Cheyenne K Flemming is a small business owner and Portrait and Boudoir Photographer in Portland Oregon. Cheyenne believes everyone deserves to feel and IS beautiful and sexy. Her intimate portrait sessions empower women by making them set aside time for themselves, embrace their body and get out of their comfort zone. Cheyenne is passionate about normalizing and showcasing the variety of beautiful bodies that have always and will always exist. We highly suggest you peruse her portfolio and consider booking a boudoir photographer session for yourself or a beautiful woman in your life!
What services or products does your business Cheyenne K Portraits offer?
I offer photography services! If you need/want boudoir, maternity, couples, engagement or headshot photography I’m your girl! I know being in front of the camera feels awkward but it’s my job to make it as easy and fun as possible!
How did you get started on your journey to become a portrait and boudoir photographer in Portland Oregon?
I’ve always loved photography. As a kid I ran around with disposable cameras photographing anything & everything. As I got older I tried every kind of photography you can imagine and fell in love with portraiture and making people feel good and give them beautiful photos. There’s nothing more powerful than seeing a beautiful portrait of yourself to either put out into the world or just as a personal reminder of how amazing you are!
Was this business the first business you’ve started? If not, what was your first business?
Yes! This is my first business.
What has been your biggest takeaway thus far on your journey as a portrait photographer?
This is a difficult question, there’s been a lot, of course. Patience is definitely one. I think social media and all the stories about young people starting multi-million dollar businesses has given me an unrealistic expectation that things grow and happen faster than they actually do. It takes time and consistent effort to grow.
How do you motivate yourself to keep going and growing, when you feel like giving up?
A couple things. I usually take a day to relax and do something fun that brings me joy. Sometimes it’s going out in nature, spending the day reading my favorite books or hanging out with friends or my brother. I also remind myself how I felt working a 9 to 5 and giving all my time & energy to someone and something that wasn’t making me feel happy or fulfilled.
What has been your biggest lesson on your entrepreneurial journey as a boudoir photographer?
To do the things that work for me & where I’m at and not compare myself to others. The saying “comparison kills creativity” really stuck with me and once I stopped trying to do what everyone else in my industry was doing, or saying you should do, my business started growing more. I started trying things that worked for me and changed it when I needed to and that’s helped my business and also how I felt mentally.
If you could share one truth with your fellow business owners and entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Find a friend or someone you can talk about business with. Someone you are close to or want to become close to. I have a friend who runs a macrame business and we text each other our frustrations & our wins. It really feels good and helps me feel motivated knowing I have someone close to me who will always celebrate with me and offer support when I need it.
What exciting things are coming up in your business?
I’ll be making more YouTube videos! I’m super excited to get that going more. I’m also growing so I’m working with more awesome people and creating beautiful photos!
What sets your business, Cheyenne K Portraits, apart from other boudoir photographers?
The way I take care of my clients. I know getting your photos taken, no matter how badly you want to do it, can be nerve racking and I always want my clients as comfortable as possible. I have preparation guides I send out when someone books with me that goes over how to prepare and what to wear.
What do you value the most about your local community?
The collaborative mentality. I’ve met a lot of photographers & everyone wants to set up shoots together and work together and it’s really great to have a sense of comradery.
Do you or would you like to support other entrepreneurs? If so, how?
Yes, always! I love talking with other entrepreneurs, bouncing ideas around & sharing wins & struggles.
What’s the most significant way a local business can impact their community and why is it important?
The most significant way a local business can impact their community is by connecting with their community. People love connection & that goes both ways. The community impacts local businesses by telling their friends and shopping there and local business impact their community with their service, their story & their products. Providing something that helps someone, no matter how small, can make a huge impact in someone’s life, and sometimes you won’t even know it.
What do you love most about your community in Portland Oregon?
It’s the same thing I value, the collaborative mentality. Everyone giving each other compliments on their work and just being great, positive people to be around.
When you aren’t working, what do you enjoy doing?
I have two cats, Miss Frizzle & Lucy so I love spending time cuddling with them. I love to read, decorate my apartment & I love going to waterfalls.
Where would you escape to for a day trip on your day off?
The beach! I love going to the beach, though I always take photos while I’m there… I can’t help it!
If you had family or friends visiting, where would be the top 3 places you’d take them for food?
McMenamins, Margarita Factory, Happy Valley Food Carts on Sunnyside
When friends or family visit, what is on the itinerary for sight seeing or activities?
A scenic drive along the Old Scenic Highway in the Gorge, the Oregon Zoo & my favorite winery, Durant.
Connect with Cheyenne K Flemming of Cheyenne K Portraits!
https://www.cheyennekportrait.com
cheyennekportraits@gmail.com
503-208-5768
