Monthly Archives: February 2009

Los Robles Hospital | A Birth Story

I had the extreme honor of photographing the birth of Kelly and Phil’s son today.  I love the fact that I was at both of their beginnings!  I shot their wedding in 2007 and now I’m photographing a another milestone.  I got to Los Robles about 15 minutes before Kelly delivered and man did she make it look easy!  I think maybe I can handle it now ;)  Nicholas came to us about 10 minutes later.  I got to see him get measured, weighed, and bathed.  He’d just the cutest little thing ever.  I loved watching Kelly and Phil with their new son! Congratulations!!!!!  I’m really looking forward to watching Nicholas grow up!

{ click to view slideshow in seperate window }

Here they are so happy on their wedding day!

Kelly and Phil

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February 24, 2009 - 1:56 am lindsey - These are just breathtaking! What beautiful work, Chels.

February 24, 2009 - 4:38 am danielle biel - awwww... these make me wanna procreate again! beautiful, beautiful shots, chelsea! such loving, tender and emotional photographs. they'll adore these forever.

February 24, 2009 - 6:48 am Jessica - These are beautiful! I absolutely love the 12th one down where you can see the tear in the little one's eye. Great work!

February 24, 2009 - 9:31 am Maria - Chelsea, Your talent never ceases to amaze me. What a spectacular moment you were able to capture so beautifully. What a gift you have given not only the family but to Nicholas as he grows up and shares it with his own family. Fantastic Work !!

February 24, 2009 - 10:12 am alice - Beautiful! I like them all, but especially the one of the doctor holding the baby. Then the one of Dad handing the baby to mom - handling the baby like a fragile, breakable piece of china. Great idea with the newspaper date! Thanks for sharing these - wonderful!

February 24, 2009 - 2:24 pm samantha pope - wow! these are just amazing! i love them so much! i can't wait to see the rest of them!!!

February 24, 2009 - 9:04 pm Heidi Ryder - I've always wanted to document a birth story like this. You did a wonderful job! It was really nice meeting you in Vegas, I hope we run into each other again soon!

February 25, 2009 - 2:13 am Christy Ann - Hey Chelsea I stopped by and just adore your new blog post.Awesome photo journalism! That is one adorable baby boy! His smile made my heart melt. Congrats to the mommy and daddy what a blessing! And yes you can do it too it's a way easy epidural!!! =) I think the last 3 months are the hardest.

February 25, 2009 - 5:53 am Kate Cresto - What a beautiful portrait story of the MacPhail's birth! Can't wait until you photograph one of my clients births!

February 25, 2009 - 11:26 am Jodi Pierce - What a beautiful baby. I am so happy for you. Seeing these pictures brought tears to my eyes as I remembered 16 years ago myself. Take care of this beautiful baby and take care of each other. congratulations, Jodi

February 25, 2009 - 12:19 pm BFF - These pictures took my breath away and caused quite a few tears for this pregnant, hormonal mommy to be. :) I just love how you captured every detail of this special day. Kelly & Phil are so lucky to have these pics! I hope & pray that you'll be able to come to Portland when I'm in labor and take pics like this of me & my baby it would be well worth the cost of 10 plane tickets!

February 25, 2009 - 2:02 pm hillary gardner - chels, you did a FANTASTIC job! SO proud of you! Wasn't it amazing?? I love doing birth photography just too hard for me to do with a baby on my boob all freakin day!! great job :)

February 27, 2009 - 9:00 am jenny tonkin - Absolutely beautiful, fantastic photographs for them to treasure. I had a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Amazing, well done.

February 28, 2009 - 5:33 pm Heather - Chelsea, These pictures are absolutely amazing. You really captured what it is like in that moment. I wish you would have been there for my two daughters...I would love to have pictures like this when they were born. It makes me want to have another baby just so I can have amazing pictures like these. You are very talented.

March 2, 2009 - 12:42 am Araxi - Gorgeous!! You did a beautiful job with documenting such an extraordinary time in a familys life. Im sure they will cherish them forever :)

March 2, 2009 - 1:45 pm Alex - Wow, so beautiful! Mike and I decided we want this for the birth of Olivia. Why cant you live in AZ?!?!

March 4, 2009 - 9:43 pm caroline tran - WOW! You did such a great job capturing that amazing moment. I felt like I was right there with them. She sure made it look easy!

