Today we’d like to introduce you to Casey Chapman Ross.
Hi Casey, It’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, could you share some of your backstory with our readers?
My interest in photography started from a young age. I remember watching SNL, seeing the celebrity host’s portrait on the screen, and thinking, “I want to be the person who takes photos like that!” I went on to explore my artistic passion in college, earning a Fine Arts Degree in Studio Art from the University of Texas at Austin. Then, after a stint working in real estate, I realized that photography inspired me most. I took the leap of faith to start my small business focused on amplifying women-led political and civic efforts through positive storytelling. Pursuing my passion has been so rewarding and has led to the publication of several books, including “True to Form, a Heartfelt Collection from Beto O’Rourke’s 2018 U.S. Senate Campaign” and “Boss Texas Women,” a children’s book about some of our state’s inspiring leaders. After years of empowering political candidates and nonprofit campaigns through visual storytelling and providing media at countless rallies and historic events, in 2022, I was honored to have been voted the Best of Austin in the Austin Chronicle’s Photographer Category. Each year has brought new opportunities to expand my creative horizon. I look forward to continuing to build my team, tackle large-scale multimedia projects, and serve the causes I care about through values-driven storytelling.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story. Has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
I’m grateful that since putting my all into founding my business ten years ago, I’ve attracted clients and team members who have helped support harmonious business growth. That being said, the COVID-19 pandemic presented a challenge I don’t think anyone could have anticipated. Suddenly, work dried up, and I found myself navigating unemployment. It was a tough spot, but I was determined to innovate. I shot over 300 “porch portraits,” which allowed families to document this unique period safely. With a stir-crazy family at home, I contacted travel-related publications and resorts to find new opportunities. This pivot kept the business afloat and opened up exciting avenues in travel-related projects that I’m passionate about! I’m proud to share that, in the coming months, helping to build on Chet Garner and The Daytripper on PBS’s successful 15-season run (and counting!), I’ll be Producing and helping lead the development and expansion of the brand into Colorado with host and Director, Tom Brainard. I’ve been fortunate to have my family accompany me on some of my travel projects, but balancing a career as a small business owner while being a mom of three will always be a juggling act! Every child has unique needs, interests, and passions, and supporting their growth and development is a huge responsibility and will always be my top priority. Navigating these various roles is an honor but undoubtedly challenging.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m the founder and principal partner of CCR Studios, a multimedia production company and collaboration of fifteen individuals based in Austin, Texas. Over the past decade, as our services and team have expanded, including a partnership with visionary producer Winston O’Neal, our business has rapidly grown to include clients from across the Southwestern region of the United States. We specialize in compelling storytelling through videography, photography, marketing, social content creation, and multimedia production, aiming to deliver outstanding and timely results to clients and build lasting friendships and partnerships. We bring an ethos of kindness and positivity to every project we take on, and our clients, who range from leading brands to political candidates and nonprofit organizations to professional services, respond to that by becoming repeat customers and dear friends. That camaraderie also carries over to our team of creatives. I’m incredibly proud that mentorship and empowerment are salient to our mission at CCR Studios. We have built a diverse, talented group through careful recruitment, ongoing education, and fun events that deepen our connections with each other. Where other multimedia companies might see investing in their contract hires as heightening external competition, we see opportunities for collaboration and know that we arrive at our best ideas and deliver our best work when working together and lifting each other.
What matters most to you? Why?
As a mother of three, I want to set a good example for my children. I value integrity, hard work, and learning, mainly through travel and conversations with folks whose life stories differ from mine. Media production has been an incredible outlet for expressing these values, from documenting and uplifting clients who are the leaders and changemakers in their fields to meeting and empowering early-career creatives as they hone their artistic voices. Media production isn’t just a passion but a profound opportunity to broaden understanding and empathy, showing my children the richness of human connection and the power of storytelling. I often think of Maya Angelou’s refrain about success, which she defined as “liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” I’m grateful I’ve accomplished all three in building CCR Studios, and I hope to inspire my children to do the same!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.CCRStudiosATX.com
- Instagram: @ccrstudios
Image Credits
Photo on Jeep: Jen Risen Add’t Photos: 1) Rafting + Producing The Daytripper’s 1836 episode: American Adventure Expeditions 2) With Roy Spence of GSD&M by Rachel 3) On set with Planned Parenthood Texas Votes by Rachel 4) On set with Wendy Davis by Rachel PIOTRZKOWSKI 5) On set Producing The Daytripper’s 1836 episode (selfie) 6) In Sante Fe by Liam Ross 7) Boss Texas Women book promo photo by Allison Narro 8) 2023 team photo by Adrian Whipp
