2025 01 31
New year, new growth. Let’s check in. See You Soon, Chicago, Illinois. October, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
We’re a month in and I woke up inspired to write a post going through my various focuses for this year to check in and see if there’s been noticeable progress. Surely this will be more useful for myself, however, I do think others may take some value from my perspective, so figured I would share it publicly.
Recap of the topics to cover, with more thinking behind each of them, are:
One month is not a very long time, but I think it’s interesting to see which areas I’ve decided to dedicate my time to. I’m very much a go-with-the-flow, listen to the universe kinda guy, so things may be vastly different come summer time.
One. The Illinois Project aka focusing more on a big personal photography project. Some personal work has happened, however, we’ll discuss that more when we get to Number Eight. The Illinois Project is still very much alive in my brain, but it is also dawning on me how big of an idea this is, which realistically will take me many years to get to a place where I have something meaningful. I’m still very motivated to pursue this idea this year and recently attended a webinar through Filter with photographer/author Tim Carpenter which helped focus my brain a bit more towards ways of making this idea a reality. Finding the time has been challenging this month.
Two. Documentary Project. This is one that I have completely sidelined this month. That said, my partners in the project have been busy on other projects so nobody had been pushing things forward. This changed yesterday and it now sounds like we’ll get moving on this project, full steam ahead, next week. My participation will likely change slightly as well, but the takeaway for me is that I had unrealistic expectations of myself and they needed to change. Amazing footage is worthless if it only exists in your head. We need to get moving if this project is going to become something, and we are doing that next week. I still don’t have all my video shit figured out, still need a camera, still need to plan and learn, but really I don’t need any of these things. I only need to do.
Realistically, this might be the area I spend the most time on this year (along with shooting video for myself) but I will also need to heavily lean on others to make it happen. This documentary is kind of an analogy and exploration of this artistic struggle I am currently experiencing and writing about here, so it feels very prescient in many ways.
Three. Photobook Store. The only progress made was running into a friend while out wandering the streets who has also been thinking about this idea. We will connect next week and see if it can go somewhere beyond our brains. I continue to think this idea is a great one, while also understanding this idea will require a lot of time. The only realistic way for me to make it a reality is to partner with others (the big theme this year!). Beyond the photobook shop, I have even grander dreams and visions which, depending on how things play out, may also be explored. Time will tell.
Four. Commercial Food & Beverage Photography. Zero progress has been made here beyond editing a large food project we shot late last year. This editing process has confirmed my belief that it is a good idea to pursue, I’m just worried it might not be the one that lights a fire under my ass. It feels like the safe bet (which scares me because commercial photography, generally, is far from a safe bet). Back burner.
Five. Portrait Studio. Come by and shoot with me next week! I’ve got the setup going Feb 3-11 and this continues to excite me while also understanding this venture is both wildly time consuming and challenging to make a bunch of money at. It’s sort of a creative outlet side project, but also I have some fun ideas I am exploring that might turn it into a larger thing. I still love the idea of taking the setup on the road sometime this year. Pittsburgh, maybe? Anyone need some fun portraits in Pittsburgh? Hit me up!
There was also a lot of time spent on the idea of expanding the studio to better accommodate portraits but we’ll get into that in the last section.
Six. Opening a Bar. I mentioned going with the flow and the flow very much pushed me towards opening a bar this month. Remarkably, a nearby bar went up for sale and, along with a friend, we seriously explored buying it and running it ourselves. The place was named after a photographer (it’s Weegees for any locals paying attention), does great cocktails, has a great classic vibe, outdoor patio, and is walking distance from my home and studio. It made sense in so many ways and felt like fate was taking a hold of my life. But it did not work out. It did, however, open a can of worms which had my brain bouncing around to all sorts of places, the through line of which was that they were not photography. Consideration of a big career shift. The struggle is real, the times are tough, the trends bad, and I’m not so sure the course is correctable this time. This will be an ongoing struggle all year, I’m sure but let’s leave it at that for now.
Seven. This here blog. Yes! I am continuing it but will not be writing as much or as often as I had been previously (or am today, yikes!). I do still love it here and want to keep the thing going, but will lean on simple single-image posts much of the time. I’m also itching to attempt some more narrative fiction writing when I have downtime and may begin to post that here as well. Apologies in advance!
