Meet Justin Chance | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Chance and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Photography actually started as a personal sanctuary for me—a creative hobby to decompress and ease the mental load after stressful workdays. It was just a way to clear my mind until I began shifting my lens toward people and exploring portraiture. My path completely changed when my brother’s friend hired me for my very first paid gig: photographing his grandfather’s funeral. Being trusted with a moment of such profound grief was a turning point. Seeing how much those final images meant to the family completely captured my heart. It made me realize that I wasn’t just taking pictures; I was preserving family legacies. That experience defined my business mission: to capture the raw, important moments that families will treasure and pass down for generations, telling their unique stories through my imagery.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What Sets Us Apart: It’s all about client comfort. I actively step out of my shell to bring joy to every shoot, whether that means boosting someone’s confidence with a compliment or rallying people onto the dance floor. This comfort allows me to spot and capture the beautiful, overlooked moments that others miss.

The Journey & Challenges: It has been a beautiful but challenging road. My hardest lesson was learning to say ‘no’ and advocate for my worth. I had to learn that proper pricing allows me to better bless my clients and uphold my high standards. Overcoming this helped me turn a therapeutic hobby into a viable, thriving business. Every year we grow, and I am driven by the goal of providing for my family, my future family, and the team I will eventually employ.

Our Message to the World: The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to stay encouraged—the sun will always rise over the mountain to light your path forward if you just keep preparing. I want the world to know that we care about our clients holistically. We don’t just take photos; we preserve your family legacy.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
To give my best friend the absolute best time ever, I’d have to give them a multi-city tour of my favorite worlds—New York City and Charlotte!

In New York, we’d spend our days hitting the iconic spots and neighborhood favorites. We’d walk the High Line, feast at Katz’s Deli, or travel over to Bed-Stuy for Geno’s fish and chips. As a proud local, I’d definitely show off my Brooklyn neighborhood, Little Caribbean. We’d walk the blocks, stop by Market Bar, and have dinner at Djon Djon. If it’s still rocking, we’d peak into The Bodega Lounge, then head down to Williamsburg for a fun night out downstairs at Midnights.

Since moving to Charlotte, I’ve loved learning the area. The Queen City leg of the trip would center around South End, hitting up Hawkers for incredible food, Jeni’s for dessert, and catching daytime vibes with floral cocktails at flora. Finally, we’d experience the electric atmosphere of a CLTFC soccer match before winding down at the super vibey Lorem Ipsum listening bar or checking out the nightlife scene at On the Roxx.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I definitely didn’t get here alone, and I want to dedicate this shoutout to the village that lifted me up. First and foremost, my incredible family has been my foundation, offering endless love and grounding me from day one. Alongside them, my amazing friends have been my loudest cheerleaders, always showing up to support my vision. Right beside them is my beautiful girlfriend, who has been my absolute rock, constant sounding board, and biggest supporter through every step of building this business. Finally, I owe so much to my church family at Elim International Fellowship in Brooklyn, who have been my spiritual anchor and source of daily inspiration. This journey belongs to all of them just as much as it does to me.

Website: https://www.josouna.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josouna.photos

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-chance-39571183/

Soundcloud: josouna@gmail.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@justinchancemedia

Other: https://josouna.pic-time.com

Image Credits
Justin Chance