Life of A Photographer.

Bird flying above misty mountain landscape with clear sky.

“Photography teaches you to look. To appreciate all kinds of things.”

— Saul Leiter

Recent Adventures

 

Dandelions blooming in the cracks of life’s sidewalks

Hey there! Wow, time really flies—it's been about three years since my last update, but who's really keeping track, right? Since we welcomed our little bundle of joy, Tobias, in 2021, life has taken an exciting turn with the arrival of our darling Abigail in 2023. And if that wasn’t enough change, we made a big leap and moved back to my beautiful home state of Colorado! What a whirlwind it’s been! Adjusting to life with two little ones has kept me on my toes, so I had to hit pause on my photography for a bit. But even amidst the chaos, my passion for capturing moments never faded. Family trips, cozy days at home, and those adorable, silly moments with my kids—each snapshot still held a special place in my heart. Yet, I can’t help but admit, I’ve really missed the thrill of working with couples, families, and all those interactive moments that made my photography journey so rewarding. Whenever a chance arose and someone needed photos, I eagerly grabbed my camera. The joy it brought me was incredible! Now, it’s been nearly two years since our big move to Colorado, and I feel so grateful for the amazing community we’ve found here. Don’t get me wrong—there are tough days, especially with our extended family still in California, but we've grown stronger and closer through all the challenges. If you find yourself facing big changes or decisions like we did, take a moment to step back and look at the bigger picture. You just might discover some unexpected beauty—like dandelions blooming in the cracks of life's sidewalks.

Black and white photo of a family walking in a grassy field with mountains in the background. The family includes a man, a woman holding a baby, and a young child.
Black and white photo of a baby on grass, reaching for a small object, with two photographs nearby.

Whatever you do, do it with all your heart.

Me and my baby boy, Tobias.

Life as a New Mom.

Oh, where do I begin. Becoming a mom is such a blessing! Now, don’t get me wrong — it can be very trying at times, but it’s totally worth the stretching moments. I think the hardest thing for me, is understanding how to  balance boundaries with work, friends and family. While at the same time, trying to understand the new priorities as a mom. The word that comes to my mind over and over, GRACE. You just have to have grace in this new role. Somethings will never be the same and that’s okay! Change is hard! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten so frustrated at not being able to do it “all”. I’ve had to pray time and time again. The reality is — I needed to remove a few things off my plate. Like I said, learning your new priorities, it’s an adjustment — but it’s worth it. You forget about the late nights, the cranky moments, crying/wailing nights and the moments where you feel defeated... but as soon as your little one looks at you in awe and cracks that beautiful smile, your tank refills and you have the motivation to keep on striving to be the best momma you can be. You keep loving your little one, because that's all they really care about and quite frankly, need.
In this season I’m in I’ve learned — 
Less is more.
It’s okay to grieve the changes, but embrace the beautiful new beginnings.
It takes time to adjust
Have grace with yourself and with your spouse.
You don’t have to prove anything to anyone - you don’t have todo it all!
Reach out for help (something I realized I really struggle with... ugh - talk about pride. GULP) 
***if you do not have a support system, Bridges Pregnancy Clinic and Care Center located in Santa Rosa, CA would love to support you in any way that they can.*** 
xo,
Kels

Say Hello to Tobias Young.

Future Plans for Kelsy Shaffor Photography

Hey friends! As I’ve been navigating this new role as a mom - I’ve had to really re-think how to navigate my business and balance mom/wife life.

This year, the word that I’m going to really focus in on is, “Intentional.”

In order for me to be more intentional with each wedding or client session I am blessed to serve — I need to be taking on less as a whole. Which means, in order give each client 120%, I’ll be taking on a limited number of events and videography sessions.

With that being said…

It’s been fun re-branding, removing and adding new services! I’m slowly re-introducing videography, but more towards small intimate weddings, family and small businesses. My passion to really dive into the overlooked, beautiful moments. My style is more of the journalistic approach, so yes — that includes the moments where you’re laughing so hard you have three chins and you’re crying with tears of joy. I’m also starting to incorporate more studio like settings — so stay tuned!

So — lets rock and roll with this new year and I’ll see ya on the other side!