 A little late to posting this cuteness but now it's time to share! MOTHER Magazine and the East Fork family invited me along for an afternoon of matching PJs, art on the porch and a stroll in the neighborhood. Connie gave an inspiring (an overused adjective but still applicable) interview for all the parents out there doing the hard work.
 
 
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“Will you Photoshop this out?” A common phrase we hear often. Cultural standards on appearance have skyrocketed with social media. We all sit around thinking others look perfect and put-together all the time (no way, not true!). We get down on ourselves for being human and real. This is a problem I have to address and contemplate a lot as a photographer. I think it’s time to draw boundaries when it comes to how we edit and the impossible standards of Photoshopping + Instagram filters + weird apps that alter your face in a photo (WHAT?!).  Let’s get to it and break down the most common scenarios: Well I edit out your freckles? No. Will I edit out that blemish that’ll be gone in a week? Yes. Will I edit out scars? Not unless you asked me to. Will I edit out grey hairs? Sometimes! If it's clear you're going for your natural hair color then no and if it's clear that you color your hair to cover up the grey then yes. Will I edit out wrinkles in clothing? As much as I can without making your clothing appear plastic! Will I edit out that t-shirt stain that appeared after lunch? Yes. Will I edit out the flyaway hairs? If they're distracting. If they're showing the wind blowing through beautifully, then no. Will I edit out that piece of trash or water bottle near your feet? Yes. Will I edit out that distracting tree branch, bugs flying by, stranger in the background? Yes. I have no problem editing out environmental distractions to an otherwise lovely photo. Will I "fix" your stomach or arms? Only if it's my fault because I captured an unflattering angle or didn't direct you quick enough. Overall, I never plan to flatten a tummy or remove a bump in the nose in every single image I will deliver though. More below... I will guide you into flattering poses under beautiful lighting. I will give clothing tips and recommend you only wear something that makes you feel HOT. That being said, not every image gets set up for flattering angles. If your spouse makes you laugh out loud or if he/she says something so sweet that your cheeks flush, I’m not worried about you looking like a model. I'll make tweaks in editing to create the most flattering final result and I’ll be sending that pic your way because of that special moment.  How do I make those decisions and why does it matter? 1. I would have to charge twice as much to accommodate editing time for extensive and timely Photoshop requests. I'm not interested in offering that service but there are many out there that do! 2. I don’t want to perpetuate impossible beauty standards by making you look like anything other than you. We need to collectively work towards highlighting the beauty of all people, not highlighting the beauty of over-Photoshopped skin or mimicking celeb Insty posts. A light touch-up here and there is as far as I go. It’s hard to define your role in this as a photographer because it’s my goal that you enjoy your experience and the results. When you're 80 years old and showing your wedding photos to grandkids, I want you to recognize your beautiful self from so many years ago. I want you to be reminded of exactly how you felt that day. I don't want you to look back on a plastic figure.
Tips for a photo session you'll feel great about:
One final thought: You're great just the way you are, I promise.  This is a portrait session I did with Christa Briana for her to create a new website (coming soon!). She is a local illustrator who's work is similar to mine so we enjoyed created hauntingly beautiful images together in the woods of Asheville, NC. 
Portraits of Asheville artist Christa Briana Makeup by Serenity + Scott Clothes are vintage Props belong to Christa  
 My hubby Philip and I partnered to create a delicious + spooky Halloween drink for your festival cocktail party this month! Philip enjoys getting creative with recipes at home and I love capturing food and drinks.
The Witch’s Apple .75 oz bourbon or rye 1 tsp B&B liquor .75 oz cognac or apple brandy .75 oz sweet vermouth 2.5 oz fresh apple cider 2 dashes of Peychaud’s bitters 2 dashes of Angostura bitters 1/8 tsp activated charcoal (to make drink black, available at healthy grocers) Dry ice is an optional and safe way to add some drama. Combine all ingredients over ice. Stir well. Strain and pour over 1 large ice cube.
