Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Simmons.
Hi Michelle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been a “creative” as far back as I can remember. An empath, too. Feeling what others feel, putting words to it when they couldn’t find their own, and singing, drawing, and writing to make sense of the world. And when I got my first camera at age 9, it became my new favorite way of remembering. Following in my dad’s footsteps of documenting our everyday life, I started to see the world through my tiny lens, filtering and framing the everyday moments as something of beauty & meaning.
But for the first part of my life, photography was just a hobby. I was raised to be a realistic dreamer, which meant I dreamt of a steady career where I could use my sense of empathy, understanding, and seeing things differently to do some real GOOD.
Drawn to psychology, I got my degree and planned on becoming a child psychologist. Unfortunately, after a few short years of working in group homes for abused & neglected children, I found that my heart was too soft & my skin not thick enough to handle working inside of our broken system. And for my own health & well-being, I knew I had to find a different way of doing good in this world.
So I started a photography business named “The Suitcase Studio,” and grew it into a recognizable brand. And after moving from California to Oregon, I started it over again in a brand new place.
But it was never just about “getting good photos” for me. Combining my background in psychology & experience working with kids, I used my camera as a tool for helping them see themselves in a more confident way. And it felt like I was using my talents for doing GOOD again.
But just as business started to grow, life hit hard in ways that changed me forever. In 2019, my dad passed away. In 2020 came the pandemic. And in 2021 my soul-dog passed away. Add in all the increasing racial & social injustices happening at lightning speed within those years, and my empathic heart felt like it would burst.
And there’s a certain kind of “before and after” with life-altering moments like these. Where once your heart & eyes are open, they can’t be closed again. And so, even though I still loved being a photographer, and working with the people I did, I just couldn’t pretend to care about posting to social media or handling all the tedious never-ending parts of running a BUSINESS anymore.
So I stepped away. Literally closed the door to my home office because I couldn’t bear to look at anything inside of it.
But slowly, I started to heal. Learned how to regulate my nervous system. And started exploring other avenues of creativity.
I drew again for the first time in 20 years, picking up an iPad and teaching myself digital illustration in Procreate. And then a friend taught me how to hand-press my designs on shirts, and I started doing local markets with some of my work.
But as social injustice continued to grow, I had this fire in my belly to do SOMETHING about it. And as art is a great outlet, I started drawing more politically-themed pieces, created prints and tshirts, and even a few paintings. And while it felt good, I felt like I was using a fraction of my voice while screaming into the void.
So I asked myself… what can I REALLY do to have more of a positive impact? What is within MY control to help build the world in the way I’d like to see it?
And filled with a new spark of purpose and passion, I got to work, and returned to photography.
My business is now called “Love, Chel”… as “Chel” has been a lifelong nickname. And EVERYTHING I create & put out there is a love letter from me to others.
I’m approaching things in a different way than ever before… where my mission is to help women of a certain age & rage reclaim their sense of SELF. And to help teens & tweens have a stronger sense of self-confidence NOW, so they have less to heal from later on in life.
My first big project was to turn the concept of my self-esteem-building photo sessions for tweens & teens into a DIY-kind of book called “Your Hype Squad Book.”… so that parents could recreate the experience for their own kids, at a fraction of the cost of a photoshoot with me.
And for families that CAN afford a photoshoot and want the full experience, I’ve begun offering Self-Expression Photo Sessions again for tweens & teens, which also includes one of my books.
And soon I’ll be launching a group photoshoot for women, with the main goal of helping them feel GOOD in the skin they’re in, while being surrounded by other women cheering them on. So that the photos become a reminder of how powerful they are, and they can revisit that feeling whenever it’s needed.
I’ve also got a few other ideas and projects to come, because I’m just getting started… again. But this time, I’ve got a fire in my belly, the confidence to make things happen, and lots of support. So it’s time to make waves… even if it’s just one small ripple at a time.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s definitely NOT been a smooth road, nor a straightforward one. But even though there’ve been lots of starts, stops, and changing pathways, I always felt like I was heading in the right direction. And even when I felt like I’d messed up, or had fallen, or had to pivot yet again… I kept in mind what my dad had taught me. That’s it’s only failure if you STAY down when you fall. But if you get back up, dust yourself off, and try again… that’s not failing. That’s just LEARNING.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m proud to say that the thing I’ve become “known” for is for being able to SEE people clearly, and to help them see themselves. One of my proudest moments was having a 14-year old girl look at the back of my camera and say, “Wow… you made me look beautiful!” And my reply: “No, I didn’t. You’re already beautiful. I simply captured what was in front of me already.” And immediately after that quick conversation, she stood taller. Moved differently. And held herself with a brand new sense of confidence. It was an incredible transformation to behold, and such a privilege to witness. And each time someone steps in front of my camera, there are moments like this one. Again and again, I get to watch people fall more in love with themselves, and it’s an absolute JOY to behold.
And I think that this is also the difference between myself and other photographers…. where it’s never been just about “getting good pictures” for me. Instead, my main goal has always been to help others feel SEEN, loved, and to express themselves as authentically as possible.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I think my biggest lesson has been that there is no ONE “right way” to do anything. There is no easy fix, or any one course that teaches you how to make a million dollars (even though plenty of “experts” like to tell you there is, while selling you their course to do so). And that much of what we’ve been taught about “how to run a successful business” doesn’t always apply to our own personal view of what success actually is. In fact, the most important thing I’ve learned is to UN-learn a lot of what I’d previously been taught to do, and instead… to listen to my own intuition, FEEL things in my body before making decisions, and take messy action in the direction my intuition points me in. Because I’m an overthinker and a planner, but it’s only in taking aligned ACTION that I make progress in the direction of my dreams.
Pricing:
- Your Hype Squad Book: $35.00
- Mini photo session: $250 per person (specific dates/locations only)
- Full photo session: $1500 for yourself or up to 6 people (date/locations of your choice)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lovechel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovechel_art
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovechelart
