Chelsea Mueller Photography

we’re 3 days into 2024 but i have to share some of the photos from one of my last sessions of 2023. when you’re 20 years cancer free, you throw yourself a party with your fave people!

hi friends 👋🏼 vulnerable brain dump coming up…

i started feeling burn out for the fall season in early september. a solid six weeks before i usually do. i found myself wishing for a 9-5 job that i didn’t take work home with me. for those of you who don’t know, we are a foster family and we got our first placement in august. she is the sweetest, sassiest almost 4 year old little girl. we call her “girly” online. she came to live with us the week before school started. before we got the call about girly, i had these grand plans to get caught up on editing, deep clean our house, and put some systems in place for the fall busy season. instead, i was learning how to communicate with our new little love, sneaking in alone time with lucy rae, constantly keeping our girly safe (she is a *risk taker*), trying to get her to sleep, getting set up with wic, preschool, daycare, doctor, etc. we had two *chaotic* weeks at home before we got daycare set up (where she is thriving and is now part time daycare part time preschool) but basically i haven’t caught my breath business wise, since august.

to add to that, 3 of our babies in heaven have birthdays between thanksgiving and new years, so we are feeling all the feels and missing them extra right now.

all that to be said…galleries have been delayed and emails have been delayed or missed. i haven’t been serving my clients well and i am really sorry. i am planning for a few changes in my business starting after the new year when things settle down a bit. some of them will be little things and systems to help me, and some will be bigger adjustments that i’ll announce later. i actually don’t wish for a 9-5 job.i love my job. i love capturing your sweet lives. i love the flexibility that my job offers me while i support my fam. thanks for your patience during this crazy season. thanks for loving our fam. thanks for loving your photos and trusting me with your memories 🫶🏼 now i’m off to get 3 galleries delivered and a print order sent before lucy rae gets off the bus.

best photos ever by Courtney Smith Photography 🥹