A few weeks ago, we celebrated National Photography Day by asking our Instagram followers to vote for their favorite shutterbugs snapping photos in the Queen City. After more than 1,400 responses, we posted the top 20 vote-getters.

But, that alone didn’t satisfy our curiosity. Many of them were creatives we were hearing about for the first time. We wanted to know more about them and what it’s like being a working photographer in Charlotte. Here are eight of the creatives who responded to us with their stories and insights.

The creatives below are just a sampling of some of Charlotte’s photographic talent. If there’s someone you think we should know about, please encourage them to submit a creative profile.

Christopher “Sancho” Smalls

IG: @sancho.smalls
LI: linkedin.com/in/christophersmalls
WEB: sanchosmalls.com
TIP: $Sanchosmalls (CashApp)

Sancho Smalls has been a mainstay on the Charlotte photography scene for nearly a decade. Of his work, he said, “I create to empower my photography subjects from a fashion perspective, focusing on composition, lighting, posing and set design.”

Smalls sees pockets of creativity popping up, expanding and intersecting across Charlotte and believes the Queen City’s creative community “has started to ignite.” But, he’s concerned that there are a limited number of corporate jobs that use creativity here, forcing creatives to move to bigger markets for employment and growth.

What can Charlotte do to support the creatives who live and work here?

“Charlotte needs to use the creative community at every possible opportunity … creating jobs for creatives along with amplifying the design and beauty of the city. This includes (but is not limited to) entertainment, public art and marketing.”

Brandon Grate

IG: @brandongrate_
WEB: brandongrate.com
TIP: @Brandon-Grate (Venmo)

Brandon Grate has a beautiful way of talking about his creative journey: “When I was a kid, I was a constant dreamer,” according to his website. “Head always lost in the clouds and not much has changed since, only now, I dream of things and create them with a camera in hand.”

Photography was a hobby for Grate, whose motto (and tagline) is “Feel Good, Look Grate.” That changed in 2015 when a friend asked him to take her graduation photos. During the session, he felt some magic happen and knew photography was to become his full-time pursuit. He’s been at it ever since here in Charlotte, a city he sees as replete with “amazing creatives and tons of untapped talent.”

What does Charlotte need to do to support the creatives who live and work here?

“The city needs to make necessary room for us to actually create. Do not put a creative into a box.”

Bryant Lindsay

IG: @shotbylindsay
TIP: $UncleB1625 (CashApp)

Long-time Charlotte resident Bryant Lindsay has a passion for street photography and fashion. Scrolling through his Instagram feed, it’s easy to see he has a knack for finding motion and emotion in his work. He said, “I strive to capture culture and real-life moments.”

What can Charlotte do to support the creatives who live and work here?

While Lindsay finds the creative community in Charlotte collaborative and inspiring, he also sees room for improvement, especially in finding ways to gain attention for his work.

“I found it challenging sometimes for my work to be seen by bigger audiences,” he said. “So I find opportunities like this are important.”

Blaine Karper

IG: @bkvmedia
WEB: bkvmedia.com

Blaine Karper is building his career in Charlotte and is encouraged by those around him. He finds Charlottes’ creative community very supportive: “There are a lot of meetups and events that create a community vibe.” With all the different directions and approaches a photographer can take, Karper said he’s working to find his lane and his focus. In the meantime, he’s all about his work.

Street and landscape shots are the foundation of Karper’s work. He also shoots portraits with an emphasis on streetwear. When you see his photographs, he’ll tell you — you’re seeing his passions on display: “You will find a little bit of everything with my work.”

What can Charlotte do to support the creatives who live and work here?

“It is important to keep conversations going about different artists and events, as well as how the community can be supportive.”

Eric Wallace

IG: @polymathicwallace
WEB: verrocchiostudio.com
TIP: @wallaceericm (Venmo)

Eric Wallace is a polymath when it comes to photography. He’s a stylized portraiture, commercial and fashion photographer and loves paying homage to and taking inspiration from vintage arts. One look at his Instagram and website and you’ll see Wallace knows what he’s talking about when it comes to photography. (And, he can probably school you in some other topics such as the Renaissance, as well.)

