Merry Christmas 2023 from the Brock & Chelsie Moreland Family!

Chelsie- I had a hard time condensing our “Year in Review” to include anything other than flowers, but I’m proud of my efforts—there’s more to life than flowers, but barely ;-).

2022 ended with a “storm of the century” with 4.5 straight days of sustained winds, 2’ of snow, and -45 degree windchills. The only way to get around and feed the cattle was with the Skid Steer. Brock was seasick by the end of most days as “Skid-Kitty” bucked the tall drifts from stackyard to stock tank. We had 15’ snow drifts in our back yard which didn’t melt until May. We were very fortunate to not have lost power as almost everyone in the surrounding area did at one point or another during the storm.

I found a break in winter storms and managed to fly to Idaho to see my new little brother on my biological dad’s side, Cory Michael. 34 years apart, but not an ounce less of love—he’s such a cutie.

Holden turned 11 this year and we finished his 5th grade year homeschooling at our Green Valley Academy. Ferguson made sure to make his presence known most mornings. If it was during math, Holden welcomed the interruption.

During his free time, Holden made stop motion videos and learned about movie editing. You can see some of his videos by clicking here

I decided to experiment and grow flowers under cover in April, which means starting them inside in January. It was fun playing in the dirt mid-winter. I chat more about flowers and my process here on this podcast (click here).

I dug out my tulip boxes by the end of March, and to my surprise, they were already starting to break ground! Plants are incredible! I started my indoor plants using a soil-blocking technique that was also an experiment but it worked well in regards to saving space and allowing for more plants to be grown in my bathroom!

*Snow drifts I mentioned above.

My milk cow, Heidi, didn’t fare through the winter well (did any of us?) After birthing a cute little heifer calf she became lethargic with milk fever and despite the efforts of my wonderful mother-in-law Carol for administering IV’s and other meds, she succumbed.

My low tunnel experiment worked well this spring as it kept my plants nice and toasty even when the temps fell into the low teens. I found spring gardening to be better than summer gardening as there weren’t any mosquitos or risk of sun burn.

I ended up selling 25 Mother’s Day bouquets from my tulip experiment—continue to the end of this review to see how many I planted for next year…

Will and Brock created a branding contraption based off of Steve’s “calf trap” from years ago. The “Moreland Maid” still requires the traditional way of roping calves but replaces the need for 4 pairs of wrestlers.

Holden was excused from homeschool early to help with the brandings. He was able to brand a JerseyX calf with his “Rafter M” brand.

It was a delight spending one-on-one time with Holden this year.

My paternal grandfather, Harold Zenner, and maternal grandmother, Vonda Carlin, passed away this summer. I have been beyond blessed to have all of my grandparents for a majority of my life. Selfishly I don’t want them to go, but it’s inevitable. What saves us from death is having a relationship with the Lord so we can spend eternity with him in heaven—a place where there is no darkness, sadness, pain, or death. You can ask God into your heart at any point in your life, it’s never too late! Isn’t that awesome!?

Mike & Lori Zenner family. Jamie (my sister) and Chris were married this year! Their little guy Maddox Zenner Reaves was born June 29th.

Aunt Tiffany and Uncle Tom ventured out to the Sandhills from jolly ol’ England for a nice visit. We spent a day at The Prairie Club with an afternoon of golf.

Brock’s cousin, Terrel Vineyard passed away in a freak lightning accident while checking cattle. His funeral was such a testament to his life, work ethic, and overall great personality. The entire arena was full of horseback riders paying tribute to Terrel and his family. He is certainly missed and made everyone’s lives better. Our hearts are broken with his loss.

My spring planted flowers are now thriving in the summer.

Hugh turned 5 in April and has not lost any personality from last year!

With such dry conditions the last 3 years, it was a nice change of pace to see the Sandhills look so beautiful. A proud rancher who survived the worst winter this area has seen in 100 years.

We ventured to Oshkosh and Lewellen this July for the Cheney Family Reunion (Chelsie’s biological mother’s side) and a small wedding reception for half-sister Annie and Eitan.

Hugh and a garden.

Holden and his cousin’s fort the “Pallet Shitshow” said with a french accent and modeled after:

cha·let

/SHaˈlā/

noun

a wooden house or cottage with overhanging eaves, typically found in the Swiss Alps.

cha·teau

/SHaˈtō/

noun

a large French country house or castle, often giving its name to wine made in its neighborhood.

