Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chelsea Humphreys. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Chelsea thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Have I been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work? Oh yeah, but let me tell you, it wasn’t a straight path. It all started early on when I was just seven years old, dressing up my poodles in costumes and putting them on props like tricycles. They hated me for it, but it was the beginning of something great. LOL.

Fast forward to college, I had this super boring job under an escalator at a mall, providing customer service. Every day, I’d watch these kids with hats and propellers taking photos at a place called The Picture People. They looked ridiculous and fun, and I thought, “I want to do that.” So, I quit my job and applied. Not long after, I got recruited to work for the owner of Glamour Shots. Big deal in 2002, right? That’s where I really started learning all my lighting and editing skills. I eventually became a corporate trainer and worked in their marketing department, which gave me an amazing base on how photography businesses ran.

From there, I moved on to work with Ken Cox, a master photographer and my mentor. He had this beautiful boutique studio in Arlington, Texas, and photographed a lot of high-profile clients in DFW. When he hired me, he jokingly said I was a crap photographer, but he’d help me. And he did. I learned everything I needed to cater to high-end clients and actually take beautiful photos. I also grew in sales and became a high earner for him. He’d send me into the sales room if he needed a good closer. I’m still really proud of that. But when I met the love of my life, a military man, and it was time to get married and travel, Ken just shook his head and said, “Of course.” Recently, I caught up with him when I was feeling down about finding my niche in San Antonio, and he reminded me that I am the magic. Just months later, I’m on preferred vendor lists at local wedding venues, and trusting that he’s right—I am the magic. I’m really proud of the work I’m doing now.

After getting married, we moved several times, and I wound up in Honolulu, Hawaii. I had never run my own studio, but after posting some pictures of my kids, a family friend demanded I photograph her family. I was terrified and had no idea about pricing. I jumped into a program called “The Thriving Photographer” and learned about high-end boutique family photography and giving an amazing client experience. This changed my life. After implementing Leah Remillet’s marketing program, I went from one client to a fully booked calendar in about 30 days. My very first year, I made well over $100k.

Unfortunately, after three years in business, my husband was moved to Korea, and I had to pause my business. After Korea, we moved to Omaha, where I took care of my father with Parkinson’s. After he passed away, we moved to San Antonio, Texas, where my husband promptly deployed, leaving me in a new city with two kids, my elderly mother, and two dogs.

My husband retired in 2022, and I started my business again. I opened a boutique studio and started photographing women over 50. I really thought I’d found my niche in glamour photography, but after a year, I felt bored and like it wasn’t right. I did the scariest thing I’ve ever done and closed my studio doors to focus on weddings. I hadn’t photographed many weddings due to our constant moves, but I remember watching my friend’s wedding photographer while I was in the bridal party and thinking, “That’s my dream job.”

Something about being in your 40s makes you decide to just go for it, and now I’ve rebranded as San Antonio’s premier wedding photographer. I’m loving every minute of it. I love the challenge of documenting someone’s big day—the pressure, the beauty, and the consistent inconsistency. My goal is to grow CMHstudios into a brand that will train, coach, and employ several of San Antonio’s photographers who are just getting started and need a mentor like Ken was to me.

Things are starting off slow, but I’m hopeful for the future. I feel in my gut that I’m on the right track. So, if you know someone getting married in Hill Country, Texas, send them my way. I promise they’re going to get an amazing experience and the most beautiful wedding photos they can imagine.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

For those who haven’t heard about me before, I’m Chelsea Humphreys, the heart and soul behind CMHstudios. I specialize in wedding photography, engagement sessions, editorial bridal photos, bachelorette party documentation, event photography (like the Rey Feo Events during San Antonio Fiesta), and high-end family portraits. My background in fashion photography means I’m great at guiding my clients to look their best—I’m a very hands-on photographer. You’ll always know what to do with your hands, trust me! LOL.

During a wedding, I pride myself on being like another bridesmaid. I’m right there with you, experiencing it all, and my photos have a documentary style I like to call “docutelling.” I’ll capture your day as it unfolds, but I might suggest doing something over there in the better light or throw in a “why don’t we all obnoxiously laugh in 3..2…1…” I’m a party girl myself, so I keep the vibe going, and your photos will be unique, almost 3D, with the way I use color and shadows to make details pop. I blend AI, hand retouching, and color grading to achieve my unique style.

One of the worst things is spending a couple hundred dollars on a “budget photographer” and ending up with photos your mom could’ve taken on her iPhone. Am I cheap? No. But I will be the one thing you paid for that day that will last for generations—unless it takes you forever to clean that cake out of your freezer! I offer leather heirloom products like albums and keepsake boxes. The framed canvas wall art will look just as good in your first home as it will in your “the kids come back for holidays” family home. It’s art, it’s timeless, and it’s quality.

I’m most proud of my ability to reinvent myself and keep up with what my clients really want while maintaining a consistent style throughout the years. I have clients who’ve flown from other countries for me to photograph them and family clients from over 10 years ago who hire me to shoot their children’s weddings. I have the best clients in the world, and many of them are dear friends. I love watching their lives unfold well past the time I’m taking their pictures. I’m proud that my clients always consider me a friend and sometimes even part of the family!