Eight. Street photography. I got ambitious and made an elaborate creative resolution that I would get my ass out of the house once a week and “do something creative for myself.” At the core of that idea is wandering and making street photos. I got off to a nice start and put a half day into shooting, posting to IG, and felt good about it all. Since then, I’ve only gone out once more and ended up doing far more socializing (and drinking) than photo taking. The key to keeping this going, I think, will be to allow myself grace and not make it such a rigid process. There are a hundred ideas floating around in my head and, as always, finding the time to work on them will be the limiting factor and doesn’t make me a failure if I don’t get to them as much as I’d like.
Nine. Studio as an event space… this has been an interesting subject. I spent far too much time dreaming and scheming this month and most of it was relating to buying the bar (that we failed to do. See: Six) or expanding my existing See You Soon studio (which I’ve likely also failed to do). Oftentimes I get these grand visions that just feel right and make so much sense in my head. At the core of this idea is diversification and the big theme for the year: partnering with others. I know I need to lean on others to accomplish any of the big ideas I’d love to accomplish. Running the studio is no exception. Having a larger space, while more expensive (scary!) offers more flexibility and capacity for more people. The problem I’m finding is that nobody wants to take risks right now. Nobody wants to spend money. And this instinct is probably not wrong!
In the end, I can’t continue to be the one putting all the pressure on myself alone. I’m trying to find others to help carry the load but so far I’m not having much success. We’ve got something good going here and I hope to continue it. Luckily the year is young.
Have a great weekend! If you read some (or all!?) of this post, I appreciate you and I hope you took something worthwhile from it. If not, well, I suggest checking out social media — it’s full of cheap thrills!
-Clayton
2025 01 30
I EXIST!
I used to joke that street tags could all be translated to “I exist!”
These days, we’re all steeet tagging digitally through the social apps we used, being forced to constantly remind the world we exist in a desperate plea to please the almighty algorithm and gain a sliver on traction in the attention economy we live in. It’s exhausting.
I walk this stretch often and watched the artist spend days painting this mural. Then the tags go up in an instance, crowding out any detail and nuance. Tagging is very much an art form fit for our time. Do we really exist if nobody sees your post on socials or name sprayed on a side street wall?
-Clayton
Wall filled with -a-r-t- tags. Chicago, Illinois. November, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
I EXIST!
I used to joke that street tags could all be translated to “I exist!”
These days, we’re all street tagging digitally through the social apps we use, being forced to constantly remind the world we exist in a desperate plea to please the almighty algorithm and gain a sliver on traction in the attention economy we live in. It’s exhausting.
I walk this stretch often and watched the artist spend days painting this mural. Then the tags go up in an instance, crowding out any detail and nuance. Tagging is very much an art form fit for our time. Do we really exist if nobody sees our post on social or name sprayed on a side street wall? Maybe not, after all.
Like, comment, subscribe, and come back tomorrow for more gem takes like this.
-Clayton
2025 01 29
Here’s an example of an image which I like, but in reality is probably not a great image. It’s missing something that makes is special, yet has elements which make it special to me, as I lived the moment and it triggers things inside my head that an uninvolved onlooker (you) won’t have access to. I’d built up an elaborate narrative in my head about this man and what he was up to, which gave this image a story. The dreary setting only adds to the mystique for me, however, you likely look at it and see a boring parkscape, devoid of excitment. Could this image work in a series, with other images, giving it more meaning? Maybe. Does it hold up on it’s own as a single? No.
What do you think?
It does serve as a reminder for me that I need to get my ass back out on the road and make new work. I’ve been spending far too much time in my head, dreaming up new ideas that may never lead anywhere.
-Clayton
Man walks through park with dog. Champagne, Illinois. April, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Here’s an example of an image which I like, but in reality is probably not a great image. It’s missing something that makes is special, yet has elements which make it special to me, as I lived the moment and it triggers things inside my head that an uninvolved onlooker (you) won’t have access to. I’d built up an elaborate narrative in my head about this man and what he was up to, which gave this image a story. The dreary setting only adds to the mystique for me, however, you likely look at it and see a boring parkscape, devoid of excitment. Could this image work in a series, with other images, giving it more meaning? Maybe. Does it hold up on it’s own as a single? No.
