Meet Chelsey Gutierrez

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chelsey Gutierrez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chelsey below.

Hi Chelsey, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.

I love this question! I truly am a “glass half full” person, and honestly that comes from my faith. I think when you’ve experienced God’s provision in very real, tangible ways in very heavy seasons, you come away with a confidence that simply cannot be shaken. There have been so many moments throughout my life that I can point to the unmistakeable evidence of the Lord’s hand over me and while for many that sounds crazy, it’s the simple truth. My husband is in the military and there are SO MANY unknowns that come with this lifestyle. Moves come whether we’re ready or not, we go to places we wouldn’t choose for ourselves, we dig up roots we’ve only just grown. My business rolls with each move and that can be a real challenge. We’ve been through government shutdowns with no paycheck for weeks or months. Two out of our four beautiful children have had terrifying struggles and have come through the NICU. We have lost those we’ve loved, or wondered how we were going to make ends meet on more than one occasion. However, each and every time we have been able to look back and point out how God has been fitting pieces together from the beginning, even when we couldn’t originally see it. He has sent people into our lives to bless us in incredible ways, or put us into positions to bless others. We have seen miraculous healing in our children, provision that can ONLY be explained through Him. No matter what comes my way, whether it’s working out to what my idea of what I think should happen or not, I can confidently and optimistically say it will end up for the best. That absolutely does not mean that I don’t struggle or go through hard things, but no matter how hard something is, I know that God is working it out for His glory and my good- and that right there is what keeps me positive and optimistic through any situation.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

While I have had about 9 lives in various careers (haha), for the last 6 years I’ve had a career in photography. The road to get here has been wild and crazy and maybe a bit random- I started out with a dream to work in the field of animation, even interning for a year at DreamWorks! Military marriage shifted that a bit and I instead ended up with a master’s degree and few years as an Art Therapist. I’ve also been a teacher and visitation supervisor in foster care. It was my time as a stay at home mom that brought me to photography, and suddenly everything clicked. Photography is such a gift- I can exercise my artistic side, fulfill my social butterfly soul by meeting new people constantly, embrace my hopeless romantic during proposals and weddings, turn on my teacher brain while playing with kiddos in family sessions, and re-live priceless, sacred moments in births and newborn sessions. It is truly the PERFECT mix that allows me to wear all my different hats with a schedule that suits our family needs flawlessly. I’m so thankful for all the experiences that have led me here and that serve me so well in this role!

Honestly I feel like what sets me apart is the fact that I want my clients to hang family memories on their walls, not just pretty pictures. I love nothing more than creating a session that gives a family an hour of togetherness- intentionally playing, snuggling, laughing, or doing activities their family loves. I want to follow families on their hikes or camping trips, capture moments at home sorting the laundry or playing cars.. those messy fingerprints while baking cookies together or hot wheels cars scattered across the living room truly don’t last forever, and it’s those moments I want to preserve. Real life is beautiful and whatever season each family is in, I want to help them document it. When they look at their photos, I want them to go right back to that moment in time and smile at it. It’s the “big little” moments that mean the most, and those are what I look for. My heart goes into every session, every image, and every edit. I hold my job sacred and capturing these *means* something to me. It isn’t just about the money or a career that fits my life well, it’s a true passion for me. It’s also a way I’m able to give back and bless others, like covering adoptions for free or gifting birth coverage to a friend whose husband was deployed.

I’ve gotten to expand and offer a few new things in recent years, including boudoir sessions. As a Christian, I believe boudoir can be empowering to us as women. Intimacy in marriage isn’t something to be ashamed of, *and* I think it’s incredibly powerful to appreciate our bodies as God shaped them (something I think I get from all those years of life drawing in art school!) Each curve is uniquely beautiful and I’ve never seen a woman I didn’t think was stunning in her own right. So often we lose sight of what makes us beautiful and there’s such a pressure to look a certain way… I love being able to help women embrace who they are and how beautiful they really are. And what a gift for our grooms and our husbands right?! I love celebrating marriage this way!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Being a photographer is an art of course- composition, color theory, lighting, and being able to tell a story creatively through imagery is key. All those years at art school have really come in handy and while I’ve moved on from drawing and painting, I’m using those skills in big ways. I will say though that I think the most important quality to have is a genuine love for people, their families, and their memories. I am a people person through and through and I think to be a successful photographer while not burning out, you absolutely HAVE to care about people in your very soul. It’s what enables you to see those moments that matter the most as they happen- the way a dad watches her daughter as she becomes a wife, the way grandparents dance that evening on the dance floor.. the way a toddler’s squishy hands cling to their mother’s skirt or how they laugh as they’re being chased or tickled. Those moments are pure magic and if you’re going to make a career in photography, you not only have to see them but truly care about them. My heart is in every moment of this business and I’m so thankful to be entrusted with people’s memories.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am always looking to connect with videographers to refer couples to, as well as other photographers! I always need a good and reliable second photographer for wedding days, and I love being a second shooter too. I would love to have a list of go-to, like minded professionals that I love working with! It’s so much more fun to work with people you know and flow well with. I’d also love to connect with event planners, other wedding vendors, and venues! Moving every few years is hard, and it can take such a long time to network and get reestablished in each new place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chelseynoellephotography.mypixiset.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/chelseynoellephoto
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/chelseynoellephotography