The wildflowers and sunflowers were very prolific this year!

My garden helper.

Lightning struck a hay bale in the meadow in front of our house in the middle of the night. Thankfully it was also down pouring.

Rowan turned 9 in August. She still loves being an artist, “babysitting” her cousin Eleanor when she’s visiting from England, watching Full House, and being an overall delight in our family.

She still leaves notes around our house….very helpful when the electricity goes out.

Who would’ve known it was a good onion and sunflower year?

Children horseback- it really doesn’t get any better than this!

I started my flower farm, Green Valley Flower Farm, on a whim and tested the waters this year. It was a huge success and I’m so thankful for everyone’s support for this endeavor. You all love flowers and that makes me happy!

I plan to offer subscriptions starting next spring of 2024. Stay tuned!

Holden and his cousin, Fiora, had their first junior high dance during homecoming. They all had fun!

One of my bouquets won Best of Show at our local county fair.

The highlight of the year was our entire family (minus Brock and Uncle Billy who kept things at the ranch running smoothly) experiencing Disney World! For Hugh, every ride was like Christmas morning :-) My mom, Lori was able to go with us to help keep head count.

I was planting 300 daffodils in November, took a break on the back of our pickup and looked up to see a fire on the south side of our meadow (just south of where the hay bale was struck this summer). I was in disbelief at what I saw because there wasn’t a logical explanation for this fire and thankfully there wasn’t much of a breeze either! The day before and the day after the fire were days of howling wind so praise God for his many blessings! The Cody and Merriman volunteer fire departments arrived within 20 minutes and all was under control shortly after. A big thanks to our local volunteers for their fast responses to local emergencies! Our only conclusion was a power line malfunction and it burned right at 30 acres narrowly missing 2 separate stack yards [insert 10 praying hands emojis and 5 crosses]. It was one of the scariest days of my life as I was the only person on our side of the ranch.

Thanks to Brock and his dear Skid-Kitty, I have a peony patch! They take 2-3 years to establish but I promise they’re worth the wait.

Game night with Spider-Man.

1 of 3 beds I planted tulips in this Fall. I’m taking a chance on 2000.

Brock was able to visit Tiffany and Tom in England the last week of November. He had a wonderful trip and was able to tour the Tower of London, supper with Tom’s father and step-mother Guy and Deb Stokely, and a tour through Blenheim Palace where Winston Churchill grew up and resided through his years of political office.

Merry Christmas friends and family! -The Morelands

How to backup voicemails to the cloud

For more information on memory-keeping and documenting your life, grab my FREE PDF here.

Follow me on Instagram!

Holidays and your feelings.

Do you get "all the feelings" when you think about documenting the holidays for your family?⁠⠀

Maybe feelings of inadequacies because you've never been good at it.⁠⠀

Maybe feelings of anxiousness because "there's so much I want to remember!"⁠⠀

Maybe you're feeling overwhelmed because documenting with pictures and video is just one of 2 million things you're in charge of doing.⁠⠀⠀

What if I told you I've been there.⁠⠀

What if I told you that I have learned that it's okay to feel all of those things.⁠⠀

And what if I told you whether you take 1 or 100 pictures during the holidays, you're still a good person/mom/wife.⁠⠀⠀

Let's celebrate taking the pressure off of ourselves and ENJOY our family and surroundings this holiday season!⁠

www.Instagram.com/prairie.through.the.lens

How to backup your phone pictures

Don’t be a statistic!

I have heard too many horror stories of people losing THOUSANDS of their pictures from a broke or lost phone.

Pictures of your babies, your graduation, your sweet puppy, Molly. If you only listen to one thing I ever say, have it be this!

Here are a few backup options for you:

1.) DropBox. This is my favorite and what I’ve used for years now. I think it’s very user friendly and can backup both photos/videos as well as documents like PDF’s and Word/Excel files.

2.) iCloud. This is pretty much the same as Dropbox but like I said, I feel DropBox is more user friendly so I’m partial to that.

3.) Amazon Photo. If you have an Amazon Prime account, you get this for free! Unlimited photo storage and up to 5GB of video. But it doesn’t accept other types of documents like PDF’s.

4.) USB’s and External Hard Drives: I would only use these as temporary storage options as these things fail at a faster rate than cloud storage. Nothing is immune to failure but these are more likely to it.