March 12, 2009 - 10:17 pm Tim Halberg - wild... what a trip to be there for that and to capture such a beautiful time in their lives!!!!

WPPI

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I’m back from my annual WPPI convention (Wedding and Portrait Professionals International).  I love going to this conference not just because it’s in Vegas… although that rocks!  I get so inspired from the classes, tradeshow and networking.  It started off great with the print judging.  I sat in and watched some amazing prints get judged.  It was so eye opening to see how the prints were scored and why.  I saw some great platform classes from David Beckstead, Tamera Lackey, Joe Photo, Dane Sanders and more.  With so many classes I hardley had the energy to go out .. but there were so many fun times to be had at all the vendor parties.  

I can’t wait to implement all the ideas and products that I saw at WPPI this year!

Here’s some fun times in the Foto Cabina at the GO|Bee party!

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March 2, 2009 - 12:40 am Araxi - I really need to stay out of photo booths LOL Good times though Chelsea it was great to hang out with you!

Best of 2008 | Portraits

As I was pulling together all my favorites from 2008 to update my website, I was amazed by how many portraits I did last year.  Did 2008 just fly by or what?   I have to say that I have amazing clients!!!!  I love doing these lifestyle portrait sessions.  They are all so unique to each client.  They keep me so inspired and driven in my love for photography.  As you can see there is such a variety of sessions from family, baby, headshots, day after, boudoir and senior portraits.  I love shooting on location, I get so inspired from natural light!  Here are some of my favorites from 2008!

Krystal | Day after sessions | Tampa, Florida

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Rosemary | Trash the Dress | Tampa, Florida

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Roz | Trash the Dress Session | Tampa, Florida

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Shelly | Maternity Portrait | Simi Valley, California

08.02.13-shelly

Tina’s Family | Baby Portrait | Moorpark, California

Moorpark Baby and Kids Portraiture

Melodie’s Family | Family and Baby Portrait | Simi Valley, California

Simi Valley Baby and Family Portrait in the home.  Relaxed and Intimate

Kirsten’s Family | Family Portrait | Simi Valley, California

Simi Valley kids, baby, and family portrait in the home and park

Carisa | Model Headshots | Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas headshot model portrait

Kayla and Shayna | Senior Portraits | Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica Senior Portrait Main Street Urban Modern Funky

Jessica’s Family | Family Portrait | Lake Sherwood, California

Lake Sherwood Family portrait photographer

Ivy | 6 month baby portrait | Simi Valley, California

Simi Valley home baby portrait in the crib, nursery, front yard, and living room

Zachary | Baby Portrait | Thousand Oaks, California

Dos Vientos baby portrait in the nursery, changing table, crib, lifestyle photojournalistic portrait

Roanna’s Family | Baby Album | Baby 6 month portrait | Simi Valley, California

Simi Valley family and baby portrait in the home, nursery, exersaucer, toys,crib

Sarah’s family | Family Portrait | Malibu, California

Malibu vineyard family portrait, kids, family, toddler, outside, front yard, grass

Nathan | Senior Portrait | Ventura, California

Ventura senior portrait, beach, park, pier, downtown ventura, arroyo verde park

The Rosen’s | Family Portrait | Agoura, California

Multiple family cousin portrait, peter strauss park, agoura family portrait photographer

Alisa | Boudoir Portrait | Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara boudior photographer, intimate, thousand oaks, westlake village

The LaSala’s | Family Portrait | Simi Valley, California

Simi Valley Rancho Park Family portrait, kids, toddlers, fishing, park, grass, lifestyle, casual

The Westfall’s | Family Portrait | Ventura, California

Ventura family portrait, mini-session, beach, pier, kids, toddler, baby, ventura

The Wisk’s | Family Portrait | Ventura, California

ventura family portrait photographer, beach, pier, pilings, holiday portrait, casual

The Fransen’s | Family Portrait | Agoura, California

Agoura family portrait, paramount ranch, rustic, photographer, kid, toddler, family

The Mattivi’s | Family Portrait | Agoura, California

Agoura family portrait photographer, rustic, ranch, paramount ranch,baby,kid,outdoor,on location,mini-session

Kim and Stetson | Day After Session | Agoura, California

Trash the dress, day after, paramount ranch, horse, ranch, mini-session, agoura, portrait photographer