What do you think?
It does serve as a reminder for me that I need to get my ass back out on the road and make new work. I’ve been spending far too much time in my head, dreaming up new ideas that may never lead anywhere.
-Clayton
2025 01 28
Buddy the dog. Chicago, Illinois. January, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
One of the first images made with my new Ricoh GRiii (it has a wider lens, hdf filter, and less dust on the sensor than my Ricoh GRiiix).
It’s always nice to have a pet in the house to use as a test subject when working with new cameras. Buddy didn’t mind.
-Clayton
2025 01 27
I’ve been printing a ton lately! Above are sixteen of my own images that I am offering for sale, reasonably-priced, to anyone looking to add a little joy to their walls. You can check out the whole series and place an order if so inclined here! These prints were all made by myself, using high quality paper and archival ink, in my secret print shop at the studio, for a show that just wrapped up in the lobby of my studio’s building (the Kimball Arts Center). While I have been printing a lot, I haven’t been selling nearly as much. It’s a goal this year to get better about selling (or giving away!) what I print before continuing to stockpile what I’ve already made. Everything is a process. One step at a time.
I’m also currently working on a large print order (not my images) which paid enough for me to buy a bunch of new paper that I plan to use making zines and more postcards. None of this is really making me money (yet?), but it’s been a fun new hobby and I can see myself doing lots more printing in the coming years, perhaps even making it more of a focus of my photography practice in one way or another (no shortage of ideas!).
So yeah, if you’re a local photographer looking to print some of your work, reach out! Or, check out the website I put together to sell my own prints and pass me your email to be entered to win a free future print drop. I’d love to keep releasing new images but I need to discontinue or sell out a few of the previous releases first!
-Clayton
Sixteen of my limited edition prints. See You Soon. Chicago, Illinois. November, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
I’ve been printing a ton lately! Above are sixteen of my own images that I am offering for sale, reasonably-priced, to anyone looking to add a little joy to their walls. You can check out the whole series and place an order if so inclined here! These prints were all made by myself, using high quality paper and archival ink, in my secret print shop at the studio, for a show that just wrapped up in the lobby of my studio’s building (the Kimball Arts Center). While I have been printing a lot, I haven’t been selling nearly as much. It’s a goal this year to get better about selling (or giving away!) what I print before continuing to stockpile what I’ve already made. Everything is a process. One step at a time.
I’m also currently working on a large print order (not my images) which paid enough for me to buy a bunch of new paper that I plan to use making zines and more postcards. None of this is really making me money (yet?), but it’s been a fun new hobby and I can see myself doing lots more printing in the coming years, perhaps even making it more of a focus of my photography practice in one way or another (no shortage of ideas!).
So yeah, if you’re a local photographer looking to print some of your work, reach out! Or, check out the website I put together to sell my own prints and pass me your email to be entered to win a free future print drop. I’d love to keep releasing new images but I need to discontinue or sell out a few of the previous releases first!
-Clayton
2025 01 24
I’ve always loved images made at night that feel like daytime. Day for night. This was a wild moon scene we encountered while out comet hunting and it almost looks like a stopped down photo of the sun mid-day.
-Clayton
Moon or sun? Benton Harbor, Michigan. October, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
I’ve always loved images made at night that feel like daytime. Day for night. This was a wild moon scene we encountered while out comet hunting and, upon reflection, it looks like a stopped down photo of the sun mid-day.
-Clayton
2025 01 23
I tried to buy a bar, but it didn’t work out. Maybe next time.
I’m now heading to said bar to blow off some steam and think about how I’m going to light tomorrow morning’s portrait subject. And to figure out how to pay the studio rent, which just went up more per month than I’m being paid to take the portrait tomorrow. Photography economics are increasingly challenging.
Cheers!
-Clayton
The bar at McGregor’s Blink Bonnie. St Germain, Wisconsin. July, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
I tried to buy a bar, but it didn’t work out. Maybe next time.
I’m now heading to said bar to blow off some steam and think about how I’m going to light tomorrow morning’s portrait subject. And to figure out how to pay the studio rent, which just went up more per month than I’m being paid to take the portrait tomorrow. Photography economics are increasingly challenging.
