It’s one thing for your friends to address you by your nickname. It’s another when everyone addresses you by your social media handle. Caleb Pak—or as he’s known by literally everyone else, CPJ—is a graduating senior here at Centreville High School, and while you might not recognize his face, you certainly might recognize his flicks. With marks left from public schools to the St. James, and with experience in at least five different sports, Pak is an emerging name in the DMV sports photography scene, with regular collaborations with RPO Media, Takeover Collective, and Sportsplug 757.
This past Wednesday on June 3rd, we got the opportunity to interview him to learn a little more about the story of his start, his current standing, and his future aspirations. Below is our conversation with him.
Hi, what is your name? And who do you work for and/or with?
I’m Caleb Pak, and I’m a freelance sports photographer. I’ve worked with organizations like MECA DMV, the KCPC Media Team, and others. I’m not necessarily affiliated with any organization although I would like to be affiliated with some media group at some point in the future.
How did you get into photography?
It actually started with my father; he was a photographer for himself. He did wedding photography, lifestyle photography…he started before I was born, like 2005. So naturally, I took on what he did. I saw some of his pictures and it really inspired me. I tried it for a little bit when I was like 8 years old with minimal to basically no edits, but then I just sort of fell in love with it. What really got me into where I am was after the spring soccer season of my sophomore year, so about 2024. I failed to make the team, I did rec soccer and that didn’t work out, so I decided to pick up a camera and take pictures with it at the JV soccer game against Chantilly which both of my friends were a part of. The people there and the teams really liked it and they wanted me to come to another game, but then I didn’t have the time. I would’ve started earlier in my junior year but then I had to lock in with schoolwork because there’s already others that are better than me.
Any struggles about the beginning?
Well first off, I didn’t have a drivers’ license back then so I just did not have any rides other than ones when I would just ask my mom to drop me off to pick me up at Centreville. It really started when I got my license, and even then I couldn’t get a media pass for the spring of my junior year, because I started too late.
What would you say was your biggest break?
I’d say my biggest break would be my senior year’s football season, in particular the game against South Lakes. My social media actually blew up when I went to the St. James to take pictures for the MECA 7-on-7 tournament there.
What equipment and software do you use?
I have a Nikon Z6 with a 70-200mm lens, and to edit photos I use Adobe Lightroom.
What is the best photo that you feel you’ve taken?
In the South Lakes game, where Jourdan Simpson caught the ball in midair with a defender trying to take him down. It looked like he was never going to catch the ball, but he just somehow managed to.
What defines your editing style in post-production?
To define it, I try to make it as real and close to the environment as possible whilst trying to add some color and life to it without making it too dull or similar to others. I wanted to make my own unique preset and style. I would first of all try to play with the exposure button and see how it would look. I’m really careful with the contrast option as to not make it too distinct and too ugly. I also try to turn down the highlights and the whites of it if the white is too overexposed on a photo, and I also like to color grade my pictures too.
What reviews have you gotten from your contemporaries and friends?
They all have said my photos were good, and I try my best to help up people that have started after me, like younger ones who are trying to get into photography. I also go to my contemporaries as well to see what I could do because I’m a perfectionist, you know? I try to make my photos as best as possible.
Best advice you’ve been given or you’d like to give?
Some of the best advice I’ve gotten is to just don’t worry about what people think. The advice I would give would really just be to keep doing what you’re doing, love the stuff that you do, and don’t let anything else discourage you from pursuing what you love.
What do you plan to do in the future?
I plan to join the James Madison University media team to take pictures for their football games and I also hope to travel more. I hope to go to IMG against St. James around October. Maybe just shoot for the top schools in the state college-wise right now. In the long-term, I would love to shoot for the NFL, NBA, Premier League, Champions League, or some of the top college teams in the country.
Plug all of your socials if you want.
@cpjflicksss on Instagram and TikTok
My portfolio is on https://cpjflicks.myportfolio.com/work