DropBox and iCloud give you up to a certain amount of storage for free, and then you have the option to pay for more. Please don’t let this hold you back from preserving your memories. We live in a digital world now and we have to take certain measures to protect them! Budget for this like you would any other important aspect of your life!

Follow me on Instagram for more photography and documenting tips and tricks!

Audra + Cody (Gordon, Nebraska Wedding)

I’m just going to preface by saying there’s over 60 images below and I’m not sorry about it ;-). So much thought went into the details of this wedding I didn’t want to leave any out!

The couple met at the bride’s family-owned wine and flower shop. The First Look there was so special and heartfelt—I’ll never forget it. So much emotion throughout the day and that’s what I love about photographing weddings. Love was in the air!

I could not have done this without the help of many wonderful vendors, but a special shout out to Phil of P&W Photography as my second photographer. I don’t have a sidekick too often at weddings but I will be eternally thankful for his help this day-we made a great team (check us out at the end of this post)!

Vendors: Food-West Side Event Center & Catering, Alliance NE & Chery’s Kitchen, Gordon NE | Flowers-Victoria’s Garden, Rapid City SD & Essence Flower & Wine Shop, Gordon NE | Cake-Lindsey Johansen | Desserts-Deb Conroy | Bride’s Dress-Luv Bridal, Denver CO | Bridesmaids Dresses-Audra’s Bridal, Rapid City SD| Tuxes-Essence Flower & Wine Shop | Tent, Tables, Wine Barrels-The Perfect Plan LLC, Martin SD | Invitations-Minted.com

*INTRODUCING* Hybrid film + digital photo sessions with Chelsie Moreland Photography

You read that right, I am implementing my love of film into my portrait sessions and to say i’m excited would be an understatement! Film has awakened a new passion of documenting that I never knew I had and I’d love to share this experience with my clients. Don’t worry, plenty of digital images will still be taken during your photo session!

Why film?

Film is and always will be timeless. Digital photography has it’s place and it’s a medium I will always hold near and dear to my heart. However, film photography is an art in that it allows you to take your image to a whole new level of depth and focus throughout the image. Replicating the color, highlights, and shadows of film is almost impossible with a digital file. Yes, maybe these are things that only a photographer notices but at the end of the day, I am an artist. I need to be inspired and motivated to give my clients heirloom quality images that they’ll treasure forever—film helps me do this!

So what will our session look like now?

It won’t be really any different than it has in the past! Besides me carrying around a few more cameras, i’ll be doing the same thing—taking pictures while you relax and have fun with your family (don’t worry high school seniors, we have fun too ;-) ).

How does this change pricing?

I have always been proud of providing a boutique photography experience to my clients, especially in the last 5 years. Basically what this means is that I provide a service and product incomparable to anyone else in this industry around this area. Yes, this means you may invest a bit more for this service, but has anyone ever regretted investing in preserving their families legacy and memories?

Hybrid Package

If you know me at all, you know how much I stress printing your images! This is why I have designed this package to include a print of every final edited image from your session, preserved in a beautiful glass box—a true conversation piece for your home! Plus, a USB drive is included with all of the digital files to make any additional prints you desire. It’s really the best of both worlds. Here are all of the details:

$1200 + tax

-ALL finalized film and digital images on USB

-Glass box with fine art prints delicately placed inside

***$500 deposit required to book and secure your date***

Summer hair essentials to keep your hair sun-safe and healthy!

Keeping your hair healthy in the summer can be an uphill battle (I mean, I like that natural highlight like the next person). But the fact remains that the sun, wind and ocean/lake water can wreak havoc on our locks. Here’s some of my favorite products that may help get you through the summer with your beautiful hair still gorgeous and healthy!

Wet Brush

How did I ever NOT use a wet brush! Whether your hair is wet or dry, wet brushes are a much gentler approach to brushing and detangling.

Leave-In Conditioner

If you’re prone to dryness, frizz, or tangles, a leave-in conditioner is a must! I like to finger comb this leave-in through my hair then braid it. That way it stays out of my face and locks in that moisture from the leave-in!

Scrunchies/Phone cord hair ties

If you’re still using the old elastic hair ties, PLEASE STOP! They are doing so much damage to your hair! As much as I tried to avoid it, the 90’s are back and that includes scrunchies. You can get a 40-pack for under $10 here. Phone cord hair ties work well too!

