Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Chesnut.
Hi Holly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
When I first picked up a camera, I didn’t have a perfectly mapped-out plan. I just had a desire to create, to notice beauty, and to preserve the moments that feel like they slip through our fingers too quickly.
In the beginning, I said yes to everything. Families, couples, newborns, seniors — each session taught me something new. I was learning my camera and how to use light, learning about people, and also, myself. I didn’t realize at the time that God was slowly shaping my direction through each “yes.”
By year three, something in my heart settled.
I knew I was meant to focus on maternity, birth, and newborn.
There is something deeply sacred about the beginning of life. The quiet strength of a mother. The anticipation before a baby arrives, and the exact moment they are held in their parents’ arms for the first time. My faith has changed the way I see those moments — not just as sessions, but as miracles. As gifts. As stories entrusted to me for a brief window of time.
At the same time, I’ve felt my creativity bloom in ways I didn’t expect. I started leaning into more storytelling and themed sessions, and I have absolutely loved them. Last Christmas, I created a “1700s”-inspired piece with a dear friend on a foggy day. She wore a Victorian-style outfit, and the whole scene felt cinematic — almost like something out of Sleepy Hollow. It reminded me that photography can feel timeless. Moody. Artistic. Alive.
And I still deeply love weddings — both photography and videography. There is something incredibly tender about witnessing a couples love story. The way hands shake before vows. The way a father holds back tears as he gives his daughter away. The way joy fills a room. Preserving not just how it looked, but how it felt — that will never stop moving me.
Right now, I’m stepping into storytelling projects centered around people and their passions. I want to help others share what matters most to them — their heart, their calling, their purpose. To help them feel seen. To help their story reach the people who need it.
And in the quiet parts of my dreaming, I see something bigger.
A wedding venue on peaceful country land near Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri. A place rooted in faith and beauty. A place where marriages begin surrounded by love and meaning — where every detail feels intentional, and every guest feels at home.
One of the sweetest surprises of this journey has been the people. I’ve made friendships I never expected — photographers and non-photographers alike. I’ve had families come back to me again and again as their babies grow. That kind of trust is humbling
I’ve learned something important:
People may come to you because they love your work.
But they stay because of how you make them feel.
And if there’s one thing I hope people feel when they work with me, it’s cared for. Seen. Valued. Known.
That’s the heart behind everything I do.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The past three years haven’t been without challenges.
There were seasons of doubt — wondering if I was good enough, experienced enough, creative enough. Slow booking sessions that tested my confidence. Investments that felt scary. Late nights editing. Replaying sessions in my head, thinking of what I could improve or what I could have done differently. But the positive feedback I get, lights me up like a Christmas tree. They truly make my day and make this all worth it.
I’ve grown through my mistakes, wrestled with comparison, and learned to trust God’s timing instead of measuring myself against someone else’s pace.
Balancing creativity with business hasn’t always been easy either — contracts, pricing, boundaries, all while protecting my peace and staying present in my own life.
Every obstacle will do its work on me.
The tough seasons build grit.
The mistakes become my most expensive teachers.
And doubt pulls me closer to God than comfort ever could.
I’m not just a better photographer because of these three years —
I’m steadier. More confident. And ready to grow more.
And I wouldn’t trade that growth for anything.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I believe what sets me apart from others is that I am bold in my faith and love to fellowship when the opportunity presents itself, I connect with people of all walks of life, and I’m as goofy as they come. I’m always cracking jokes even in the middle of the serious moments. It how I make people feel more comfortable with me.
A couple years ago, I photographed a session of a married couple with their 3 little kids on their big farm with cattle and horses and several businesses going. After I left, she leaves a review saying “she treated us like family – and that’s exactly how we do things”. That will always stick with me.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t believe in luck. I believe in prayer. I pray before every session and for the people I’m about to meet or see again. I pray often in my everyday life. It sets the tone for the day, it re-centers me so I can perform at my best. I don’t always get it right, but that’s the beauty in getting to try again the next day or another day.
Pricing:
- Maternity, Birth, Fresh 48, Newborn $350
- Wedding photography ranges from $500(micro, $1800, and $2,400
- Wedding videography ranges from $300(micro), $1,000, and $1,800
- Creative theme – $350
- Family- starting at $300
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lacelightstudio.shootproof.com/
- Instagram: Holly_t_photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EQnHZExv8/?mibextid=wwXIfr