“Charlotte has a thriving creative community, especially its photography community,” said Wallace. “I’m frequently impressed with the amazing work that Charlotte photographers publish.”

What can Charlotte do to support the creatives who live and work here?

“It’s a challenge to freely create in a city that is so heavily corporate. We manage to work around these restrictions, but if some corners and locations were more accessible to creatives, I’m sure it would elevate the city as a whole.”

Fernando Arango

IG: @fernandoxarango
TT: @fernandoxarango
WEB: fernandoxarango.com
TIP: @fernandoxarango (Venmo)

As a fashion and product photographer, Fernando Arango has an eye for bringing out the beauty of his subjects. His focus is on sharp, creative and high-end editorial and commercial photography.

Arango feels the love of other Queen City creatives who continue to lift up and support his art, and he’s grateful for the energy it gives him. “The creative community in Charlotte has been the foundation and fire that has kept me going throughout my journey as a photographer,” he said.

Arango would like to see more high-end and commercial fashion and beauty industries come to Charlotte. To thrive in these fields, local creatives are having to make the tough decision to leave Charlotte for cities like Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles and Miami.

What can Charlotte do to support the creatives who live and work here?

“… hosting more networking events focused solely around creatives and providing a safe space for this community to more regularly interact outside social media.”

Breonna Collier

IG: @breonnacollier_
TT: @breonnacollier_
WEB: breonnacollier.com
TIP: $BreonnaCollier (CashApp)

“Classic, sharp and timeless.” Those are the words Breonna Collier uses to describe her work. Light and detail are her top priorities.

Collier is honored to work alongside so many talented creatives in Charlotte and is excited to see how the community is ever-expanding. While she wishes Charlotte had more outlets and spaces designated strictly for creatives, she believes exposure is something that is extremely important during this day and age, especially with social media.

What can Charlotte do to support the creatives who live and work here?

“One of the challenges I face in my creative career in Charlotte is finding locations for my photoshoots,” she said. “Charlotte is absolutely beautiful — almost too beautiful at times. A lot of the spaces that photographers use … are beginning to be gentrified, so that doesn’t help the issue.”

Roberto Hernandez

IG: @gilded_images
WEB: gildedimagesclt.com
TIP: GildedImagesCLT@gmail.com (PayPalPal)

Roberto Hernadez took a leap of faith in 2020, quitting his corporate job to focus on photography full-time. He’s been taking photos since elementary school and has turned what he loves to do into a career.

“My portrait work focuses on making the skin glow with my studio lighting setups,” he said. “Darker tones absorb light and bring out a beautiful glow that natural light photography can’t capture.”

Hernandez feels Charlotte has a good community with lots of healthy competition and support for each other.

What can Charlotte do to support the creatives who live and work here?

Hernandez wishes that Charlotte was more photographer-friendly. “I have gotten dismissed from different locations where I am not bothering anyone,” he said. “Creatives should be allowed to create.”

[Editor’s Note: Roberto took the featured photo that is at the beginning of the article.]

Rico Marcelo

IG: @ricomarcelophotography, @rmp_food, @rmp_travel
WEB: ricomarcelo.com
TIP: @rico-marcelo (Venmo)

While Rico Marcelo might be a new photographer in the Queen City, he already feels the love from other creatives. A recent transplant from Virginia Beach, Marcelo is grateful for his new city. “There are a lot of different creators and inspiring stories I have come in contact with. It’s been a positive and motivating outlook,” he said.

Capturing lasting memories is what it’s all about: “I shoot a wide range of subjects from couples to weddings, portraits and fashion, concerts, food, events and product content.”

What can Charlotte do to support the creatives who live and work here?

Marcelo’s biggest challenges are finding full-time, consistent income and being new to the Queen City. But, he’s got a positive outlook and knows that the first hurdle is getting one’s foot in the door for projects that are of interest. “I’m very interested in music and sports venues and would love to be able to contribute,” he said.