Lovely Leanne

Three words come to mind when I think Leanne, one being Wow, followed by a thousand thank yous’. I had the pleasure of meeting Leanna a couple of weeks ago and she is simply amazing; full of life, loves to travel, talented, exuberant, beautiful, happy, ready for anything, a hummingbird, and an opportunity seeker. These are just few of many words I would use to describe Miss Leanne. She is an amazing person and I really enjoyed getting to know her and cannot say Thank You enough, so, Thank You Leanne, you rock!

Love and Some Verses

Rainy days are great for a couple of reasons: cuddling, curling up with a good book, and having a cup of hot cocoa or tea. Although it was a rainy day, we spent this one out and about, tromping around a field and making friend with the locals :) Thanks for coming out Jessica and Conner, even with the rainy day tugging on your hearts, I had a great time and I hope you did too! Enjoy

Love and Some Verses by Iron and Wine ....a must for a rainy day

Love and Some Verses by Iron and Wine ....a must for a rainy day

It’s the “Before Days” and the “After Experiences"

Lately I have been doing some thinking…inward thinking and outward thinking, planning for the future thinking, developing a life plan…lots of thinking nonetheless. I have come up with a couple of things that I feel are things that everyone should think about and be ready to grab the bull by the horns. The first being: there are no limitations in life, you are the only one that limits you. You might have a few more stairs to climb and some fire on that hoop to jump through but nothing, absolutely nothing is not within reach. I feel that when you want something and are willing to give it one hundred and ten percent you will eventually get there. The second ties into the first and that is enabling yourself to give the big one ten. First and for most you should do what you do with great heart and passion, if you have no force driving you where are you going to go? Give it your all, commit and go for it, take the plunge, you will never know until you try and if the first try doesn’t work who’s to say that that has to be the one and only. Love what you do and do it with passion and perseverance. The strength to keep going is in you, being able to tap into it is the key.

I am sure some of you now think I need a huge slap in the face with reality, but no matter what you are doing find something about it that you enjoy; for four years I worked Saturday nights cleaning commercial parking lots. In the winter I would pick up trash and in the summer, up until the first good freeze that would be there till the next thaw in spring, I would power-wash the entries to those businesses. Talk about a fun and enjoyable Saturday night, I couldn’t start working till 11:30p.m. and usually didn’t finish until about 4a.m. unless it was really bad and on those days I watched the sun rise. The one thing I did enjoy about this job was going to the bank, and during the summer I made a game of it, and I would pretend I was an art restorer trying to clean the thousands of years worth of dirt and grime from a precious painting, or I was a dentist cleaning teeth...I know kind of gross but totally legit I had white lines that needed to be white so it was a game of how quickly and efficiently could I complete this mundane task. And when I lost interest in the games it was back to the bank that made it work.

So there are no limitations in life, just obstacles…so do what you love, be inspired by others and give it all you’ve got

Honky Tonk Ba-Donk-a-Donk

I recently had the privilege of shooting for the Maverick Saloon to coincide with the launch of the Hayloft Grill! I had a great time, if only there were such a thing as smell-o-vision then you could have your cake and eat it too. In this case I am fresh out of smell-o-vision but I do have some delicious dishes hot off the grill. Enjoy!

*Chelsea Photography cannot be held responsible for one's stomach growling and the mouth watering effects that these images may provoke*

Maverick Saloon

A time for Everything...and Everyone

In the seasons of life you come across people, places, sometimes-crazy things, and even crazier people, but there is a time for everything under the sun. I had the pleasure of photographing a couple that inspire me. They have courage, gumption, and each other; they can be silly and do crazy things and go crazy places and not go alone. They kind of remind me a Dr. Seuss Book, Oh the Places You’ll Go, it came with me from Kansas and I am most certain it will remain on my book shelf where ever I may go. I am sure they did not know that they would be here in Santa Barbara two years ago, but on a whim and a wisp of the wind they took a trek all of the way from Florida. Congratulations on the journey so far, I am excited to see where you will go…together!

Thanks Adam and Kristen!

Dig deep, find your the kid in you, whether it be a venture to the backyard jungle or to a new land, do it with dignity and go hand in hand!

-c-