Dry Shampoo

Need a propane and butane free dry shampoo that won’t light your hair on fire while you’re roasting marshmallows around the campfire this summer? This is my fave!

Detangle Spray (Jr and Adult)

Me and my daughter have the most tangle prone hair and we literally couldn’t live without these two products! The Unknot Detangler has an ingredient called Crodasorb which is basically sunscreen for your hair! If you’re worried about your color fading in the sun this summer, spritz a bit of this on before you head out to the beach or pool. Plus, when you’re done for the day, you’ll be able to brush out your hair no problem!

Color Locking + Protective Spray

If you color your hair and you’re going to be in the sun this summer, you need this ASAP! This spray seals the hair cuticle to lock in color and prevent fading—basically saving you money!

Want more tips and tricks about photography, scrapbooking, beauty hacks and products, and mom/wife life? Join like-minded women in our Facebook group “Life Through the Lens!”

My favorite traveling hacks when flying with little ones!

For the last 8.5 years, I have travelled by plane to my home state of Idaho twice a year, by myself, with our children. And to get it out of the way, no it’s not fun, it’s actually excruciating, but I love my family so i’m willing to sacrifice my sanity for them!

I by no means have traveling with little ones figured out, but there’s a few tips and tricks I’ve acquired along the way. One priority I try to implement is having healthy snacks available. Not only is it convenient to just grab something from my fanny pack, but standing in long lines with a packed stroller and 3 littles is something I avoid at all costs.

Favorite Snacks:

That’s It mini fruit bars. No added sugar, these are a nice sweet treat when your kids want something “sugary.”

Larabars. Again, a “clean” sweet treat with a little protein (I usually get the peanut butter ones for protein).

Applesauce pouches. I think most parents know about these but it’s worth mentioning that if you’re flying with children, you are allowed to bring these through security, but they’ll have to screen them separately which can take a little bit of extra time (which you should plan on anyway traveling with children).

ONE Protein bars. These are for you, the parent! Honestly, I really don’t eat or drink a whole lot while traveling because again, 3 children and it’s survival mode. But these are low carb and delicious for a protein bar!

Other snacks: We also do the usual crackers, pretzels, and cereals as well. I try to have protein rich snacks and meals so if there’s a short line, I’ll buy cheese sticks, sandwiches, and pepperoni/salami containers in the airport if I have time.

Can’t live without “things” while in an airport/airplane:

Obviously these lifesavers for me will vary with other parents depending on how many children you have, the duration of your travel, and many other factors. But in my experience, it’s better to be over prepared than not! If you travel often, especially in airports, just trust me when I say it’s worth it to spend the money on things that make your life easier. Whether that’s a stroller, electronics, or the really overpriced McDonald’s meal that makes your child happy for the moment.

I’ve bought a lot of strollers over the years (just ask my husband). But I think I have found a great one for airport use. This Joovy stroller can fit 2 children (one sitting in the front and one either standing or sitting in the back. The front also has an attachment for an infant carseat). It’s very lightweight (for a stroller). It can also fit a carry on size suitcase in the back if one of your children is willing to walk. If you’re trying to be frugal, this is a great option (otherwise, again, spend the money and check the bags!).

Fanny Pack. Don’t be embarrassed, just get one!

Electronics: If you’re going to succumb to the electronic life, these Amazon Fire’s are the best! Their parental controls are top notch!

These collapsible water bottles are such a great space saver and eco-friendly! If you’re local to Valentine, NE you can purchase them locally too! They come in both 20oz and 12 oz.

Doodle Books: These are great for all forms of travel!

I’ve travelled with a 2.5 month old all the way up to an 8-year old. It definitely gets easier as they get older. So parents of really little ones, there is no secret toy, book, app, game, etc. Try them all and figure out which one works the best for you! There may be times you’re going to feel overwhelmed, have a baby that doesn’t stop crying, or a toddler that won’t stay in his seat. Just remember it won’t last forever and everyone else on the plane can put earplugs in ;-)

Visit Chelsie and her herd on Instagram here….

#TheFrontStepsProject in Gordon, Nebraska | Nebraska Photographer

Doing this project seriously filled my love cup more than I could’ve ever imagined! Even though I had to limit the days and amounts of families I photographed, it was still so lovely to visit with each family from a distance even for just 5 minutes. I was thrilled when the local newspaper wanted to write about this and I hope it brought as much joy to you as it did me. Thank you Gordon community for your support with this project!