I want potential clients and followers to know that I really care about them. I want their wedding photos to be admired for generations. If you watch me shoot a wedding, you’ll see my eye crinkles behind the camera because I’m smiling the entire day. I care so much about you, your day, and how I present it. You can trust me to overshoot your wedding because I just can’t help myself. You won’t find a harder-working photographer who loves your images maybe even more than you do.

Even though I’ve been doing this for over 20 years, I’m hard on myself and never believe I’m good enough, so I watch beginner photography courses before every wedding to master the basics… again and again. I start working for you hours before your event, studying and preparing. I’m there for the hours you hire me but also for countless hours you don’t see, manipulating every photo I take. Every single one gets attention. Plus, I love sending surprises and sneak peeks that will absolutely delight you. I would tell you what they are, but it would ruin the surprise!

I create an emotional connection with every client I serve. I love this job and am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of your sacred day.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of new clients for me has always been my old clients. They’re the backbone of my business, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their loyalty and support. Every gift I give is also a gift of myself, and I make sure it’s something that not only delights my clients but also encourages them to spread the word about my services.

For example, if I offer a bride a gift of an 8×10 print, it’s not just a beautiful photo. I often include a few “free engagement” sessions for her friends as part of the package. It’s my way of saying thank you and extending my reach. When her friends see the quality of my work and the care I put into every session, they’re more likely to become clients themselves.

When I collaborate with vendors, I make sure to provide them with cards featuring their own logos, offering a free engagement session with me. This makes it look like they’ve paid for the session, enhancing their reputation and making them look good. It’s a win-win situation. They get to offer something valuable to their clients, and I get introduced to potential new clients in a way that builds trust and credibility from the start.

Word of mouth is incredibly powerful, and I believe it’s because I go the extra mile for my clients. I work so hard and am so passionate about delivering great results that it’s hard for people not to talk about me. I pride myself on creating an exceptional experience from start to finish. Whether it’s through meticulous planning, being a comforting presence on their big day, or delivering stunning, high-quality photos, I aim to exceed expectations every time.

This dedication doesn’t go unnoticed. Happy clients naturally become enthusiastic advocates for my business. They share their experiences with friends and family, post glowing reviews online, and even tag me in their social media posts. This kind of organic promotion is invaluable and something that money can’t buy.

In essence, my clients are my best marketing team. They help spread the word about my services because they genuinely believe in the work I do. This word-of-mouth referral system has allowed me to grow my business sustainably and create lasting relationships with clients who continue to come back for more, whether it’s for family portraits, engagement sessions, or even their children’s weddings down the line.

By consistently delivering exceptional results and always putting my clients first, I’ve built a reputation that speaks for itself. It’s this reputation that drives new clients to my door, eager to experience the magic of CMHstudios for themselves.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

One thing non-creatives might struggle to understand about my journey as a creative is the sheer emotional investment and the vulnerability involved. Being a creative isn’t just a job—it’s a part of who you are. Every photo I take is a piece of my heart and soul, and putting that out there for the world to see can be both exhilarating and terrifying.

People often see the final product—a beautiful wedding photo, a stunning portrait—but they don’t see the countless hours of work, the meticulous planning, or the sleepless nights spent editing to perfection. There’s a lot of pressure to constantly deliver top-notch work, and that pressure is self-imposed because we creatives are our own worst critics. Even though I’ve been doing this for over 20 years, I still push myself to be better with every shoot. It’s not just about snapping a picture; it’s about capturing a moment, a feeling, a story.

Another aspect that’s particularly unique to photographers is the need to use both sides of our brains for an entire 10-hour wedding day. On one hand, there’s the technical side of things—the exposure triangle, setting up multiple pieces of equipment, making sure everything is just right. On the other hand, there’s the artistry and creativity needed to deliver stunning, emotive images that tell a story. Balancing these two demands is no small feat, and by the end of a wedding, I’m pretty much brain dead. Needless to say, don’t quiz me after a wedding! LOL.

The unpredictability of this work is another thing people might not understand. Unlike a traditional 9-to-5 job, being a creative means my work hours are all over the place. Inspiration doesn’t follow a schedule, and neither do weddings or special events. There are late nights, early mornings, and weekends spent working when most people are relaxing. But we do it because we love it. The passion drives us, even when it means sacrificing a bit of normalcy.

It’s also worth mentioning that the financial stability can be a roller coaster. There are busy seasons and slow seasons, and it can be challenging to navigate that ebb and flow. However, the reward of seeing a client’s reaction to their photos makes it all worth it. There’s nothing quite like knowing you’ve created something that will be cherished for generations.

For anyone who might benefit from some insight, I’d say this: creativity requires courage. It’s about putting yourself out there, knowing that not everyone will understand or appreciate your work. But it’s also about finding joy in the process, celebrating small victories, and constantly learning and evolving. The journey of a creative is filled with highs and lows, but it’s incredibly fulfilling because you’re doing what you love.

So, if you ever meet a creative, know that behind every piece of art is a story of dedication, passion, and a little bit of magic. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cmhstudios.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_cmhstudios/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CMHstudioss

Image Credits

all is work done by Chelsea at CMHstudios