Meet Chelsi LeBarre | Photographer & Business Consultant

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

Hi Chelsi, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Every decision we make in business is a risk. You’re either risking complacency, growth, or failure. My business has only grown from the risks that I take. Even when I fail, it’s a lesson of where and how I need growth. The way I see it – I will always bet on myself. That’s the most empowering thing about being an entrepreneur!

On a deeper level, being a Black Woman comes with a myriad of additional risks. Whether I am risking my physical or mental safety, I know that the risks that I take end up breaking down barriers for the next Black Woman that comes after me. That’s why I try to push the envelope as much as I can and create more margin in the spaces I fight my way into. I am my ancestors’ wildest dreams and they risked it all for me to be where I am now. The least I could do is continue that fight for inclusion and equity until it is finally a part of the fabric of our world.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am most excited about expanding my business in 2022 to include more community-based business training for minoritized communities. If it weren’t for the many privileges that I had, I would not be exactly where I am today, so I want to continue to leverage what I have to build others up as I climb.

As a young Black Woman, new mother, and business owner, my path has not been easy. Whether I’m fighting to gain respect in a room where people doubt me because of my age, my gender, AND my ethnicity or whether it’s fighting against historic redlining that makes it harder for me to find capital to expand my business, every day that I wake up and push forward is an act of revolt. I overcome the challenges because if not me, then who?

Along the way, I have learned that no one is coming. No one is coming to give me my dreams. No one is coming to suddenly make everything easier. It is up to me to not only be the change that I wish to see but to use my resources to seek actionable steps from those around me to help bring about that change.

I want the world to know that I am passionate about the work that I do. As a photographer, I am working to create beauty in the lives of everyday people. As a business consultant, I want to see everyone chase after the thing that lights them up inside. I am always rooting for everyone to be the best version of themselves and I hope to be someone they can depend on to help them along that journey.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Food & Drink

We absolutely have to dine at The Jones, Kitchen 324, Florence’s, Mary Eddy’s and Hatch.

Visit

The newly opened First Americans Museum is a must-see. 21c Museum Hotel is also a great spot. For an adventurous outing, definitely the RIVERSPORT Adventure Parks.

Hang Out

Myriad Gardens and Scissortail Park offer the perfect nature escape in the heart of downtown. Great for a stroll with unique city views and there is constantly something happening on the weekends.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate my shoutout to the Black Women that are constantly surrounding me, uplifting me, and modeling life as mothers and entrepreneurs. Skye Latimer of Folded Owl, DeJa Clift of The Velvet Bison, Maria Moss of Phoenix Leadership Solutions – your daily dedication to equity and inclusion, motherhood, and entrepreneurship is the reason I know I can do the same for my family and for the next generation of BIWOC leaders.

Website: chelsidennisphotography.com | chelsidennis.co

Instagram: @chelsidennisphotography | @chelsidennisco

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsilebarre/

Image Credits
Alexandra Delgado Photography (all images provided)