Meet Chelsey Murphy | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsey Murphy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelsey, why did you pursue a creative career?
I was an artistic child growing up and did what I could with what I had. I didn’t have the option for art classes at my high school, but I learned a lot on my own. I remember going to one art summer camp as a kid. My first actual experience with the art world came when I entered the fine art program in college. An artistic career never seemed like a legitimate option until I was older. I soon realized nothing else would satisfy me. I was definitely skilled in other occupations, but none of them made me happy. I love the feeling of creating things that make people feel something. Being able to capture people’s most important moments is so special to me. I guess for me, it’s about being happy.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
You learn a lot of lessons starting a small business on your own, and it’s never easy. You start out with the fire of excitement and you just want to go full-steam ahead, but you need to make sure you have some of the basics taken care of. Getting an accountant early on was a huge help when I was starting out. I’m more of a creative, and crunching numbers has never been a passion of mine. The next big thing for me was getting a client management software to streamline the experience for both my clients. I learned to work smarter instead of harder, and to invest in myself more. This came in the form of numerous webinars and workshops to learn about branding, marketing, and creating an amazing client experience. I would say learning the importance of my “why” and refining my brand have been some of the most beneficial things I’ve learned. The key is to always be learning. It’s totally worth the time and effort.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love taking visitors to St. Mary’s Glacier in Idaho Springs. It’s accessible, the drive is scenic, and it’s a relatively easy hike for people who aren’t used to the elevation. The views are amazing and it’s a nice spot to hang out and have a picnic once you get there. Another little day trip would be out to Sapphire Point by Lake Dillon. It’s so gorgeous and more of a short walk than a hike, which is good for out-of-town visitors who may not be used to hiking. Its minimal effort for a huge payoff with the view. I would definitely have to bring them by two of my favorite coffee shops in Littleton, which are Dirt Coffee Bar and Riize Coffee Co. If we want to go out one night and didn’t want to go far, I would take them to Indulge for wine and appetizers. If they want to head out completely for the evening, I would take them downtown Denver to the Terminal bar in Union Station. I love the atmosphere and variety that Union Station presents. For our night to stay in and watch movies, I would order pho from my go-to place, Pho Broadway, which is a family favorite at our house!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family definitely deserves recognition for supporting my decision to pursue art and start my photography business. My mom and dad didn’t miss a beat when I told them I didn’t want to major in dietetics & exercise science anymore. One of my sisters, who I was living with during college, point blank asked me one day why I wasn’t taking any art classes or pursuing photography. Without my family’s encouragement, I probably wouldn’t have considered photography as an option. My husband, siblings, parents, extended family, and clients-turned-friends are constantly referring me business, giving me shout-outs, and showing me unending support, and you can’t ask for much more than that. I really couldn’t do it without them.

Website: www.riseimagesart.com

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