Cameron Kirkland, the CEO of Cam Kirk Studios, estimates he’s made more than $6 million from a photography studio business.
“Do you think Wiz Khalifa would come to Morehouse College to do a popup event?”
In 2010, Cameron Kirkland sent that direct message to Khalifa’s booking agent on social media platform, X, formerly Twitter. Then a junior at the HBCU, Kirkland had just discovered a passion for fashion and to convene fellow fashion lovers in one place, he sought out Khalifa to sell apparel on campus. As it turns out, Khalifa was on tour and Atlanta was the only location he hadn’t booked. So, Kirkland’s request was upgraded to an actual performance.
A $4,500 payment later, Khalifa performed. And “Cam Kirk” the creator, started his journey to becoming a millionaire. “It’s trusting your instincts and being open-minded,” Kirkland tells Forbes.
Kirkland, CEO of Cam Kirk Studios, shares his story in Forbes’ “Journey to ForbesBLK Summit,” an editorial series leading up to the second annual ForbesBLK business conference in Atlanta on June 23-25. ForbesBLK will amplify entrepreneurs like Kirkland, who take distinctive approaches to business, thought leadership, and economic problem-solving.
In 2017, Kirkland, 35, launched a photography studio after he noticed a void in the marketplace to capture content for younger and star musicians in Atlanta on the rise. Kirkland has since worked with notable entertainers including Future, Travis Scott, Megan Thee Stallion, and producer Mike Will Made-It. His 4,000-square-foot creative loft is also the go-to destination for clients including Atlantic Records and Nike.
Atlanta native and hip-hop star Clifford “T.I.” Harris called Kirkland a “pioneer” for a generation of content creators looking to monetize their talent. “Cam showed a generation of hip-hop hopefuls that being a photographer-videographer can be just as lucrative and fun as an entertainer,” Harris tells Forbes.
Kirkland, a former Forbes Under 30 Atlanta judge, estimates he’s made $6 million from his photography business. Income includes fees from his portfolio, studio sessions ranging up to $260 per hour and he makes money from camera equipment rentals. Also, Kirkland makes income from commercial collaborations with blue chip brands including Coca-Cola. Kirkland also started Collective Gallery, a photography agency that signs creatives and advances them $10,000 each. Collective Gallery profits from percentage splits and management fees.
Over the last two years, Kirkland estimates the two businesses averaged $2.3 million. “I’ve grossed millions of dollars with my camera,” Kirkland says. “It’s amazing to see how open-minded people have been to content.”
For the risk-takers
Raised in Prince George County, Maryland, Kirkland is the youngest of two boys of parents Robert Kirkland and Chris Bridges. His dad was a master sergeant in the U.S. Marines, serving two stints in Iraq. His mom was a credit coach who Kirkland praised for his risk-taking.
“My mom’s side is the entrepreneurial side,” Kirkland says.
In 2007, Kirkland initially moved to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College in pursuit of becoming a doctor. His parents paid tuition; however, Kirkland still gambled on a $4,500 Federal Stafford Loan to book Khalifa. The money went directly to Morehouse, cutting his parents’ tuition, which they gave to their son.
The show sold out and generated about $15,000. However, factoring in hidden concert fees and venue expenses, “I didn’t make anything significant,” Kirkland says. Still, reminiscing on the journey – from sending the Twitter DM to opening a studio, the concert, “It made me feel like I was moving in my purpose,” Kirkland says. “It led me to discover my actual passion” as a creator.
Goldman Sachs estimates the creator’s economy, consisting of influencers, photographers, and videographers that profit from social media platforms will reach $480 billion by 2027. That’s up from $250 billion in 2023.
“The money is there,” Kirkland says. “To see the economy grow and see the amount of opportunity and wealth and money you can make from it – it’s quite frankly amazing.”
Capital Gains: Watch the video to explore Kirkland’s entrepreneurial journey and learn how he started Cam Kirk Studios