Gayle Paul | Realtor Headshots | Agoura, California

Realtor headshot, paramount ranch, ranch, real estate, agoura, ventura, portrait

The McElrath’s | Family Portrait | Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica family portrait, santa monica pier, pier, beach, kids, holiday portrait, holiday card, mini-session, holiday

The Brokke’s | Family Portrait | Thousand Oaks, California

Thousand Oaks family portrait, park, holiday portrait, holiday, photography

Kelli and Jimi’s Family | Family Portrait | Agoura, California

Agoura family portrait, paramount ranch, baby, holiday portrait, christmas,ranch,rustic

The McDougald’s | Family Portrait | Oxnard, California

Channel Islands harbor family portrait photographer, oxnard, harbor, holiday, christmas, baby, portrait

The Lowen’s | Family Portrait | Ojai, California

Ojai family portrait, vineyard, ojai, couple, teen, christmas, holiday, portrait, mini-session

The Redden’s | Family Portrait | Ojai, California

Ojai family portrait, couple, dogs, lifestyle, park, oak tree, fall, holiday, card, christmas, mini-session

The DeLeo’s | Family Portrait | Camarillo, California

Camarillo family portrait photographer, camarillo ranch, camarillo, kids, family, baby, christmas, holiday, mini-session, portrait, photographer, photography, santa claus hat

Jolanta | Just Because | Agoura, California

Agoura portrait photographer, headshot, model, lifestyle, paramount ranch, ranch, agoura

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February 13, 2009 - 1:55 pm Natalie Moser - Beautiful stuff, Chelsea. ;) Thanks for stopping by my blog!

February 21, 2009 - 8:27 pm Debbi Ballard - Chelsea, I KNOW what it feels like to LOVE our clients! Yours are certainly not only awesome but beautiful, and your work is incredible! Let me know when you're in Fort Lauderdale! Debbi

February 27, 2009 - 9:22 am Heather Sharpe - LOVE trash the dress!! You are very talented ... I'd love to showcase your work on LA Style Unveiled - do you have any weddings that happened in Los Angeles you'd like to share?? :)

March 7, 2009 - 2:56 pm Kate Cresto - I really like your baby and senior portrait pictures, they are so much nicer than the traditional pictures people have done! Some of those portrait sessions from 2008 seem like ages ago, not just the past year :)

The Adamson House | Becky + Bill

My good friends Bill and Becky decided to elope!  I thoght it was such a romantic idea!  it was just the two of them and we met up at the Adamson House in Malibu.  We just took some portraits of them before the officiant came to marry them.  Just some fun portraits to reflect the day of the ceremony.  We were watching the weather so closely.  We spontaneously headed down a little early because there was a break in the rain. Man was it windy!  But the weather was georgous!  What a beautiful day for new beginnings!  The Adamson house has the most beautiful grounds.  It’s an old spanish house on prime Malibu real estate over looking the ocean.  Who could ask for more?  I’m so glad I could be there for the two of you! It was amazing!

View Slideshow

Malibu Wedding Photographer

Vintage Old Portrait

Modern Artistic Wedding Photography

Spanish Stairs Portrait

Malibu Elopement Wedding Photography

Vintage Rustic Wedding Portrait

Bride and Groom The Adamson House

Malibu Beach Wedding Portrait

The Adamson House Portrait

The Adamson House Wedding Portrait

Malibou Elopement

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February 11, 2009 - 4:42 pm lindsey - These are really pretty, Chels! Elopements are so romantic!

February 11, 2009 - 6:39 pm Jeremy Toth - Hey you. Your site looks awesome. Is photography your full time job? So give me a brief run down of the last 10 years. It has been a real long time and I think facebook is annoying and shallow for a good conversation. Fred emailed me a wile back, have you kept in touch with him? Jeremy

February 12, 2009 - 2:47 am Bill Farmer - Chelsea, Outstanding! You captured the day for us - the fun, the love, the moment. Great perspective, great talent. Thanks for being there to share it with us. Too, thanks for holding back the rain!!! Bill & Becky

February 12, 2009 - 5:51 pm Heather - These are so good! You really know how to capture the beauty in everyone! Can't wait till you can photograph my family......or maybe Kai will marry me again!

February 20, 2009 - 11:14 pm sandra p - chelsea, you've captured them so beautifully...

