Promoting, supporting & connecting Charleston's entrepreneurial community
September 16, 2025
➤Upcoming Member-sponsored Events
➤Five Founder Questions Feature
Erika Hatfield, Founder of
Next Level Photo Education
1. What is your startup's elevator pitch?
Next Level Photo Education makes photography fun, accessible, and hands-on for all ages. From kids and teens exploring creativity to adults sharpening professional skills, we offer classes, workshops, and community events both in-person at our Charleston education center and online worldwide. Our mission is simple: empower people to see the world differently through a camera lens - because Everybody Takes Pictures.
2. What is your ideal customer profile and plan to reach them?
Our ideal customers are:
- Families & homeschoolers looking for creative enrichment.
- Teens seeking a safe and inspiring community space.
- Adults (hobbyists, entrepreneurs, and professionals) who want to improve their photography or content skills.
We reach them through:
- Direct outreach to schools, homeschool groups, and community organizations.
- Social media campaigns (FB, IG, TikTok, Pinterest) with engaging, educational content.
- Local partnerships within Citadel Mall businesses and Charleston community events.
- Outschool, YouTube, and online platforms that extend our reach beyond Charleston.
3. What is the next key milestone in your startup's journey?
Our next milestone is the successful growth of our in-person education center at the Citadel Mall. This includes filling our Fall 2025 Focus Academy classes, building steady attendance for Teen Nights and Family Workshops, and expanding to adult weekend workshops with guest instructors. Hitting sustainable monthly enrollment and revenue targets will position us for rapid scaling in 2026, including expanding our online courses, hiring full-time staff and expanding community programming.
4. How can Chucktown Startups and the local startup community best support your startup?
- Introductions to potential partners, sponsors, and guest instructors.
- Guidance on scaling a hybrid (local + online) education model.
- Connections with schools, nonprofits, and family networks.
- Help amplifying awareness of our unique offerings through PR, media, and community events.
- Mentorship around funding and sustainable growth strategies.
5. Wildcard- What else would you like the community to know about you and your startup?
We are more than a photography school - we’re creating a community hub for creativity. Our center combines education, entertainment, and entrepreneurship, providing opportunities for kids, teens, and adults to learn, connect, and showcase their work. We value accessibility and affordability, and we’re building a model designed to scale nationally while staying rooted in Charleston.
➤Invitation to Reach Out
Please reach out to schedule an in-person or Zoom meeting. Feel free to email me at toby@chucktownstartups.com or text 843-830-7452.
Thanks for being part of Chucktown Startups. We’re excited to see what happens next as we connect the dots in Charleston’s growing startup scene!
Cheers!
Toby Palmer, Founder
Chucktown Startups: Promote. Support. Connect.
