Hi all!! I am Chelsea. I’m a wife to this incredible man, mom to three beautiful (and spunky) daughters, a Navy Brat and a professor in Biomedical Engineering…and I specialize in high school senior portrait photography as a part-time business. With my dad being in the Navy and us moving around all the time, pictures were always a link to family—to memories. I’ve always gravitated to them, snapping pictures all throughout my childhood. It wasn’t until after I had our first daughter that I stumbled across Click it Up a Notch and realized that this amazing mom/photographer was the wife of a high school friend of mine (small world)! I was SO drawn to the way she captured the beauty in everyday family life, and that was it, I was hooked. I read up on as much as I could and practiced until I decided that going into a business was the path I wanted. Now I focus on bringing out the essence of beauty for each of my high school senior clients.

Be true to yourself. I think that in this day and age, it’s so easy for us to compare. I probably do it weekly, if not more! Whether you are trying to brand your company, or find a voice for your images…being true to yourself is so important. The best thing about it is you stumble, you change, you learn and you grow, but all along you are peeling away at the true you!

Like so many of us, inspiration could be anywhere. We have these great woods behind our house and I like to go exploring with our girls. The way the light hits the leaves and is diffused through the branches. Reflections off the running stream. The way the tall grasses are illuminated by the setting sun. Nature is a huge part of me and how I view the images I want to create.

I am a self-taught photographer. I’ve dedicated my extra time to continued learning both on the business side and the creative side. Though I was blessed to have some great business savvy guidance at the beginning of my journey from Christy Johnson from Be True Image Design.

I am currently working on marketing for my upcoming senior model applications as well as a Mother-Daughter event to highlight those relationships! I really want to jump back on the 365 bandwagon next year as I’ve missed it so!

Well, I just recently purchased a Pentax 77mm f1.8, so I’d love to spend all my time playing and learning this new bad boy!

How to Create Catchlights
This was probably one of the first tutorials that really pumped me up to improve my photography and capture some great images of my kids. It wasn’t until I read Courtney describing ‘dead eyes’ that it clicked (pardon the pun).

Bokeh
Who doesn’t love bokeh?! I just adore the way that Sarah Lalone describes how she changes the amount of bokeh in an image by where she is to her subject and the background. Her diagrams at the end of the article are top notch!

Light
This tutorial definitely speaks to me, as I adore light and the way it makes its way into all images. Learning the techniques to incorporate light in different ways can really make your images standout!

This image of me and my three girls. It always seems difficult to get in front of the camera, but it’s SO worth it!

I am kinda the odd ball…I shoot with a Pentax K5-IIs, a 50mm f1.4, 77mm f1.8, 35mm f2.4. I love my Pentax and have always been a Pentax girl! The durability, weatherproofing options and in-camera stabilization are all fantastic features!

Miranda Stoddard. We met through a 365 a couple of years ago and I’ve always admired the way she sees the world. She is a master of exposing the beauty in the most mundane! I love her gritty, true to life style. And she has one of the cutest little boys in the world! ;)

Second guessing. I can’t tell you how many times, I second guess myself. Whether it be a concept for a photo shoot or my ability to truly capture the essence of a teenage girl, I have doubts. However, those are often squashed when I see how images can really touch someone.

I have a collage wall in our house that I change out maybe once a year. Though I’m guilty of keeping some of my favorites hanging on the wall for a few years!

An anti-itch stick. Don’t ask me why I first put it in there, but after being attacked by ants and mosquitos at one too many shoots, it has come in handy!

I want to rock a reflector. I use them occasionally during my sessions, but I want to master the art of directing light just how I want it!

You can see more of my work on my website Roots and Wings Images and a mix of work-life balance on Instagram. It’s a crazy fun life with three girls and this love affair with photography!