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

Hi Chloe, thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?

I was in Chicago to photograph an elopement when, the night before, I got an inquiry for an engagement session at an art museum! Their goal was that their photos wanted to feel ethereal, romantic, and artistic. You KNOW I immediately started squealing and jumping up and down about this session and over the next few months, we planned all the details. Any question from location to what mood boards would look like to deciding between 9 different dresses was answered! She and her fiancé came up all the way from Arkansas for their engagement photos and we simply had the best time hanging out and exploring an art museum together. We really incorporated a strong storytelling aspect into their session and it was to die for. The photos came out cinematic, romantic, and it felt like a masterpiece within a masterpiece. They became the living art.

This wonderful couple left me the sweetest testimonial post-session, saying: “Where does one even start when talking about how amazing Chloe is? I had a very particular vision when imagining my dream engagement session—romantic, dreamy, raw—and was starting to feel very despondent when trolling various portfolios. The stars must have aligned just right because my fiancé came across a video on a friends Instagram story and I just KNEW she was the one. 

I nervously slid into her DMs but was greeted by the most genuine, sweet, and delightful person you could meet. Chloe is a hidden gem for Northern Indiana and brings such an artistic, timeless, and soft style that will shine through your photos. I am so excited to know that the friend I have made will continue to be there to capture the sweetness in life’s everyday moments.”

We’re currently in the process of planning their wedding which is going to be the most fairytale, Pinterest-inspired wedding you’ve ever seen!

Chloe, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve had a love for photography for many years, but professionally started my business in August 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic after I had to quit my job to keep my family and I safe. My goal in photography has always been to capture the raw, authentic moments in a creative and artistic way and tell your story in the most custom, tailored way. I love keeping my editing style looking real, like it just HAPPENED to come straight out of the camera looking that stunning, by mere coincidence.

My main goal on a session and wedding day is to make you FEEL your best. I want to be able to tell your story through photos in the most stunning way possible, and the best way is when you both feel like you’re floating-on-air happy. So I do everything I can, both on a session and a wedding day, to make my couples feel well taken care of. I love surprising my couples with fun things and cheering them on to the max. You will literally find me squealing of joy and doing happy dances behind the camera if we work together!

Storytelling is a major aspect of what I do and I feel like that’s what makes everyone’s photos so special and unique. Capturing the small flirtatious moments, as if this is your initial meet-cute, to ending the session spinning and dancing is one of the ways I love to document that honeymoon phase type of love.

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

Word-of-mouth referrals, honestly! Especially when I travel, I love getting to meet new people and hear new stories. Sometimes I’ll end up getting to work with these lovely people and post-session, I’ll already be getting inquiries in that location because they told their friends about how much fun it was!

Getting a referral from a friend or family member has a strong impact, your friends are going to be real with you. So when my couples tell their friends about their session and show them their engagement or wedding photos raving about it, that’s a really nice source of new clients.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Oh my goodness the STORYTELLING. When it’s not just canned poses you’ve had prepared on a list, it’s way more authentic. You can FEEL the difference in the photos when you tell their story. I love having the unique honor and privilege of telling their story of how they found and fell for each other—the loves of their lives. Hearing the feedback from my couples when we nail their vision and document something so real and personal to them is irreplaceable. I fully recognize the vulnerability and trust my couples show to me when they book with me to document such a momentous, precious time in their lives and that honor never goes beyond me. I always want to work my hardest to make their dreams come to reality.

Contact Info:

• Website: chloelechel.com
• Instagram: @chloelechelphotography
• Other: Pinterest: @chloelechelphotography TikTok: @chloelechelphotography

Image Credits
Profile photo: Nathan Chanski Other images: Chloe Lechel Photography