Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Hickey.

Hi Chelsea, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Art has always been an integral part of my life. From a young age, I was irresistibly drawn to all things creative, whether it was art class, filmmaking, designing board games, crafting, stop action animation, or sculpting. My passion for creativity naturally led me to pursue a BFA at art school. However, after graduating, I struggled to find a profession that offered both creative fulfillment and the financial stability I desired.

The turning point came in 2014 when my first son was born. It was then that I rediscovered my love for photography. I began by capturing moments of my son, which soon led to taking courses, photographing friends’ children, and eventually launching my own business. Over the past decade, I’ve dedicated myself to refining my technical skills and mastering the intricacies of running a profitable business.

Now, in addition to running my studio, I’m excited to move onto another project – launching a course to help other photographers accelerate their own success based on my own experiences. Being able to pursue work that I love, while enjoying the flexibility to prioritize my family, has truly been a dream come true.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all. It was a gradual process from the start, and that was intentional. We made the decision that I would leave my corporate job to stay home with our two children while they were young. That in itself is a full-time job, but it was also during this period that I chose to start my photography business. By setting realistic goals, I worked and studied during the evenings, slowly building up my experience, portfolio, and clientele.

When both of my kids started attending school full-time, I set a goal to transition my business to full-time as well. While I’ve always had a natural talent for visual art and creativity, my business skills were essentially non-existent at the beginning. It took a lot of time, energy, money, frustration, and even tears to learn what I needed to run a successful business.

I’ve done a lot of mindset work to understand that photography often takes a back seat to running the business itself. However, over time, I’ve come to love the business side of things, which has been a major shift for me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
With a background in fine arts, my creative passion lies in fine art photography. While children are often my primary subjects, what excites me most is capturing them in an artistic and unique way. I’ve been able to infuse that same creative approach into the more marketable aspects of my business. Over time, my offerings have evolved to include a variety of genres such as outdoor family sessions, studio sessions, branding, and headshots. However, my in-home newborn and family documentary sessions have truly become my signature service.

These sessions are more than just photography—they offer a full luxury experience. It all begins with an in-home consultation where we customize the shot list based on the family’s needs. We also review their wardrobe to ensure they’re happy with what they’ll be wearing, and discuss potential areas in their home where we might design custom wall art after the session. On the day of the shoot, a professional hair and makeup artist arrives at the house to make sure mom feels beautiful and confident. The session itself is laid back and authentic, as we move through the rooms we’ve previously selected. I bring everything needed and can even include the family’s furry members in the photos!

After the session, we meet again for an in-person ordering appointment. I present a slideshow of the images, along with samples and custom-designed wall art mock-ups. I guide my clients through the selection process so that when we’re finished, they don’t have to worry about anything else. No digital files sitting on a computer for years, no late-night struggles designing photo albums online—I even send someone to install their wall art. It’s a truly luxurious experience from start to finish.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Over the next five years, I plan to expand both my team and my space. This year I’ve added an associate photographer to join the team, which is a a great help during the busy season and helps support scalability as we grow. Additionally, I’m focusing on spreading awareness of my online course, “Six Figure Storytelling,” aimed at helping other photographers build successful businesses, with a particular focus on in-home family photography.

Pricing:

• Sessions are customized

Contact Info:

• Website: www.chickeylittlephotography.com and www.chelseahickeyphotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/chickeylittlephotography www.instagram.com/chelseahickeyphotography
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/chickeylittlephotography

Image Credits
Chickey Little Photography