Today we’d like to introduce you to Shalonda Chaddock.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story is probably very different yet very similar to so many photographers these days. I grew up in Austin and had a pretty typical childhood yet I was always the child that craved creativity and imagination, even as I stepped into adulthood that didn’t change despite my “grown-up exterior”. I graduated from Texas A&M University with an Engineering degree and joined the real world as a salesperson for an Engineering manufacturer in Milwaukee Wisconsin.
After realizing rather quickly that I was not cut out for cold weather or for leaving my home state of Texas I returned to Houston. Life happened… I got married, had two chubby cheek’ed baby girls 18 months apart and decided “mom life” was where it was at, but that little creative bug kept buzzing. I got my first DSLR camera in 2006 and immersed myself in learning to use it and capturing the magic of childhood that I sat right in the middle of every single day as a new mom…
The rest is history, that I’ve been photographing children and families in Houston for almost 11 years as well as speaking at photography conferences and teaching other photographers how to let go of that “adult filter” and capture the world in the magical way that children see it!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Finding what you love capturing the most was definitely a struggle when I first started. At the beginning of my photography journey I loved photographing newborns, it was so peaceful and quiet and I truly loved the moment when you bring home your brand new baby and start to ease into becoming a family.
However as time has gone on my true love, my heart and soul lies in photographing children and families in their Happy Place. Simply being able to “see” and experience childhood differently through each child I photograph truly gives me butterflies. Children “see” the world in such a sugary sweet, carefree way, and joining them in “their” world even if just for an hour or so is just magical.
I’ve also learned that the stereotypical “family photo shoot” isn’t for me! Capturing a family playing at their lake house on Lake Conroe or baking pancakes on Sunday morning in their kitchen, allows me to show them the love that radiates from their family and freeze these special moments for them as they experience something they love together!
Please tell us about Chubby Cheek Photography.
I offer two very one of a kind, unique sessions that I created from experiencing life with my own two girls, my all about my sessions and happy place sessions. In 2013, I launched the “all about me session” which is a styled session with a purpose. The goal is to tell the story of this one child at this one moment in their lives! Each prop or activity is chosen for a reason and plays a key role in allowing me to capture the inner quirks, imagination and dreams that makes that child who they are.
The happy place session is a little different and a lot unique to each family, in fact, NO ONE else can ever have another session just like it! This is the type of session that a family will remember forever because we capture the magical moments that can only happen in a setting that defines the essence of what makes your family special. This session takes place in a family’s happy place doing what they love to do together the most. Playing games in their home, exploring one of Houston’s local parks or eating ice cream at the zoo, roasting smores at the family farm, or even baking together in their kitchen.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have slowed down to avoid getting burned out! Finding that work-life balance when you are a full-time business owner as well as a mom was a struggle in the beginning and I often feel like the first few years of my girl’s lives and me running this business were a blur. I started my “everyday project” in 2011 and it completely changed my business and our lives.
Ultimately the everyday project seemed to merge the business and personal sides of my life together, and I was reminded to be inspired by my life and my love rather than constantly trying to separate the two. These days I am content with where my business is and even though I live in Texas and have the ability to shoot all year I don’t, I have set limits for my business and take breaks during the times my family needs me the most.
Summers are spent going to the pool, making homemade ice cream and doing projects with my girls, with a shoot or two sprinkled in. I hit the ground hard during the fall but again give my family the time they need and take a break during the holidays.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.chubbycheekphotography.com/home/
- Email: skc@chubbycheekdesigns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chubbycheekphotography/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chubbycheekphotography-463114210645/?fref=ts
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