Cheers!
-Clayton
2025 01 22
Train over Red Hot Ranch. Chicago, Illinois. December, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
I haven’t had a glizzy in too long. I dislike that term, but I learned it by eating a dog at the Ranch. I haven’t had a dog in far too long. Maybe tonight is the night.
-Clayton
2025 01 21
This is not a political blog. Stocks are up. Get back to work!
Yesterday was tough. It wasn’t just the immediate pivot through a pen that put our country on an aggressive path (I don’t mind some well-meaning aggression); it wasn’t just the the billionaire tech oligarchy showing up at morning mass, followed by selfies in front of the Capitol, followed by the best seats in the house (as governors waited outside), to watch their guy get sworn in without bothering to touch a bible in the process; it wasn’t the crypto tokens issued solely at the benefit of putting billions of dollars into the hands of Trump and his family — peanut farms be dammed (“raise those flags, we’re celebrating”)!; it wasn’t just the ease at which Trump crammed in a full day of getting shit done, while his predecessor returned from another vacation, pardoned his entire family, and then flew off into the sunset never to be seen again; it wasn’t just the clear dog whistles, tone adjustment, and rewarding of behavior once seen as unlawful and unwanted — whatever it takes to make his vision a reality is now fully endorsed and embraced by the Supreme Court through whatever means deemed necessary — we’re living at the whims of one man, a man who has proven over and over to have a fragile ego and questionable character. He’s our man. Our dear leader, just as he wants it.
Keeping up appearances. Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Illinois. June, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
This is not a political blog. Stocks are up. Get back to work!
Yesterday was tough. It wasn’t just the immediate pivot through a pen that put our country on an aggressive path (I don’t mind some well-meaning aggression); it wasn’t just the the billionaire tech oligarchy showing up at morning mass, followed by selfies in front of the Capitol, followed by the best seats in the house (as governors waited outside), to watch their guy get sworn in without bothering to touch a bible in the process; it wasn’t the crypto tokens issued solely at the benefit of putting billions of dollars into the hands of Trump and his family — peanut farms be dammed (“raise those flags, we’re celebrating”)!; it wasn’t just the ease at which Trump crammed in a full day of getting shit done, while his predecessor returned from another vacation, pardoned his entire family, and then flew off into the sunset never to be seen again; it wasn’t just the clear dog whistles, tone adjustment, and rewarding of behavior once seen as unlawful and unwanted — whatever it takes to make his vision a reality is now fully endorsed and embraced by the Supreme Court through whatever means deemed necessary — we’re living at the whims of one man, a man who has proven over and over to have a fragile ego and questionable character. He’s our man. Our dear leader, just as he wants it.
Stocks are up. Nothing to see here. Get back to work!
We finally have a real dude (not some Elite) in charge of things and he alone can fix it, as surely he will. All he needs is four more years of madness and everything will be great again.
Most people I know are choosing to ignore the news and actively avoid learning about what is now happening. I get it, it’s the clear best choice for maintaining your own sanity and keeping your house in order. Touching this madness in any way only leads to trouble. I made the decision to take it all in yesterday, to give myself a sense of what’s to come, and it left my brain hurt and heart confused. I get the outrage that led to this. I get the frustrations that led to this. I get the contempt for the Democratic Party that led to this. What I don’t understand, and what terrifies me, is how quickly we are ditching norms, scrapping laws, and enabling Trump’s darkest impulses — we’re no longer hiding the executive orders from him, we’re stacking them up high and signing them in front of a live studio audience! Rile up the base and blame anything that goes wrong (as it will) on the opposition, the immigrants, them.
The Democratic Party is almost silent in response. The big guy who wears shorts to work is apparently switching sides this week. He likes to win, too, and there’s a feeling like the level-headed centrists and liberals will never win again. We have rolled over and are playing dead as the system now allows us almost no safeguards in opposition. Even a simple old blog post like this one feels kind of dangerous, like I’m about to be put on some list. Maybe I should’ve voted Trump to at least have that on my file.
How far into the darkest we go before voters take notice, if voting is still a thing after the dust settles, I do not know. But I fear we can only fight crazy with even-more-crazy and we’re now on a long and steady path towards madness.
