them to understand visually how to conceptualize what that commitment and what that investment looks like. It's yeah, it's just easier. So it 100% Is and with that, it's like the lower barrier to entry to because you don't necessarily have to learn a new skill. Oh, yeah. You're basically being guided through the experience. Yeah. Which is like, creates the experience and itself, kind of like the white glove experience, you know, and certain creative agencies provide that. So my next question for you is like, let's say someone is listening. And it's like, yes, I want to work with House creates, or like speaking my love language, how would they get a hold of you? Follow you?
Yeah, for sure. You can definitely check my stuff out at the Chris Cox on everything. Okay. And then our business stuff is at the house. Great. So on everything. And then the house grades.com? For sure.
So th e h, o se CR ea te es
Correct. Yeah. And sto is probably our most used platform, because it's very visual. Got it. So we share a lot of our portfolio pieces. They're beautiful brands were Yeah, colorful,
fun. Your phone. Yeah, yeah, sure. All.
I'm branding is very important. And it is it sticks. It sticks. I mean,
it is you're right, you're 100% Right. And I remember like when we first had our coffee conversation, you brought your stickers. You were you're sure you weren't at Pat. Table. Yes. But if I could still like it does tend to back to the psychology of like, it takes three impressions to make. Oh, yeah. impression in your mind. Wow, I thought it was well, like three for like verbal, I guess. But the identity does, like reinforce that. So that's it's nice to have. But also, it becomes like a strengthened to brain identity. And that too. It's not just because we do this a company is way more than just a logo. Oh yeah, it's way more than just a brand. It's like the ethos behind it too.
And so branding is so important to us that we call our photography, lifestyle branding photography. And if you look at some of the hotel work we've done, you won't even know we did it because we fit to their brand guide and it looks spot on. And so that's what makes us a little bit different as well is we're not just Christmas style, not just Ian stout as Alissa style, it's we're going to use your grandkids and we're going to use our creative input to maybe tweak some things in the composition. But if your colors are red, we're going to work in the color red, easy peasy. Whereas I've seen photographers just use their style and get hired for businesses. And I'm like, Oh, this photographer took that for that business. And you know, it doesn't really matter that I know that. But it matters that the business has this like super sexy, awesome photo. And then the next one is like, a warm phone photo. It's like completely off you guys. Like there's no continuity. Yeah, it just D doesn't elevate your brand. Like, if you really want to hit all the high marks, you don't have to have perfect content, you should have branded and cohesive content. I hate going to grid and it's just like, jaded and no color scheme. No nothing, because there's no brand or identity, just a bunch of junk. So I think that's what makes our photography strong is that we aim to shoot for your brand. And as your brand's
and that right there reflects exactly what you mentioned about your pillars of like we won't create with ego. Oh, yeah, exactly. Yeah. I mean, like a lot of photographers won't do that. Right? Because you're like, I have my style.
Yes. Oh, I always do black and white.
Yeah, no. And you know, adopting the client, like you're putting your Yes, yes, yes. Yeah, for sure. That is huge. Oh, six volumes of like your business, your processes, the people that you hire that are willing to adapt to that, to create that continuity for the client? Yeah. was evaluated.
Yeah. And they'll pick us because they see our brand and our style, and it is colorful and bright and bubbly. And the brands we work with, I would say are mostly for the most part. Those three words do. Yeah. So it just it attracts who you want to attract as well with your diffuse branding in that way.
And I think that speaks back to like the net net is being true to yourself. And being true to what it is that like you're building rather than just passing on a train of trends. That might be fun. Like we all know, the moody dark tone trend, like 2012 everyone like got married and that year, and then like the bright white out like super overexposed? Yes. Like still trendy. It's all trending. But it does, it does. But it makes me value the people that know they're craftable and no color grading and no like actual like,
yes, Columbia better creative tomorrow, learn how to color grade. Absolutely. It makes your images 1,000,000,000%. Different.
Yeah. And that becomes timeless. Yeah, that becomes timeless. And that like right there is like what I see the value in the people like you that provide that value for your clients. It's like that timeless digital footprints. That's homeless branding.
Yeah, you can take this image we took six years ago, and you could still use it today, if the product has changed, or the experience or whatever. That's what we aim for is timeless photography, or evergreen content, as we call it. I love that.
So cool. That's a great legacy to leave to leave.
Or shoot specific themes, of course that are super timely, like Halloween stuff. But you know, otherwise, here we are. Yeah, I'm always trying to make my photoshoots as diverse as possible. As eclectic as possible. It's colorful, it's fun. Like, if your brand doesn't want to have those things tied on to it, and probably not a good fit for y'all.
That's okay. Yeah, it's good to be selective. Yeah. One of the books that I just read the win without pitching Manifesto by Blair was love it. So good. Thank you Natoma, from Nueva studios for the recommendation, but like, it leads by 11 principles. And one of the first principles is like, we will specialize? Yeah, we will, we will charge what we're what we're worth. Yeah,
I've had a lot of coffee conversations with creatives that are charging way too with like, so little, which is sad. And it's, I
think there's some in weird, like, self worth interweaved into some of the pricing models of some people
there could be, and I know. It depends to clients too. But clients have certain expectations. But see, clients just have no freaking clue that your camera costs $10,000. Exactly. I'm gonna bring it to take a picture of your dog in the park, because that's a really big liability for me, you know?
