Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheyenne Ellis.
Hi Cheyenne, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in the film industry. My mom and dad were both stunt performers. When my mom retired from the business, she became a photographer and my dad progressed from stunts to becoming a stunt coordinator, Second Unit director, and then a feature film director for the last 10 years of his life. Image-making is in my blood. I did stunts as a kid, teen, and into my 20s until found and fell in love with photography. I studied at Brooks Institute, and then assisted for Irving Penn in New York City for 2 years, and then moved back home to LA to start my career when I was 25. I worked really hard, built my business, learned as much as I could, and signed with my first agent at 28. Twenty years later, I’m still loving and growing in the world of photography.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road, but it’s always been exciting, the lows inspire me to always reach for the highs again. There are constantly ups and downs when you are freelance and operating your own business. I contribute a lot of hard work and perserverance to my ability to stay in the running in such a demanding and popular career.
Covid really took a toll on the photography industry and my career. For 6 months, there was zero work, it came to a screeching hault. But slowly I was finding new ways to capture images for clients. I was sent boxes of clothing from brands and asked to photograph my friends and family. I really loved getting back to the basics and having the ability to get creative with very little production value. Each year has been better than the last since then, and finally, I feel like my career is back to where it was pre-pandemic
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in telling the story of a lifestyle. I promote health and well-being, smiles, quality of life, and beautiful surroundings in my imagery. I shoot for brands that are in line with that direction for their products. I’m great with kids, real people, and making the talent feel really comfortable on set. I’m lucky to have learned from a director father how to create a fun environment, guide my crew with respect, and run a fun set to be on. I love what I do, and I think that shows when you work with me.
I’m working on a really fun project right now, a cookbook on the Central Coast of California, with Chef Scott Clark and Writer Betsy Andrews for Chronicle Books. It’s a love letter to the coast, adventures, and all the gorgeous food along the way. It feels like a real tribute to where and how I grew up. Out in the spring of 2025
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
My favorite part of LA is all the hidden gems. It’s easy to explore and feel like you are in a completely different world when you’re within an hour of downtown. I lived in Topanga Canyon for almost 15 years, and I never felt like I was in the parts of LA that people complain about. I was in a little mountain town above the ocean, but I had all the access to everything LA has to offer.
Least favorite part of LA, let’s be honest, is the traffic, that and LAX; I’ve completely switched to Burbank as my local airport whenever I can
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cheyenneellis.com
- Instagram: cheyenneellis