Cheers!  If you don't know the perfect spot to have your engagement or anniversary photos taken, how about at home? Katelyn and Greg had me over for their engagement photos to bring in the fall season. They live in the cutest cabin tucked away in Black Mountain. It was lovely exploring their stomping grounds and hearing about their life together there.   We roamed around, stomped on leaves and visited the friendly neighborhood cow down street. This cow is more like a dog that comes to say hello when they go on jogs together. I had to see it to believe it. 
 Maybe you're wondering if you have enough fun spots around your home for an hour long session... think about how you spend your time at home. Let's brainstorm... Cooking dinner together in the kitchen. Swinging on the front porch swing. Drinking wine on the deck after work. Walking the dog. Cozy by the fire. Cuddling in bed after getting to sleep in. Napping in bed after not getting to sleep in. Dancing in the living room. Setting the dining table for date night. Spinning records. Planting or gardening. Lounging in the hammock. Still a no go? Plenty of public spaces we can find instead ;)  Sure, we all take photos of sunflowers. Sure, we see them all over Instagram. Sure, some folks are sick of 'em! And if you're sick of them, you may want to skip to another blog post...   Every portrait holds a new opportunity with the lighting, the model, the environment... sure, some things become repetitive but some things are classically beautiful and I'd throw flowers into the latter category. As the sun set, we went from afternoon light to the golden hour quickly. I love getting a good variety when shooting!   Kristalyn and I created these portraits in under an hour. We both had some free time that evening and I've really been wanting to see the sunflowers. Heads up, Biltmore rotates these so you may want to do a drive by or call before planning a shoot around the sunflowers. They're located near Antler Village. I also highly recommend the bright yellow canola field in the springtime.    For any clients interested in roaming the Biltmore Estate grounds for their session, I have a seasonal pass which allows me to bring guests in with me for free after 5pm. Some parts of the estate (including the house and rose garden) are closed at that time but there are plenty other spots! Happy summer!   When I first envisioned our trip to Ireland, I dreamt of olive greens on rolling hills. I imagined deep blue shores along the drive. I had it right, the countryside is just as I hoped. Early morning drives and late afternoon lunches let us see so much beauty in many different lights. First up, the warm tones of olive green and gold that we often saw in mountains, farm land and around the happy farm animals. 
 Next we have the cool tones that surrounded us after a long rain, near the ocean waves and where the horses roam. The blues were almost black, so deep and opaque in the shallows. 
   Love Ireland and want more? Check out these IG feeds: @imenmcdonnell @liobrien @beluck.ie
As someone who spends a lot of time editing photos, I could never choose between warm or cool tones. They both have a special place in our travel memories.   When Aislin's mom Eliza (Aislin's 16) and I decided on a summer styled shoot many months ago, I began dreaming up ideas of how I see summer. If you've followed my work, I'm unlikely to have neon colors and bright light in my portfolio... for the most part ;) so my vision wouldn't be the standard summer scene. I began imagining dreamy July nights of rolling around in the grass at dusk with fireflies floating around. I imagined eating popsicles on the dock of a lake as the sun set. I imagined how August days ended and the nostalgia of the last days of summer. Denim shorts, romantic dresses, tall grass, pool floats stacked by the shed, bug bites... I should add that all of this dreaming occurred at the end of winter when I was really in la la land. At some point, the 1999 movie The Virgin Suicides popped into my head and I continued to run with this vision. I partnered with Eric Campbell of Cotton + Denim for styling 2 looks, Erika Stutz for feminine makeup and Natalie Webb for voluminous hair a la the 1970's brush-out. The team brought their A-game when creating a look for Aislin and we had a beautiful evening at Ivy Creek Family Farm for the shoot.
