Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chelsea Jarrell. 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. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

I fell in love with taking photos in my High School yearbook class. I wanted to learn more about it and design so I went to college and got my Advertising and Graphic Design degree at a local community college. After graduating I found my heart leaning towards the camera more and more. I had friends and family asking me to take their photos and that is where it all began. That’s where the passion started and through the years it has grown into so much more than just taking photos for a session or wedding.

I shot my first wedding in 2009 and I was terrified. I am my own hardest critic so at the time I thought the photos were terrible. Looking back on them now they aren’t that bad and I don’t know why I was so hard on myself. I shot more weddings off and on for a few more years, but it wasn’t until 2017 that I really committed and rebranded to become more of a wedding photographer after taking a break when I was pregnant with my daughter. I always wanted to shoot weddings but I knew they were a lot of work so I took this time to research and learn as much as I could about serving weddings. I love weddings now and the relationships that I have built through doing them. I am my clients biggest cheerleader through life. It is something so special to be a part of someones wedding day and then get to walk other milestones with them in life and to get a front row seat to it all. My photography journey has been a slow growth but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

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

When I started photographing weddings, I started praying for God to give me more purpose and more impact in my business. I loved the images I created but I knew there was something missing. I started realizing that what I desired in my business, more than anything, was a personal connection to my couples. Everyone wants to be known, seen, loved and befriended. I started committing to forming friendships with my clients and intentionally learning more about them. It changed everything. It’s a huge part of my purpose in life. Not only is the frienship with my couples a gift, but it positively impacts my client’s wedding day experience. When you are getting ready the morning of your wedding day, it will be a relief to feel like a friend walks through those doors with a camera and not just a random hired vendor. Communication is huge and I love when brides text me with new details they have added or to let me know how excited they are for their engagement session. Friendship breeds comfortability and comfortability leads to trust… and trust is something that EVERY bride needs to have in their relationship with their wedding photographer!

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

This business has probably grown at a much slower pace than most. I have always had a full time job and this photography business was always a side job for me. I always prayed for it to be more but at the same time I wanted to build the right way and work on my relationships with my clients, and that takes time. I strive for my clients to feel seen and comfortable. I have always felt that word of mouth advertising is the best form of advertising.

My first wedding was in 2009, however it wasn’t until just this year, 2022, that I went full time in this business. I was eperiencing burnout trying to keep up with my full time job, this business and relationships, all while being a wife and mother to 2 small kids that need me and I need them. This year I took the leap of faith after God answered many prayers for me and I feel this is the way it was always meant to be.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

It is such an honor when someone new wants to book with me and they tell me that I photographed their nieces wedding. To me that is the biggest compliment I could receive. I may not be able to talk to every guest or family member at a wedding but when they see how I work and then later want to book with me, its the best feeling. In a way customer service is a great tool for this business and that is what all my other jobs have been in so I really think I bring that customer service knowledge into each session and wedding that I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.chelseaworkphotography.com
• Instagram: @chelseawjarrell_cwp
• Facebook: chelseaworkphotography
• Other: chelseaworkphotography@gmail.com

Image Credits
Chelsea Work Photography