Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Pamatian
Hi Chris, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve had a camera in my hand for as long as I can remember. I’ve gone from a Fisher Price to a Kodak 110 and a Polaroid all the way up to the Canon R6s that I use now. I’ve lost count of how many I’ve had in between and I dread thinking about how many I’ll have in the future.
My love of music also finds its origins in my early childhood. My parents have told me that when I was 3 or 4 years old my favorite song was Leaving on a Jet Plane by Peter, Paul and Mary. As the years passed I had my fair share of turntables, 8-track players and cassette players. In 1981, at the age of 15, my sister took me toy 1st live concert, Journey and Loverboy at the Lakeland Civic Center. Being crammed up front and experiencing the excitement when those house lights went dark was pure magic and needless to say I was hooked.
My photography took a dark detour as I embarked on a 30 year career in Law Enforcement. My subject matter included everything from traffic fatalities to death investigations including suicides and homicides. I had a very rewarding career and when I retired as Detective Sergeant in 2016 I was ready to see what the future held.
I spent about a year engaging in a variety of outdoor activities such as kayaking, biking and hiking. Wildlife photography became my primary focus but I felt like something was missing. In 2018 the clouds parted and I decided to combine the 2 things I was most passionate about: music and photography.
Not knowing how or where to start, I began photographing every free show I could. I found myself in small pubs and at various city events. I started my own photography business, CMP Images, and began posting my photos online along with tagging performers, promoters, vendors and anyone else I could think of. After about a year I was given the opportunity to photograph and review concerts and events for a few online magazines. At the time I had no idea how fortunate I had become. I eventually found a home with the Central Florida IHeart Radio Photography Group and with All Music Magazine.
In addition to meeting and working alongside some extraordinary people, I have been able to cover some phenomenal concerts and events including Billy Joel, Sting, Andrea Bocelli, Blink 182, Fallout Boy, Journey, Motley Crue, Post Malone, Jelly Roll and so many more.
I also cover a variety of events such as sports, charities, Quinceaneras and parties. I’m currently the event photographer for the City of Casselberry and serve as house photographer at The Plaza Live in Orlando. I just recently obtained my drone license and purchased a drone and am excited to see what opportunities this will bring.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like everything else, there have been plenty of challenges along the way. During my time as a police officer I frequently worked a lot of overtime and extra details in order to support my family. Quite often I was on call so there was not a lot of time to establish and promote a side business. Finances can also be an obstacle at times. Cameras, lenses and drones cost cost thousands of dollars and unfortunately money doesn’t grow on trees.
Obtaining access to concerts and events depends on getting approvals. Some the requests are denied or not even answered at all. Concerts can get rowdy. I’ve been hit with a beer, shoved into a row of speakers and hit by crowd surfers numerous times. It’s all part of the experience and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My photography business, CMP Images, provides coverage for a variety of concerts, sports and events. I have been involved in several charity events and have also provided for parties, Quinceaneras and senior photos. I’m proud of the ability to capture the passion and reality of the moment. I find myself to be very easy to work with and am always up for a challenge.
What matters most to you? Why?
Professionalism is extremely important to me. It is the umbrella that every business should have in place. Underneath comes the qualities that will create success such as respect, competence, punctuality, communication etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cmpimages.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmp_images/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cmpimages/
Image Credits:
My profile photo was taken by my wife Kristine Pamatian
Chris Pamatian
