Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Arnold.
Hi Chelsea, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always loved making ‘art’ in some form, but I like to say that photography was “an immediate love affair” for me. At 13, I thought it would be fun to enter my junior high art contest, so I grabbed my family’s old film camera and went out to see what I could capture. The experience of being able to stop time and create something so beautiful and revisit it any time was such a powerful feeling, and I wanted to explore it further.
In high school, I joined the camera club and worked with the newspaper all four years. There were silly days where my friends and I would go out and have cute ‘fashion shoots’ or travel with our clubs and photograph landscapes for fun. I even made attempts at doing my friends’ senior photos when we graduated.
When the time came to look at colleges, I knew I wanted to go somewhere that focused those passions into a career, so I pursued a degree in photography and graphic design between McKendree and Millikin University. In 2012, I graduated with a Bachelors’s of Fine Art. While the graphic design piece still plays a fun role in my life, I felt the strongest about shooting weddings and portraits (of course, the things they don’t really teach you about in school.)
Through meeting and working with other amazing local photographers, photo editors, and a long journey of testing out different styles, I have found myself happily creating playful, whimsical, and romantic wedding photos. I currently live in the Metro East with my husband and our Husky named Grim.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been some interesting bumps on the career rollercoaster, ranging from financial to more personal. I’ve hit roadblocks learning how to advertise properly, discovering my ‘style,’ and saving to afford gear that actually does what I need it to. But one of my major personal struggles has been mental health.
I have always been independent and my peers describe me as tenacious. I’ve always been competitive and thrived in that feeling. However, the reason I fit this description now more than ever is from fighting my perfectionism and anxiety.
I had a string of bosses that demanded nothing but perfection. I dedicated myself whole-heartedly to these jobs at the expense of friends, relationships, and anything resembling work-life balance. But the slightest imperfection at work incited curse-filled emails. Nothing was ever good enough. Each new work experience drove the perfectionist tendencies further and further. I stopped feeling like that strong, competitive woman and actually started hating myself for it.
When I finally decided to start my own business, not dealing with the anger and perfectionist streak perpetuated a cycle of self-doubt and self-sabotage. Running your own business is all about you, and it is impossible to do that well if you don’t believe in yourself. Burn out hit me hard. Each of those experiences drove the feelings of imperfection deeper. The one thing I always wanted to do, I loved less and less.
But I didn’t need to be the best in the industry, or have thousands of followers… or be perfect. I wanted to create and be happy. It took a while to realize this after everything I endured, but one day I picked up my camera and thought, “I’m really tired of feeling like this.” So I did the one thing my perfectionist self hated: I asked for help.
For me, taking the initiative and getting help to work through those mental struggles has helped me discover that all the failures and restarting as many times as I have made me more tenacious and made the journey an interesting one.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I currently specialize in Engagement/Wedding/Elopement Photography and Portraits. I have been exploring Commercial images as well but haven’t made the jump quite yet. Clients have told me that I am a happy little ball of energy, and I want to make even the smallest shoot seem like an adventure.
I love to create wedding images that can be described as playful, whimsical, and romantic. I tend to create warm, sun-drenched images where my clients are laughing and able to be themselves for a few minutes. There is enough stress already tied to a wedding day, so I tend to keep things lighthearted and try to make it fun. I also enjoy working on portraits, specifically for high school seniors. The young women I get to work with have such vibrant personalities, and I love that I can help them express themselves!
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
St. Louis has so many unique things that it’s hard to narrow down what I like best. I absolutely adore the food scene, the city’s pride, and the various fun communities and neighborhoods. Two things that do have a special place in my heart are the St. Louis Blues and Climb So Ill at the Power Plant; I’m an avid hockey fan and rock climbing is my favorite indoor/outdoor activity!
Contact Info:
- Email: chelsea@chelseaarnoldphotography.com
- Website: chelseaarnoldphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelseaarnoldphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chelseaarnoldphotography
Image Credits:
Emily Knowles Photography, Alexa Lynn Photography