This is not a political blog. Stocks are up. Get back to work!
-Clayton
2025 01 19
Today, Sunday, is a day of relaxation. Tomorrow, Monday, begins the Trump Two Point Oh Era. Over the weekend, he launched a shitcoin which made him one of the world’s richest people in a matter of hours, while clearly plotting with TikTok to give him a quick PR win with the kids.
All of this is going on while millions of people like myself make a calculated effort to pay as little attention as possible to all of this because we know it’s inevitable, unstoppable, and will only drive us slowly insane if we do. Everything is wrong; everything is right. God is dead and the aliens are here. Stay sane out there. Here’s Tom with the weather.
-Clayton
Chicago, Illinois. January, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
Today, Sunday, is a day of relaxation. Tomorrow, Monday, begins the Trump Two Point Oh Era. Over the weekend, he launched a shitcoin which made him one of the world’s richest people in a matter of hours, while clearly plotting with TikTok to give him a quick PR win with the kids.
All of this is going on while millions of people like myself make a calculated effort to pay as little attention as possible to all of this because we know it’s inevitable, unstoppable, and will only drive us slowly insane if we do. Everything is wrong; everything is right. God is dead and the aliens are here. Stay sane out there. Here’s Tom with the weather.
-Clayton
2025 01 18
This morning, I decided on a whim to start posting images I made for my new creative resolution to the socials (and this here blog) as I make them, in an effort to motivate me to make stronger images. It’ll be a process, no doubt, but we’ll see where it takes us!
This image was from a short session on a dreary afternoon day in which I spent most of the time figuring out how the focus works on my new Ricoh GRiii (not to be confused with my old Ricoh GRiiix with the dirty sensor).
-Clayton
Man on ladder. Chicago, Illinois. January, 2025. © Clayton Hauck
This morning, I decided on a whim to start posting images I made for my new creative resolution to the socials (and this here blog) as I make them, in an effort to motivate me to make stronger images. It’ll be a process, no doubt, but we’ll see where it takes us!
This image was from a short session on a dreary afternoon day in which I spent most of the time figuring out how the focus works on my new Ricoh GRiii (not to be confused with my old Ricoh GRiiix with the dirty sensor).
-Clayton
2025 01 17
I’ve been quite distracted the last few weeks by contemplating and pursuing an endeavor that now seems clear won’t happen. Meetings, discussions, reading, digesting youtube videos, all leading to a mostly self-imposed dead end. When you look at it like that, it’s daunting. The right way to view it, I think, is to view the journey as beneficial progress that ultimately leads to something else down the road. It’s not the end of the line. Or, perhaps it is the end of this line, but the city is full of streets filled with opportunities and adventure. Already, this dead end has placed me at the start of a new road. Maybe this one has an outlet, maybe it doesn’t. Time will tell.
The challenge I have is figuring out how much time to spend traveling. You gotta know when to pick a destination and live in it for a while.
Do not enter. Greensburg, Pennsylvania. August, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
I’ve been quite distracted the last few weeks by contemplating and pursuing an endeavor that now seems clear won’t happen. Meetings, discussions, reading, digesting youtube videos, all leading to a mostly self-imposed dead end. When you look at it like that, it’s daunting. The right way to view it, I think, is to view the journey as beneficial progress that ultimately leads to something else down the road. It’s not the end of the line. Or, perhaps it is the end of this line, but the city is full of streets filled with opportunities and adventure. Already, this dead end has placed me at the start of a new road. Maybe this one has an outlet, maybe it doesn’t. Time will tell.
The challenge I have is figuring out how much time to spend traveling. You gotta know when to pick a destination and live in it for a while.
-Clayton
2025 01 16
“We are creatures of sense and meaning who dwell in a universe devoid of sense and meaning.” - Keith Ansell-Pearson
This quote seemed appropriate today, the day we lost the great David Lynch. I read it last night in photographer Tim Carpenter’s book, which I just cracked and am aiming to finish before I take his online course on writing next week that Filter Photo is organizing.
Don’t forget to leave a little room for magic.