  Hair: @hairbynataliew Makeup: @itserikaslife Stylist: @itsmeericc Location: @ivycreekfamilyfarm Model: @aislinfreyapax Photographer: @_chelsealane_ Top and dress: @Anthro_northcarolina Jeans: @Gap      about the book The Virgin Suicides: In a quiet suburb of Detroit, the five Lisbon sisters--beautiful, eccentric, and obsessively watched by the neighborhood boys--commit suicide one by one over the course of a single year. As the boys observe them from afar, transfixed, they piece together the mystery of the family's fatal melancholy, in this hypnotic and unforgettable novel of adolescent love, disquiet, and death. Jeffrey Eugenides evokes the emotions of youth with haunting sensitivity and dark humor and creates a coming-of-age story unlike any of our time. Adapted into a critically acclaimed film by Sofia Coppola, The Virgin Suicides is a modern classic, a lyrical and timeless tale of sex and suicide that transforms and mythologizes suburban middle-American life. This book and movie are both very dark and not what comes to mind for most summer styled sessions but I was smitten. This styled session is not reflective of the plot, it is reflective of the cinematic feel Sofia Coppola created. Being inspired by something shouldn't mean imitation. Inspiration should bring out fresh ideas you didn't know you had to create something new.  
I always anticipated my 30s to be my favorite decade.  I'm thankful for this new freelancing career, family near and far, friends that grow closer daily and my favorite husband ;) 20s have been quite the ride so I'm thankful for them too. Graduated college, lived in 4 different states, traveled as often as possible, got married, bought our first home, adopted our first dog, fostered pups. The list goes on and on. I'm really just thankful and happy to be alive and to keep growing as an individual.  I can't imagine a better home to begin a new decade in, WNC has bought so much joy into my life. Hike after hike, kayaking in Lake Lure, playing in the creek, driving along the Parkway... WNC has connected me with the best clients. Entrepreneurs working their ass off to build the career of their dreams. Couples who just want to get out into nature and breathe in the fresh air with on another. Repeat clients that I get to learn from and about each month on new adventures.
Enough about me. Let's not forget that April 22nd is Earth Day. Organizations that support the a healthy environment for people, animals and plant life need our support more than ever. A few favorites: The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Foundation. What small thing can we all do to help today? Cheers to a new year and new summer season coming up!  Rust and concrete. Industrial style colors inspired by vintage dishes and one of my favorite backdrops.  I rarely hear people chat about the color rust but it's everywhere and is such a rich, one-of-a-kind color. I wouldn't consider it to paint my bedroom but in smaller doses it can be magical! There's hints of the color rust in food (cinnamon and spices), in nature (the last moments of a fire or a fox) and in actually rusting items such as an old ship. Rust is a strong, warm tone that isn't easy to pair with. Concrete. I use that term instead of grey because there are many shades of grey plus concrete implies texture. Now, I'm not suggesting stripes of rust and grey but you can see how they complement one another. A black or white backdrop would be too harsh against the rust but the concrete contrasts just enough to not strip away the warmth. Concrete is popping up in plenty of home designs such as counter tops, shelving and flooring. The industrial look mixed with cozy tones is very popular for this decade of design.  If you're interested in more of this color combo, visit these beautiful IG accounts: @chrisandruth @facturegoods @mweddings
Want to explore similar themes? Consider these combos: Concrete & gold Slate & rust Concrete & mustard yellow
 Thank you to my mom. Thank you for letting me learn on my own, fumble and fall into lessons only understood through experience. Thank you for not smothering me and letting me live my life by moving to other states, catching up with you when it works for both our schedules, letting me travel, date, elope... Thank you for loving me through it all.  Thank you to my sister for always making time to be my sounding board. For laughing at my weird ways, not judging me. Thank you for being such a good example of what a sister should be. Taking me to Disney World when we were younger, sending anniversary gifts to Philip & I, treating Yeti like the special niece-dog that she is ;)
Thank you to my girlfriends for your laughter, your free spirits, your understanding and your forgiveness. Friendships go through phases and can be unpredictable. Thank you for not holding grudges or getting upset over minor things. Thank you for helping out when I need a favor and, also, feeling comfortable enough to ask the same of me. Thank you for being a cheerleader for my photography adventures. Thank you to those that are far away that still find time to touch base and check in with me. Thank you to those that are close for every invite and text. Regardless how small a gesture, I notice it and feel loved because of it.  Thank you to the women of the Asheville community for showing up. You are brave and smart. You are makers, artists and creatives working your butts off to achieve goals and support your family. You are light-hearted while finding the deep moments in life. You are changing the world.
