Today we’d like to introduce you to Chayil McGlotten.
Hi Chayil, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
This business originated through a blend of plain curiosity, happy accidents, and divine favor. I was in high school when I first became curious about photography, deciding to take it as an elective with the empty space in my schedule. My dad had insisted I take a class I could use to further my career. His idea was computer science. Mine was photography. Thank God I was right.
My amazing photography teacher planned an entire faux wedding and invited a wedding photographer to show us the ins and outs of her work. I fell deeply in love with wedding photography that day. Capturing every candid moment. Every detail. Every kiss. I knew that day it would be an absolute dream for photography to be my job.
I went off to college at William and Mary with my silly little camera, its only purpose to be a paperweight for endless essays. Through happy accident, a few seniors knew I had that camera. Not just that, they were willing to put the fate of their graduation sessions into my tiny freshman hands. I cashed my first check, and my cheeks lifted. After my first breakup and first year of college, this girl started Black Pepper Photography LLC at 20 years old.
About 1 year into doing grad portraits, I landed my first wedding. That’s when I realized my dream was really taking off. But something was missing. My hope in anything I do is to inspire change, give hope, and spread joy. Though I was working in a combination of the arts and service industry, I wanted my impact to extend beyond that. As a result, from 2023 on, I have donated to those in need from my mother’s country – Liberia, West Africa. The black pepper flower is not just their national flower but a constant reminder that this business stands on the shoulders of all those who paved the way before me.
Now, 5 years and over 100 weddings later, I am unbelievably grateful to be here.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I started my small business as a junior in college the same year my school shutdown due to COVID, and weddings outside the family living room or backyard were completely obsolete. It was scary and took a lot of determination to believe I did have something to offer.
So yes, there have certainly been plenty of obstacles, as any small business owner can surely relate to. But whenever it’s felt like too much, I remember that my mother gave up the only life she knew, half a world away in Liberia, to make a better life for herself and for her children. My parents struggled, prayed, and prayed some more to bring my brothers and me into this world, and any time I have felt discouraged, I remember that I come from true warriors who never gave up— and I would never dishonor them by throwing in the towel after all the blood, sweat, tears, love and support they poured into me. I am who I am because of them.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My tagline used to be, “All things photos. All things people.” It was a little too broad for marketing purposes, but it perfectly explains my heart for this biz. For me, working with other gifted humans to bring a vision to life is what I DO. Whether that’s weddings, brands, engagements, or fashion, I’m there.
People know me for my ability to capture candids in their utmost authenticity. My pictures are sharp, bright, and vibrant – purposefully lightly edited to match the feelings that specific moment invokes.
I consistently seek to make my clients happy, and so many of my brides have ended up being friends that I spend time with after their wedding. I establish relationships with each and every couple or person I work with, and that’s imperative to thoroughly understand their dream. I can’t do my job and create art without them, so honoring their opinion and input is so important for all parties to be satisfied with the finished product.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Being my own boss has been one of the greatest gifts and hardest balances of my professional life. It is incredibly freeing to create my own schedule, but when you are a perfectionist like me, burnout is a common side effect. Learning how to be a helpful coworker AND respectful boss is difficult, and it comes with its fair share of learning opportunities.
And yet, it is a lesson that has been required to get to where I am today. Building a relationship with myself founded on honesty, empathy, and self-awareness is one of the greatest gifts that I have strived to give myself. Even in my personal life, it offers me more peace, more efficiency in my communication, and more compassion in my relationships.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blackpepperphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackpepperphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackpepperphoto/
