Photographer Interview with Shalonda Chaddock

We’re so excited to welcome Shalonda Chaddock from Chubby Cheek Photography, a wonderful family and child portrait photographer located in Houston, as our Guest Photographer Judge!

Shalonda writes:
Me, “Mommy Cheeks,” Shalonda (my parents are nuts don’t ask, ha) — I am the face behind Chubby Cheek Photography. I love in Houston, TX with the love of my life a.k.a. “Daddy Cheeks,” my brown-haired, brown-eyed,  freckle-nosed oldest daughter, “Cheeks#1,” and my blonde-haired, one blue eye one green eye, sass-a-frass youngest daughter,”Cheeks#2.” My business focuses on babies, kids and families as I have cut back a lot on my newborn business over the past few years. But what it all boils down to is: I’m just a mom who gets to chase her dreams with her family in tow

Shalonda’s Photography Journey

It’s kind of funny, because I was always the girl who shied away from the camera when random people at random places would say “Oh, can you take our picture?” Apparently, those random people all those years knew something I didn’t. Ha! As life would have it, I put away my engineering degree from Texas A&M and my pharmaceutical rep job; I followed my heart and stayed home with Cheeks#1. I spent my days loving her, watching her grow and living life all over again through her eyes. Daddy Cheeks gave me my first DSLR (Canon xTi) for my first Mother’s Day so that I could capture the ins and outs of “our everydays.” I spent my days with her and my nights glued to anything and everything I could find that would teach me how to use this big bulky “thing” to the best of its and my abilities. I never once put that camera in auto. Before I knew it I was on a whirlwind and knee-deep into running a full-fledged business. Thank goodness for all of those accounting, marketing and business classes in college. Whew!

Q&A with Shalonda

• What was your favorite photography moment from this past year? After reaching a point of being overwhelmed and burned out several times, early last year I decided to go back — go back to the basics and started capturing our “everydays” again and it has been such a wonderful journey for our family. It pretty much just makes my heart happy!
• Where do you find inspiration to keep your photography creative and unique? KIDS! My own and those around me…one of the best things about having children is seeing the world from through their eyes…colors are brighter, sugar is sweeter, and jumping of the front porch if like jumping off the Empire State Building. They live with a wild abandon, love without exception, and “dream the impossible dream.” Being inspired by all of that has endless possibilities because each child I meet, has their very own unique way of “seeing” life.
• Do you have a “most embarrassing” moment you can share? Embarrassing?! Me?! Puleeze?! Okay, I have tons, people. I might not be the most graceful girl walking down the street because my head is always on a swivel looking for some hidden and amazing nook and cranny to shoot in. I may or MAY NOT have sprained an ankle or TWO stepping off the curb chimping and eyeing a new spot all at the same time. But the best was one of my very first in-home newborn sessions.  I was opening all of the blinds and one particular set wasn’t budging. In passing, the dad said, “Oh just pull those ones really hard.” Well, yeah, you can probably guess I pulled those puppies right off the hinges in one swift pull. I somehow busted out some catlike reflexes and caught them so nothing was broken, (thankfully) but it was pretty embarrassing waiting for them to come back in the room while I was holding their entire set of blinds in my hands. Uh huh. It’s cool.  Go ahead and laugh and think to yourself, “Thank goodness that wasn’t me.” I can take it
• Favorite quote? Today you are you. That is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you. — Dr. Suess
• What is the best photography advice you have ever been given? To trust your gut, don’t be scared.
• Are there any photographers in particular who inspire you? Tons. I seem to find new ones all the time, but I have always been a huge fan of my girl Barb from JinkyArt, and I may or may not have a serious photog crush on Tara Whitney and her perfectly imperfect philosophy.

Shalonda’s camera gear

Canon EOS 5D Mark II
85 1.2L
50 1.2L
I have owned and sold other lenses, but it comes down to these two for me. My 85L is my workhorse, I rarely take it off, that puppy is puuure butta! I only use natural light, period.

To see more of Shalonda’s work, be sure to visit her website and blog.

We’re so excited to have you as a judge, Shalonda! We can’t wait to see what you choose as your favorites from our “Family Fun” photo challenge.

Tagged as: Chubby Cheek Photography, Guest Photographer Judge, Shalonda Chaddock