Community Highlights: Meet Chelsea Watkins of Chelsea Watkins Photography

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

Hi Chelsea, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Hi Loves, 

My name is Chelsea Watkins and I am a fine art boudoir and intimate wedding photographer. 

Photography was always an interest of mine growing up. I never left home without my camera. However, being a military spouse meant that I had to put a lot of what I wanted on the back burner and so photography never was more than a hobby at the time. It wasn’t until after having our first son that I became more serious about it. I had created a mom blog and was working alongside companies such as Aveeno and Johnson & Johnson when I realized I needed to up my photography game. 

At the time, I was pregnant with our second son and my husband was leaving for his 4th deployment. I began taking online courses at night while feeding our newborn. I knew instantly it was going to be a full career move for me so I sold my car and invested in my gear. 

Since then, I have photographed in beautiful locations all over the United States, and in just two months will be adding Europe to that list. My work has been featured in Wandering Weddings, The White Wren, and Nashville Bride Guide. Chelsea Watkins Photography expanded last year adding my husband, Matthew to the team. He is my second lead photographer for weddings and films Super 8 videos as well. 

We photograph using different mediums including both digital and film to give a timeless aesthetic. Serving Nashville, San Diego, and destinations across the globe for couples who are wanting an intimate wedding experience. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Not at all. My first bump in the road was getting the money to purchase my gear. People underestimate how many expenses go into having a photography business. I went 2 years without a vehicle to purchase my gear. 

The second struggle was being a full-time stay-at-home mom, living 2,000+ miles away from Nashville (at the time we were stationed in CA), and pretty much being a single parent. I have to get up at 5 am to work each morning until our boys wake up. Then the rest of the day I am tending to them until I get them to bed at night. With school starting right around the corner, my work hours will change but I would be lying if I said this wasn’t a struggle. My hope is it encourages other women to continue their passions even if they are staying home with their little ones. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Chelsea Watkins Photography. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Chelsea Watkins Photography focuses on fine art boudoir and intimate wedding experiences. Chelsea is most known for her core values – Effortless, Elegance, Elevation. From your engagement session to your Meeting with Mimosa’s Reveal, she delivers an unforgettable, elevated experience. Illustrating your love story effortlessly with different mediums to create elegant photographs that are passed down from generation to generation. 

What makes Chelsea so different? She is committed to her clients entirely from start to finish. She only takes a limited number of clients each year to ensure they get the best possible experience from her. Couples and brands get two lead photographers (both Chelsea and her husband Matthew) to create a full gallery with diverse imagery. 

For boudoir clients, Chelsea is unlike any boudoir photographer in Nashville. She has created a private group that goes over everything they should know to feel comfortable in their own skin. Being a licensed cosmetologist previously for over a decade, she teaches women how to use clean, eco-friendly products and how to apply them so that they can feel beautiful every day on their own. Her signature collection is called the Love Yourself Session and this year she is launching an Awaken & Release Retreat. 

Brand wise, she is proud of so many things! Chelsea hand-paints her own backdrops to inspire editorial looks for both her boudoir clients and couples. Her online course on how to paint these on your own has over 70 students and is continuing to grow. Her boudoir brand is meant to inspire inner peace and beauty amongst all women while her wedding brand empowers commitment between couples and showcases the details that have made her 10+ year marriage a success. 

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love about Nashville is that it is where I was born. After spending 13+ years traveling with the military, there is nothing like coming home. 

The least thing I love about Nashville is the amount of growth it has experienced in the past few years. Even my small hometown doesn’t feel the same. 

Pricing:

• All Weddings Are Custom Proposals
• Love Yourself Sessions $1299
• Couples Sessions $750
• Super 8 Home Movie $850
• Hand-Painted Backdrops Course $297

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.chelseawatkinsphotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/chelseawatkinsphotography
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/chelseawatkinsphotography
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_yp06_RkdwoR1HPCREhdQw
• Other: www.pinterest.com/chelseawatkinsphotography

Image Credits
Chelsea Watkins Photography