-Clayton
Teeth magic. Chicago, Illinois. December, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
“We are creatures of sense and meaning who dwell in a universe devoid of sense and meaning.” - Keith Ansell-Pearson
This quote seemed appropriate today, the day we lost the great David Lynch. I read it last night in photographer Tim Carpenter’s book, which I just cracked and am aiming to finish before I take his online course on writing next week that Filter Photo is organizing.
Don’t forget to leave a little room for magic (and to floss).
-Clayton
2025 01 15
Yesterday, some events went down that were quite eye opening for me. At this point, it’s rather well known how dangerous social media can be for our psychology, but that doesn’t stop most of us from using it all day, every day. I had a friend hit what I’d call rock bottom (he will disagree, of course), and it gave me some newfound urgency towards keeping better track of my own social media habits and usage.
There’s a link to an article below by Kyla Scanlon, which I also happened to read the same morning, which is quite brilliant and the the closest thing to required reading that I can think of in these wild times. While I somewhat disagree with Kyla on the point of TikTok specifically (I am in favor of a full ban without Chinese reciprocity), she is incredibly poignant in her thoughts and views on this countries’ use of social media broadly.
“The problem is that it’s an addiction. We are addicted to being informed, which makes complete sense, because we are little animals. If the rabbit could know exactly what danger it could or will face, it would be all over RabbitTok. Our little brains love knowing exactly what is up, and we love being nosy. These platforms haven't created these desires - they've just monetized them with unprecedented efficiency. But it’s making us inhumane.”
Lone tree. Somewhere outside Woodstock, Illinois. December, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Yesterday, some events went down that were quite eye opening for me. At this point, it’s rather well known how dangerous social media can be for our psychology, but that doesn’t stop most of us from using it all day, every day. I had a friend hit what I’d call rock bottom (he will disagree, of course), and it gave me some newfound urgency towards keeping better track of my own social media habits and usage.
There’s a link to an article below by Kyla Scanlon, which I also happened to read the same morning, which is quite brilliant and the the closest thing to required reading that I can think of in these wild times. While I somewhat disagree with Kyla on the point of TikTok specifically (I am in favor of a full ban without Chinese reciprocity), she is incredibly poignant in her thoughts and views on this countries’ use of social media broadly.
“The problem is that it’s an addiction. We are addicted to being informed, which makes complete sense, because we are little animals. If the rabbit could know exactly what danger it could or will face, it would be all over RabbitTok. Our little brains love knowing exactly what is up, and we love being nosy. These platforms haven't created these desires - they've just monetized them with unprecedented efficiency. But it’s making us inhumane.”
I read that passage and was like, yeah, she got me. She got us.
I highly urge you to check out her article here. And to limit your social media usage. Blogs are so much cooler, after all.
-Clayton
2025 01 14
Becoming an Event Space Owner in 2025
If you’ve been to my studio space, dubbed See You Soon, you’ve seen the stylish kitchen, bar, and fancy office partitions. It’s a dream urban loft space, and I often tell people I live there… I just don’t sleep there. I’m there a lot. The decision to open a studio space in the waning days of Covid lockdowns is one that was life changing for myself in many ways. Looking back, it was a time of excitement and optimism! The world was reopening; my commercial photography business was thriving; and I was betting on myself in a big way. It just made a lot of sense.
The room felt so good to me that I also decided to invest a huge amount of my own money into shaping the space into something I would be proud of, in the hopes of turning it into a more public-facing business not only open to photo and video production but also dinners, events, and gatherings of all shapes and forms.
Soon after opening, we had the exciting new mayoral candidate host a campaign event in our space and it was jam packed full of people, including multiple Congresswomen and a half dozen Alderpersons. Things were looking up! Things were exciting!
David Dondero was playing at my house, my house. Chicago, Illinois. September, 2024. © Clayton Hauck
Becoming an Event Space Owner in 2025
If you’ve been to my studio space, dubbed See You Soon, you’ve seen the stylish kitchen, bar, fancy office partitions, and disco bathroom. It’s a dream urban loft space, and I often tell people I live there… I just don’t sleep there. I’m there a lot. The decision to open a studio space in the waning days of Covid lockdowns is one that was life changing for myself in many ways. Looking back, it was a time of excitement and optimism! The world was reopening; my commercial photography business was thriving; and I was betting on myself in a big way. It just made a lot of sense.