Yeah. Even though your dog is super cute. Dogs.
Yeah. JK, we don't have a 10 that was dark here. But there are
you know, there are $10,000 cameras on it. For sure. For sure.
Anywho. Yeah, it's it's a blast.
Yeah. Well, Chris, this has been a great conversation. I appreciate you kind of like sharing your journey, your backgrounds, a little bit about like, what you do and why you do it. And I feel like listeners have a couple of like, you know, knowledge nuggets to take away so we, whether they want to maybe get into the field that you're currently in, or their client and their understanding helps you find the right fit, the creative agency, wherever they may be.
I love what our clients flushes. Flush. Flush us please don't know. One of our best clients, I remember when they call me and they like interviewed me. And I was like, This is gonna be a good client because they actually care about who they're about to work with. Instead of just trying to hire us real quick for a project that need to happen in two weeks. I was like you guys Sir rebuilding relationship. I'm here for it to. Let's do this.
Yeah, that's the secret sauce. Yeah. Everything is about relationships at the end of the day it is
it's so mind blowing for real and really need to realize that ASAP. And yes. And take advantage of it. Yeah, meaningfully meaning Oh, yeah, of course. Just make friends always
make friends. Yes. You never know you're going to be sitting next to on a plane train automobile. It's it's really wild. But like it's about being open to those experiences like you get in what you get out. Yeah, for real. So like, if you're in that alignment, then things will come back to you in a positive way. Get put it out there first. So meaning
recharge, recharge, that's okay.
To 100% Take that take a beat. Yeah, we all needed to be every now and then I'm recharging percent regularly. So yeah. Same. I'm recharging this weekend. Nice. Yeah, I'm ready to be in the mountains to recharge.
Oh my gosh. Okay. Well, that's like full on. That's great. Yeah, that's really good.
Like, we have five hearts, we're ready to rock and roll through this level of life. Well, this has been a great conversation, Chris, thank you so much for taking coffee and CO I will be sure to link everything about House creates and households. And the great creators that you've mentioned, in the show notes that way people can or that are listening can go follow you and follow some of the people that you've mentioned as well. But thank you so much. I'm looking forward to seeing what the next iteration of house creates is going to be and thank you for reaching out and making this Yeah, for sure happen. That's really you know about creatives, finding other creatives and just saying like, hey, let's have a conversation. Yeah. So I appreciate that. Thank you.
Yeah, that's the beauty of social media is that everyone's accessible? I mentioned, I don't want my phone on me. But if you, if someone inspires you tell them they inspire you like that is for real. That is my last tip. And that's where the buck stops. You're just like, Hey, I see you doing great work, keep it up. And you're a complete stranger, then who cares? Just let them know, because a lot of other strangers will take their time to say negative things. Yes. So let's throw in the positive whenever you have a couple seconds.
Yes. And that extends to people in the hospitality and the food and service industry, but sort of Starbucks worker, like, whoever it is, like, just take a moment to say like, can I give you some feedback? I love the way you did XYZ because it made it made me feel like a valued customer or something. Because like that can go such a long way. People do take time to talk about like the shitty things, but they never time to identify the positives. Yeah, so like working at Apple, like trust me, believe it or not, like, I always take the time to identify positives and employees to like, say like, Hey, go to go find their superior or whatever. Just say like, I appreciate this person went above and beyond. And like they really made me feel welcomed, or they really made me feel like at home yada yada. But like it's it's meaningful, and it means a lot. So I hope that people can take that with them into their lives. And you know, take a couple seconds, it really just takes a few seconds. And it can make a huge difference in someone's day. Oh, yeah. Huge. Yeah. And that continues to kind of like cause a ripple effect too. Because like, once you receive it, you feel what that feels like. And then that that's where I feel like I feel sad for some people that don't feel what that feels like to have that positive recognition. So it can be a really, really great kind of like domino effect. They feel it and they want to do that for someone else. And then and then they feel that for the first time of oh my gosh, someone just recognize me for someone. Yeah, I want to do that for someone else. So thank you for sharing. Oh, yeah,
for sure. I always just thought, yeah, whatever artists would like my stuff. When I was younger, I felt like, shit, that's so cool. Even just knowing this, isn't that so it's so small, but it's so huge at the same time. So just you know, maybe after you wrap up, finish this podcast, everybody is going to hop on their favorite social and just hit up their favorite creator that they've been admiring from afar and say, Hey, you're doing great work. You've made my life better. The end?
Yes or no client write a Google review. That's great. I always remind people that those reviews do go along the way. Even if it's like a sentence. Yeah, I worked with this person. They were great. They met my expectation or like seeing my expectation. Yep. Yeah. So proof, and it's free. It's free. You can do it. I always tell people if you're having a terrible day, just take 30 minutes, go get your favorite chair, get some hot tea or coffee, right, like three Google reviews from like, your favorite places that you've been doing lately. And then you'll feel really good. And then they'll ask you to come eat there for free. And you never know what happened. Yes, seriously. Yeah, yeah. But then it helps other people discover those places. Yeah, it's like the word of mouth really does help. So I like that you've emphasized up behind yeah
for sure Well thanks for having well thanks for
coffee and code Chris I appreciate it and we'll catch you next time bye everybody bye