Meet Cheyenne Ketcham | Wedding & Couples Photographer

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

Hi Cheyenne, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
I aim to impact my community in many ways with my business. Community is very important to me; I see every interaction I have, whether it’s with a client, another wedding vendor, or just another human on the street, as an opportunity for me to make a positive impact on the place I call home. Positivity, support, and kindness are some of the easiest things to spread within your community. I enjoy mentoring and collaborating whenever I can seize the opportunity. From hosting styled shoots for other vendors to participate in so that they can gain advertising and marketing materials, to volunteering my time to local school events, being involved in my community in the most positive of ways fulfills the purpose I started my business with: to make capturing priceless moments accessible to EVERYONE. Not only do I believe in passing on this warmth and positivity to my clients, but I also believe in passing on this philosophy through mentoring or collaborating with other local photographers who will be capturing snippets of the people and businesses in our community in their own way! This builds an indispensable network of support that I love.
I aim to market myself as a community-over-competition photographer. Anyone who knows me, or has heard my name, knows I am a safe space to come to for advice, referrals, venting, collaborating, or whatever it is I can help with. I love helping my friends build their brands, find their niche, and blossom their businesses; there is room for ALL of us to shine. I will always support those around me in any way I can, and photography has allowed me the reach, exposure, and avenues to do just that.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am what sets myself apart from the rest of the photography community. There is no other Cheyenne Ketcham, Owner of SV Photography; there is only me. When my career first began, as a lot of photographers experience, I suffered immensely with what is referred to as ‘imposter syndrome’. Am I good enough? Am I just faking it? If I don’t know what I’m doing and I’m just figuring it out, do I even have any business attempting this? All of the doubts and questions that swirl in your mind when stepping, or in my case leaping, out of your comfort zone. I finally reached a point in my career where I realized this, and that is what I’m most proud of. I am most proud of being and accepting who I am and all I have to give; that I am one of a kind. My clients are not just clients by the time they leave a session with me; they’re friends, confidants, colleagues and collaborators. SV Photography focuses on the entire client experience, from inquiry to gallery delivery, and every little moment in between.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I truly believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and for me, beauty exists in everything around me. Everywhere I go, I see moments and scenes that carry their own unique form of elegance and grace. As a photographer, my eyes are always searching, my mind constantly interpreting the world in front of me. Whether I’m walking through a crowded city street, wandering through nature, or simply sitting in a quiet room, I’m always seeing through the lens of my creativity. Every new place I visit, every scene I encounter, offers a new perspective, an untold story, and an opportunity to capture something special that many might overlook. I believe that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places, and it’s my passion to find these hidden gems, uncover their unique charm, and bring them to life through my photography.

Some of my favorite places to photograph are the county parks and the open nature that surrounds me. These areas, ever-changing with the seasons of the Midwest, are a constant source of inspiration. In the spring, the landscape bursts with fresh life, while summer brings vibrant greens and the warmth of long days. The fall offers a stunning display of colors as the trees transform, and winter, with its serene stillness, adds a quiet beauty that is equally captivating. These natural spaces are never the same, and they remind me that beauty is constantly evolving, waiting to be captured in new and meaningful ways. Each place, each moment, deserves to be celebrated and shared, and that is what drives my work—to showcase the beauty that exists in the world, no matter how small or unnoticed it might seem to others.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have an abundance of colleagues I owe thanks to in the industry, but one who has truly helped me represent myself in the most genuine way is Kelsea Reust, a marvelous writer and close friend of mine. Kelsea has an incredible gift for putting your words, feelings, and emotions into text like no other, and I am incredibly grateful to have her by my side. She’s one of the reasons I’ve been able to share my journey so authentically.

That journey began with my daughter, Sophia Victoria, who has been, without a doubt, my main inspiration as a photographer. The first time I picked up a camera for intentional photography was in college. I had one amazing project that resonated with me (and my classmates and professor, it turned out!), but nothing beyond that, until I had Sophia. That’s when a true passion for photography erupted inside of me; I found pure joy in capturing every little moment from the second she was born. I wanted to preserve her purity, innocence, and sweetness so that I could always look back on them. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I wanted to provide this experience to others. After a year and a half filled with excitement over my photos, I was gifted my very first professional-grade camera by a good friend, Olivia Meeker, owner of O.Meeker Photo. With Olivia’s unbelievably kind gesture, and Sophia’s unwavering patience in front of the camera, SV Photography was born. Without these two, I would not be the photographer I am today.

Website: https://unscriptedphotographers.com/svphotography

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiavictoriaphotos/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/SV-Photography-100074913405464/

Image Credits
CHEYENNE KETCHAM / SV PHOTOGRAPHY