The room felt so good to me that I also decided to invest a huge amount of my own money into shaping the space into something I would be proud of, in the hopes of turning it into a more public-facing business not only open to photo and video production but also dinners, events, and gatherings of all shapes and forms.
Soon after opening, we had the exciting new mayoral candidate host a campaign event in our space and it was jam packed full of people, including multiple Congresswomen and a half dozen Alderpersons. Things were looking up! Things were exciting!
Then reality struck.
It’s been about three years now since we’ve been paying rent on the studio space, and I can easily say it’s been the most challenging endeavor of my life. Almost immediately after opening, work slowed to a halt and our industry hit a downturn which still hasn’t quite managed to correct itself (and feels like it may never do so for a number of reasons we won’t get into now). On top of that, our newly-renovated building was reassessed by the city and our tax payments more than doubled, increasing our rent by far more than we had anticipated. Then, the few studio bookings we did manage to get each seemed to have disaster strike (broken elevator, mouse infestation, parking lot problems, etc), likely turning people off from renting our space again in the future. More problems occurred, such as a deteriorating wall that needed extensive repairs, and now there’s a growing homeless encampment directly out the windows with an otherwise beautiful view of The 606.
It quickly became clear to me that making the space work as a photo studio alone would be impossible and I needed to focus quite a lot more on opening up the space for other uses.
Since opening, we’ve done a huge amount of events that I’ve been proud of. Last week, we hosted the Chicago Bulls. Last year, I got married in the space! We’ve done multiple holiday markets featuring dozens of super talented artists and makers, art shows and artist talks, dozens of dinner events full of amazingly talented people, and even some live music including an all-time favorite artist of mine, David Dondero. I have no shortage of ideas on things we can host and organize, and it’s been that spark of reconnecting with something I previously loved to do which has been super fulfilling. The creative juices are flowing. Bringing people together in real life has been a breath of fresh air for me. I’ve found that even while going through the most challenging phase of my career — I’ve been the most happy. Less social media and more in-person socializing. Do I need an expensive studio space in order to make that happen? No, but it’s been very motivating for me in many ways and the new connections I’ve made as a result are worth so much to me.
In December, the studio had an ambitious schedule that was tough for me to navigate. In part, it’s a sign that I’m on the right track and it has me hopeful to be in a more sustainable place financially this year. But also, it made me realize that I either need to scale back my personal ambitious for the space or find a more sustainable path forward, specifically, involving other people. This is perhaps my strongest conviction this year — in order to make my dreams become a reality, I will need to partner with, trust, and lean on others.
During an event one night last month while the studio was packed full of people, I had a wave of happiness wash over me, thinking that I was helping provide culture to the city. I put myself in the shoes of my own self twenty years ago and imagined how cool it would’ve been to go to the place I now call my own. I want to build on this feeling and continue to shape the place into something that gives back in whatever small ways it is able to and provides a space for people to explore their own curiosities. Of course, all these dreams and ideas require time, which takes away from other creative projects I hope to focus on. As always, t’s a tradeoff, but one I think is worth serious consideration. I imagine a life in which my sole job is to plan and host various events and it sounds quite fulfilling and exciting, even when factoring in the constant floor mopping required.
All that said, if you’ve got a fun idea but need a space to make it happen, don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s talk. Let’s make some magic happen this year! The world is crazy enough and the distraction is good.
-Clayton
This is one entry in a multi-part series of self-exploration and contemplation-out-loud in advance of the new calendar year. Some of this may happen; none of this may happen.
For the complete list of posts, see 2024 12 25.
2025 01 13
I’m going to print some zines this year. I’d been planning to do a zine of my Busted Car photos, but since Nathan Pearce just put one out, I’ll probably skip that idea.
Creativity is hard!
-Clayton
Another busted car. Chicago, Illinois. December 2025. © Clayton Hauck
I’m going to print some zines this year. I’d been planning to do a zine of my Busted Car photos, but since Nathan Pearce just put one out, I’ll probably skip that idea.
Creativity is hard!
-Clayton
2025 01 12
Observing the light. Kimball Arts Center. Chicago, Illinois. October, 2024. © Clayton Hauck