Bathtubs full of gumballs. Saxophones shooting confetti. Blankets that become superhero capes. Meet the magic maker who brings images like these to life: Shalonda Chaddock, owner of Houston-based Chubby Cheek Photography. 

Looking at Shalonda’s photos is like hopping into a secret portal that whisks you into a child’s imagination, where everything is sweeter, brighter, and more magical.  “Kids see the world in an unfiltered way,” Shalonda says. “Wearing a tiara really does make you a princess, and jumping off the front porch steps feels just like you’ve jumped off the Empire State Building!” 

Fun is a key ingredient in Shalonda’s photo sessions, and it shows in her final product. But as small-business owners know, doing what you love means putting in serious hard work. And sometimes it requires overcoming burnout and discouragement along the way. 

Shalonda has been there. This month, she was kind enough to share her thoughts on how she breaks out of creative ruts, connects with the right clients, and stays inspired to keep on capturing magical moments. Read on to hear more from the magic maker herself!

Please tell us a little about yourself. How did you become interested in photography?

I grew up in Austin and had a pretty typical childhood, yet I was always the child who craved creativity and imagination. Even as I stepped into adulthood, that didn’t change despite my “grown-up exterior.” I graduated from Texas A&M University with an engineering degree and joined the real world as a salesperson for an engineering manufacturer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  After realizing rather quickly that I was not cut out for cold weather or for leaving my home state of Texas, I returned to Houston. Life happened… I got married, had two chubby cheeked baby girls 18 months apart, and decided “mom life” was where it was at, but that little creative bug kept buzzing. I got my first DSLR camera in 2006 and immersed myself into learning to use it and capturing the magic of childhood that I sat right in the middle of every day. The rest is history. I’ve been photographing children and families in Houston for almost 13 years, as well as speaking at photography conferences and teaching other photographers how to let go of that “adult filter” and capture the world in the magical way that children see it! 

How did you get started as a children’s/family photographer?

Finding the subjects I love capturing the most was definitely a struggle when I first started. At the beginning of my photography journey, I loved photographing newborns. It was so peaceful and quiet and I truly loved the moment when parents bring home their brand new baby and start to ease into becoming a family.  

However as time has gone on, I’ve found that my true love, my heart and soul, lies in photographing children and families in their Happy Place. Simply being able to “see” and experience childhood differently through each child I photograph truly gives me butterflies. Children see the world in such a sugary sweet, carefree way, and joining them in “their” world–even if just for an hour or so–is just magical.  

I’ve also learned that the stereotypical “family photoshoot” isn’t for me! Capturing a family playing at their lake house on Lake Conroe or baking pancakes on Sunday morning in their kitchen allows me to show them the love that radiates from their family and freeze these special moments for them as they experience something they love together.

What are some aspects of running your own business that you’ve found challenging, and how have you dealt with those challenges?

If I had to go back in time and start over, I would definitely have slowed down to avoid getting burned out. Finding that work-life balance when you are a full-time business owner as well as a mom was a struggle in the beginning, and I often feel like the first few years of my girls’ lives and me running this business were a blur. 

I started my “everyday project” in 2011 and it completely changed my business and our lives. Ultimately, the everyday project seemed to merge the business and personal sides of my life together, and I was reminded to be inspired by my life and my love rather than constantly trying to separate the two. 

These days, I am content with where my business is, and even though I live in Texas and have the ability to shoot all year, I don’t. I have set limits for my business and take breaks during the times my family needs me the most. Summers are spent going to the pool, making homemade ice cream, and doing projects with my girls, with a shoot or two sprinkled in. I hit the ground hard during the fall but again give my family the time they need and take a break during the holidays.

What led you to choose ProPhoto for your website, and how has it made a difference for your business?  

I have actually never had anything but ProPhoto. Well, I guess I started with a good ol’ free Blogspot blog, but once I decided to be a grown-up and build a real website and blog, I invested in ProPhoto and haven’t ever looked back. The most important thing to me when choosing a company I use within my business is STELLAR customer service.  I need to ensure that if there is a problem, someone will be there to help because they understand the ins and outs of the photography industry. ProPhoto has always fit that description. 

Can you share a bit about how you have grown your business? What are some of the steps you took to build Chubby Cheek Photography to where it is today?

My single biggest tip for finding the right client base is BLOGGING (and that’s not just because I’m answering questions for yall, it’s 100% legit!). I truly believe my business is where it is today because I have always blogged regularly. Blogging allows me to share who I am as a person, as a mom, and as a photographer to potential clients. Those who inquire almost always feel as though we are already friends before we have even met, simply from reading my blogs! The old adage “your vibe attracts your tribe” is true.   

I see that you sell photography guides on your website. What are some of the most popular topics that you cover?  

In 2016 during one of my burnout ruts, I discovered my love for underwater photography with a simple GoPro. I have several guides on beginner underwater photography using a GoPro, iPhone, and DSLR with housing. But my most popular guide by far is my newest one, which walks photographers through a series of games that I play in all of my family sessions to ensure EVERYBODY (including the photographer) has some serious FUN at every shoot. 

Do you have any tips for photographers who are thinking of making the transition from being a hobbyist to a full-time professional photographer?  

The biggest difference between being a hobbyist and being a pro is that, as a pro, you obviously are being paid for your work. That can often flip a switch in your brain and photography can stop being fun because it is work. If–or I should say when–that happens, TAKE A BREAK and learn something new! As artists, we wear our hearts on our sleeves. Yet as pros, we constantly have to put ourselves and our work on display to be “judged.” So when things get “heart hard” and the noise gets too loud, put your camera in time-out and learn a new form of expressing yourself creatively. For me, that meant pushing myself to try underwater shooting and stepping out of my comfort zone by teaching and speaking at conferences. The point is, only good things have come from putting my camera down and trying new things. 

That is such great advice, Shalonda–thank you! Photographers, what types of creative challenges have you faced, and what are some ways you keep yourself inspired? Share in the comments below!