March 14, 2009 - 3:25 pm Ron and Mary Taylor - Beautiful photos, a work of art, excellent! Thanks for putting them online for family and friends to see. Nephew Ron and Mary

January 6, 2010 - 5:43 pm westlake village wedding photographer | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer | Chelsea Elizabeth Photography | Westlake Village, Santa Barbara - [...] Becky + Bill | The Adamson House | Malibu [...]

Solvang Wedding | Album Design

Here’s another wedding album!  I always call January and February album season.  The holidays are crazy for everyone and couples get a chance to sit down and make their album decisions.  Here’s one from Ashley and Mar’s amazing wedding in Solvang. The wedding was held at the The Royal Scandanavian and the pictures were taken at the Santa Ines Mission.  I loved Ashley’s details!  She has such great taste.  Also, check out the amazing photobooth they had. I begged Steve to make me one for our reception but no luck.  If anyone is thinking of a photobooth I say get one! They are the life of the party!

View more of the wedding!

Ashley + Mark | The Royal Scandanavian | Solvang, California

Cover Design: Swiss Chocolate leather with a 3 in square image

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{ inside spreads }

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February 11, 2009 - 1:32 pm BFF - LOVE the photobooth! I need to get one of those for my little sis's wedding! Such a fun & playful idea! Great pics as always Chelsea!!

Firestone Crossroads | Wedding Album

The wedding album has been designed! Exciting stuff!  Kim and Bill’s wedding album has been designed as a 10×8 horizontal thick coffee table album. This album will match their engagement album perfectly!  They had the most beautiful wedding and I hope this album does it justice.  It was so held at Firestone Crossroads Estate in Los Olivos.  I love photographing weddings in the Santa Ynez wine country.  The is nothing like a vineyard wedding with the warm Santa Ynez sun.

view matching engagement album

View Wedding Blog Firestone Vineyard Crossroads Estate |Los Olivos, California

Wedding Album Cover

PG001 Bride Getting Ready

PG002 Bridal Portraits

PG003 Firestone Crossroads Estate House

PG004 Firestone Vineyard Crossroads Estate Bridal Portraits

PG005 Firestone Vineyard Wedding Ceremony

PG006 Los Olivos Wedding Photographer

PG007 Los Olivos Wedding Photography

PG008 Los Olivos Wedding Ceremony

PG009 Vineyard Bridal Portraits

PG010 Bride and Groom

PG011 Formal Portraits

PG012 Wedding Details

PG013 Cocktail Hour

PG014 First Dance

PG015 Firestone Crossroads Estate Pole Barn at Night

PG016 Photojournalistic Toast Moments

PG017 Reception Dancing

PG018 Cutting the Cake

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February 7, 2009 - 12:49 pm Heather Z - Beautiful album, Chelsea! And I love the new blog!!

February 8, 2009 - 10:54 pm Corine Tran - Beautiful wedding and images! I love the album design, it flows so nicely!

February 9, 2009 - 11:57 am Emily Mason - Thanks so much for the blog love! Your site and work is beautiful=)

February 9, 2009 - 5:38 pm caroline tran - i'm loving all these album spreads you've been sharing! such gorgeous work! i love that photo of the reception venue!

February 20, 2009 - 11:18 pm sandra p - at first i was like oh that's cool she can put the logo on the spreads! LOL..doh..!! I love the firestone and these images capture it so nicely!

April 1, 2009 - 2:23 pm Trent - Very classy and elegant work!

February 7, 2009 - 3:07 pm { USC Engagement Album } | Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer | Chelsea Elizabeth Photography | Westlake Village, Los Angeles - [...] View the matching wedding album! [...]

USC Engagement | Sign In Book

After designing Kim and Bill’s wedding album I couldn’t believe that I had never blogged their engagement album.  Better late then never!  Here it is in all it’s glory.  Kim and Bill had an amazing engagement session starting at Union Station in Los Angeles.  I love Union Station, it’s such a step back in time.  We got some fun stuff in the station.  Bill is a USC alumni so going to campus was just a must. I love what we got there. The lighting was amazing and the architecture is beautiful.  We designed this engagement album as a sign-in book.  All their guests signed it as they entered the wedding!

View the matching wedding album!

View more of the engagement session!

Kim + BillUnion Station & USC | Los Angeles, California

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February 10, 2009 - 10:40 am jenn nichols - Beautiful work, Chelsea!! Love the album layouts. You're super talented!

February 7, 2009 - 7:18 am { Firestone Crossroads Wedding Album } | Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer | Chelsea Elizabeth Photography | Westlake Village, Los Angeles - [...] view matching engagement album [...]