Thank you to all the women who I have yet to meet that have or will influence me in some way. Your positive impact on other females is priceless. -Chelsea   This shoot was put together to play with the color combination of berry and taupe. As the sun set, I turned my focus to capturing Sarah in the last bits of sunlight. I enjoy creating portraits that are dramatic yet classic. And although I usually reserve my blog for useful tips and insight, these were too fun not to share. 
 How rare is it for people to get their portrait taken? On a wedding day, for a standard business headshot, a selfie when the lighting is good... when else? Is this a missed tradition in our society?  I love looking back on memories. I hope to grow old and smile at my younger self. How do I plan on doing that? I'm guilty of it myself, I'm rarely in front of the camera. I'm thinking it's time to change that.   February is here and surprisingly warm! At least here in Asheville. I'm soaking it up because I know it won't last! With February being the month of Valentine's Day, I had to pick a at least one color you may find in a beautiful bouquet of flowers or a love note on the 14th.
Berry is such a versatile color. Berry can be heavy with reds or purples and still be considered "berry". It's a flattering color for almost all skin tones when considering clothes or makeup. It can also be appropriate through all the seasons! Jewel tones such as berry often look the most striking when paired with a more natural color. It takes the edge off of a strong color and brings warmth and approachability. One of my favorite artists I see utilizing color this way is Steve McCurry. He does not shy away from vibrant colors but he also incorporates muted or natural tones to set the mood of the image. A few of my favorites of his work below.
Taupe is also a versatile color. I think we could look at a few different shades of brown+white+grey and call them all taupe. It's a favorite for wall color when you're sick of plain white and can be sophisticated shade for clothing and shoes... a taupe suit for a groom in the warmer months for example. What's the difference between beige and taupe? Beige has warmer undertones (orange) and taupe has cooler undertones (blue + grey). I consider beige stereotypically boring and doesn't create striking combinations with other colors. I consider taupe to be more modern and definitely pairs well with other colors. Also taupe can't be too boring if it made Sherwin Williams 2017 Color of the Year!   Berry and taupe. How do these colors make you feel when paired? These photos are heavy on the taupe with the detail of berry popping out from Sarah's makeup and butterfly crown. If they were switched, and berry was the dominating color, how would this image change? A few Instagram feeds to follow that often play with similar combos if you want to see more: @anamarkovych @signebay @slowwanderings_hanliejoubert
Alternative color combinations that evoke similar vibes if berry + taupe isn't working for you: Garnet & Grey Blush & Grey Burgundy & Taupe  Styled shoot contributors: Thank you to Ali Lawless for the gorgeous makeup & hair, my sweet friend Sarah as the stunning model, the talented Megan of The East Western for the slave bracelet & EtenIren shop for the whimsical butterfly crown. See you next month with a new color combo to explore!    2016 was an interesting one. Emotional and exhausting come to mind when I think of worldviews. Progressive and meaningful come to mind on a personal level. As we walk into a new year, I'm ready to take a beat and think about how I want 2017 to look and what I'm going to do to make it happen. First, a reflection of how I did on my 2016 resolutions. Accomplished to some degree:
Didn't do so hot on these goals (it's important to be honest with yourself):
 And now for 2017. Where do I see myself growing? How can I achieve these things? This is a fluid "agreement" with myself as I add more goals and as I give myself a break on inevitable setbacks.
Ok ok. 5 will do. A now, a quick word to the new year... Dear 2017, Please don't be worse than 2016. There are large numbers of us worried about the future. xoxo, Chels  A big thank you to my lovely couples of this fall wedding season. You were easy to work with, you were present in the moment during your big day, your family & friends were delightful. Cheers to you!
I look forward to photographing many more small weddings & elopements in WNC next year! For inquiries, email me at chelsealanephotography@outlook.com.
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