Lucas Klappas: New York’s Favorite Photographer
“The thing about New York City that makes it unique is that it truly is a global unique city.”
It was in Central Park, Manhattan that I interviewed my friend, Lucas Klappas. I’d known the guy for a couple of years and was more than happy to have him on the UPcoming. When I interviewed him, it was a beautiful day, and we had the quietest spot we could find. So, as per the UPcoming, I introduced him, and then he reintroduced himself. He was studying at Baruch in New York City, initially studying at Purchase College (that’s how we knew each other). He’s a photographer for New Tradition, who in turn works with Spotify, whom he does photos for. When he’s not doing that, he’s taking jobs from other clients, managing a stable photography business.
Lucas broke down how he grew his business. When he started photography jobs, he saw the inconsistency with certain clients, like with birthday parties or bridal showers. When he came across realtors and advertisers, Lucas found the consistency he needed to earn a steady paycheck. He says, “I was working with what I saw was feasible at the moment. When I saw an opportunity to make it more long term or consistent, then I expanded the business.” I was curious about his upbringing in New York and how he feels about it, so I asked what made New York so unique compared to other cities. “It truly is a global unique city. There are so many different industries here and so many talents here.” He wasn’t wrong. New York is the home of Wall St, Broadway theatre, and a perfect place for industries such as entertainment, media, and publishing.
In a shift of topics, I asked Lucas about being a solopreneur and the challenges that forced him to stop and focus on him. As the founder and owner of his personal business, Lucas has gone out of his way to connect and bond with potential clients. Lucas knows that the road to success starts with getting out of your comfort zone. While he does not hesitate to reach for every opportunity, he makes sure to keep himself balanced. He makes sure to eat every day to avoid stress from hunger, go for drives to relax himself, and stays socialized. Human interaction is extremely important to him, so he regularly visits family and spends time with friends. Along the way, he’ll also “spoil” himself a bit, going on vacations and seeing new places. Take it from me, it’s not a part without him.
Thank you Lucas Klappas for being a part of the UPcoming and for embodying the month of business and financial literacy.