Ventura Engagement Session

Rena and Geoff’s enagagement session was featured on Wedding Party!  We had an amazing session in downtown Ventura and on the beach!

Click here to view more of the engagement session!

Wedding Party

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February 5, 2009 - 10:39 am Geoff - Wow! Thanks for the wonderful photo session Chelsea! It's awesome that it was a featured session on Weddingparty.com!!! Congratulations!

February 5, 2009 - 3:17 pm Karyn Vorhees - This is one of my favorite engagement shoots! Maybe because I know Rena & Geoff & am so thrilled they are tying the knot. But seriously, I love what Chelsea has done with the different textures & backgrounds. It looks so great and I can tell they had fun shooting it.

The Canary Hotel I Wedding Album

This wedding album is designed as a 12×9 thick coffee table album.  I designed this one in particular to match their engagement album.  The two go perfectly together!  Alisa and Kelly got married at the Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara.  The groomsmen did some portraits at the Santa Barbara Mission and the girls went to the Santa Barbara Court House, Sunken Gardens.  The ceremony was on the rooftop of the Canary hotel and the view was amazing!  You could see all of downtown Santa Barbara and the artistic spanish tile roofs.  It was breathtaking!  We headed back over to the Sunken Gardens for family, bridal party and Alisa and Kelly’s portraits.  The Santa Barbara Court House is one of my favorite places to photograph.

Click here to view matching engagement album.

{ Artistic Cover }

Wedding Cover

{ Inside Pages }

Pg01 Getting Ready

Pg 2 Groomsment

pg3 Bridal Portraits

pg04 Canary Hotel Rooftop

pg05 Canary Hotel Wedding Ceremony

pg06 Santa Barbara Roof Top

pg07 Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer

pg08 Canary Hotel Wedding Ceremony

pg09 Canary Hotel and Sunken Gardens

pg10 Bridal Party Formals

pg11 Sunken Garden Wedding Portraits

pg12 Canary Hotel Ballroom Reception

pg13 Canary Hotel Ballroom

pg14 first dance

pg15 reception dance

pg16 cutting the cake

pg17 bouquet toss and garter throw

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March 7, 2009 - 3:06 pm Kate Cresto - This album is amazing, I'm so glad you added it to your collection of samples, because it really shows how special your wedding album can be. I'd love to have a maternity, baby package sample done like that to show mommies. Think about it ;)

February 4, 2009 - 12:22 pm Santa Barbara Engagement Album | Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer | Chelsea Elizabeth Photography | Westlake Village, Los Angeles - [...] Check out the matching wedding album! [...]

Engagement Album | Santa Barbara Engagment Session

I’m so excited about the sample engagement album that I’m about to order.  This engagement album is designed to be a sign-in book for the wedding. As you can see this album has tons of white space for fun and loving notes from all of your guests.  The album is going to be printed up as a coffee table album with really thick fine art matte paper.  The colors just pop out on this paper and the black and whites look so rich and warm.  I’m so in love with these albums.  And the best thing is you have a book to  remember your engagement pictures with lots of nice words from your family and friends.  This album will sit on your coffee table for years to come.

Check out the matching wedding album!

Here’s the fun cover!

Engagement Album Cover

the inside pages

Sunflare

Ring and Hand shot

Black and White Photojournalistic

Santa Barbara Mission

Spanish Architecture

Santa Barbara Mission

Santa Barbara Mission

Railroad Engagement Session

Santa Barbara Train Tracks

Playful Couple

Soccor Engagement Session

Engagement Picnic Photography

Santa Barbara Beach Engagement

Santa Barbara Pier

Sunset Engagement Session

Related Posts with Thumbnails
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February 3, 2009 - 12:45 pm krisha - LOVE IT! Nice work Chelsea!!

February 28, 2009 - 5:10 am Jenae Bingham - I love this session...from the pictures of them on the train tracks to the pictures in front of the palm trees and Stern's Wharf, everything is perfect!

February 4, 2009 - 8:43 am { Wedding Album } | Santa Barbara Wedding Photographer | Chelsea Elizabeth Photography | Westlake Village, Los Angeles - [...] as a 12×9 thick coffee table album.  I designed this one in particular to match their engagement album.  The two go perfectly together!  Alisa and Kelly got married at the Canary Hotel in Santa [...]