Today we’d like to introduce you to Colin Hocking.
Hi Colin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started taking photos at the age of 16 when I got my first SLR. A year later I set up a home based darkroom in the bathroom of my parents’ house and got bitten by the bug, so much so that I went to college at what is now the University of Westminster in London, England, and gained my Bachelor of Science with Honours in Photographic Science, and became a Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society (LRPS)
My first job was with Polaroid UK, and after moving to the USA in 1988 and transitioning through a variety of careers I went back to my roots in photography when I bought a one hour photo lab in Huntington Beach, CA, in 2001. The advent of digital photography meant the demise of my lab, but there was also a studio on the property so I was able to work with clients on headshots and portraits.
A move to Charlotte, NC in 2007 meant a start over where I built my business as a portrait and commercial photographer, but I also started my first photography club. The club grew quickly to over 800 members and it allowed me to branch out into teaching photography and conducting tours across the US. As a member of the Professional Photographers of America, and the North American Nature Photography Association my focus became nature and specifically bird photography. My membership to these associations meant that I could learn from some of the best photographers in the industry and the most memorable workshop I attended was Photography at the Summit where I spent a week in the Grand Tetons with such renowned National Geographic photographers as Tom Mangelsen and Dave Black to name two. The week was life changing for my business!
After deciding to retire after a successful freelance career of over 20years, my wife and I moved to Summerville, SC in 2019 because of its proximity to the coast and nature. I had already decided as a newcomer to the area, to take the Clemson Extension Master Naturalist program run by Charleston County Parks naturalists at the Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel. I didn’t realize at the time that that would also be life changing! I was hooked!
Now, I’m 7 years in to my ‘retirement’ and that one decision to become a Master Naturalist has led me to live my dream as a wildlife photographer. It’s also led me to be the President of the Coastal Master Naturalist Association, and Vice President of the Audubon’s Charleston Natural History Society.
I am now an Alligator Ambassador and Bald Eagle Ambassador for Charleston County Parks for I which I volunteer hundreds of hours each year interacting with and educating the public. I also co lead lead bird photography tours with the County Parks’ naturalist and several other local organizations, and you’ll find some of my prints adorning the walls of the Caw Caw visitor shop. I also speak at local photo clubs on how to improve their photography and conduct Beginner’s workshops across the Low Country, with my next one being at Drayton Hall in Charleston.
I’ll also be a guest speaker and program leader for the third consecutive year at the Hammock Coast Bird Festival in Murrell’s Inlet.
I continue to offer my services as a bird photography guide to Low Country visitors.
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?
Being in business for yourself is never a smooth ride, is it?
The struggles came with starting a business from scratch twice, but also with the ever changing technology in photography.
Transitioning to digital photography from film and darkrooms meant not only the financial investment in new technology, but also learning the new technology.
While digital photography revolutionized the industry it also provided an avenue for people with no background in photography to start photography businesses so several years after the advent of digital photography there was much more competition in the portrait photography world.
Fortunately, with my background that included years in adult education, I was able to survive that competition by teaching them and starting my tour business.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
After a career that started in the darkroom with a photo lab, I’m now semi retired and teaching and leading photography workshops and as a guest speaker to photo clubs.
Because of my interest in birding, my specialty is as a bird photographer, but I speak on many different topics and judge competitions.
What sets me apart from most other photographers is my background in scientific photography. I have a BSc (Hons) in Photo Science, and there aren’t many photo scientists in the world, but I believe photography is a science that has an artistic outlet.
I call myself a ‘sciartist’!
I think this appeals to many people that don’t have an artistic background as I had to learn how to be an artist, and I can show them how to get over their lack of ‘natural talent’ to produce award winning images as I was able to do exactly that.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I don’t think you can be in business without taking risks, albeit, calculated ones.
My first major risk was the one that made me leave my home in England and a successful career in sales for one in the Los Angeles area of Southern California with a startup business as a 24 year old!
The next was buying a photo lab having never owned one before, but I have an innate sense of self belief and a hard work ethic that helped me believe that what I was doing was the right thing for me.
Obviously there are struggles and set backs along the way as a result of taking risks. It’s rarely a straight run to success, and in my experience success only comes after taking risks, having a set back, and learning from it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.charlestonbirdphototours.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colin.hocking.7