And again, thank you to all of our healthcare workers and first responders-your sacrifice for your community’s health is something we won’t ever be able to fully thank you for!

Moreland Ranch version ;-)

#TheFrontStepsProject | Chelsie Moreland Photography

I’m leaving a bad review for 2020

Does anybody else feel like they’re in a movie? A really long, drawn-out, boring AF movie ;-)

Like you I’m sure, I miss my community and seeing friends. When I found out about the #frontstepsproject by Cara Soulia, I knew I had to implement this in my community!

The purpose of this project is to bring us together virtually when we might feel isolated.  I aim to highlight the faces of our community during a time when we might not see them in passing at the grocery store, coffee shop, at work or at the gym.  Participating in this project is also an opportunity to step up to help those that are in need right now.

As a photographer, I spend a lot of time capturing images of families in times of joy: babies on the way, newborns, siblings, grandparents and more. Those moments of joy are still happening in homes right now. I know it. But I can’t be there to capture them. So I am focusing on how I can bring people together in the community by documenting this time by taking five-minute “Front Steps Portraits” of my local community.  I will schedule a day(s) to come to your town and snap super fast images of families on their front steps. In exchange for the professional image, all I ask is you make a donation to any LOCAL non-profit organization (Can’t think of one? Check to see if your local hospital is a non-profit!).

What Family Qualifies for this?

Any! Singles too! All I ask is you be able to stay in communication with me through an e-mail address that you check regularly and are willing to practice the safety standards of proper “social distancing.”

The Process

I will arrive during your assigned time slot. You can step outside, where I will be standing near your driveway or street, at least 10 feet away. I will take a couple quick shots and leave. I physically interact with no one, and touch nothing, during these sessions. 

I *do* smile and laugh with you, however, and don’t we all need a little bit of that right now?

After your quick session, I will email you the digital file of your portrait.  In exchange, I ask you to make a good faith donation to a local non-profit of your choice.

I will be posting these images on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #thefrontstepsproject.

Dress Code

Want to stand outside in your pajamas and slippers? Sounds good to me. Kids in mismatched clothes but you’re thrilled they got dressed? Fantastic. Wearing your bike gear because you’re headed off to ride a trail in the nice weather? Love it! Want to feel normal again and “dress up?” Do it! 

Dates/Location

Please fill out the Google Doc for your location. Must be located within city limits. Deadline to fill out this form is Midnight the day before. Dates are subject to change for weather, please check your e-mail regularly for updates!

The day before your town date, you will be sent an e-mail with an allotted time. Please be ready and waiting at your front step at that time! You can request a specific time but Chelsie may not be able to schedule that, but she’ll try!

Gordon, Nebraska | Sunday March 29 | 4-6 pm_________________Google Doc HERE

**Additional dates and locations may be scheduled. Keep checking back for more information!

Cailyn (Valentine, Nebraska Senior Photographer)

Cailyn came from Thedford, Nebraska for her summer senior photo shoot, and I couldn't be more pleased! She is graduating from Thedford High School this Spring and I just know she'll go on to do great things!

| Chelsie is a portrait and wedding photographer based in northwestern Nebraska. She offers her services to all of Nebraska and South Dakota. Please inquire through the Contact tab at the top of this website for more information! |

Madelyn (Nebraska & South Dakota Newborn Photographer)

I just love getting outside with families, especially newborns (they LOVE summer weather ;-) ). Miss Maddie was so content with every little pose and did you see those arm rolls??? Perfection. Big Sister Joey gave me a run for my money but she's cute too so I wasn't phased, ha!

Those are rolls though…

| Chelsie is a portrait and wedding photographer serving all of Nebraska and South Dakota. For more information, use the "Contact" form at the top of this website to send her a message. |

Colton & Allison (Valentine, Nebraska & South Dakota Wedding Photographer)

This Nebraska Sandhills wedding turned out to be the cutest little Fall gathering I've been to in awhile! I mean, you can't go wrong with sunflowers and little pumpkin cake toppers (totes adorbs, right?!). And Allison's dress from Ellynne Bridal...I was kinda obsessed with it. Timeless, gorgeous, perfect for her :-)

Take a peek at this amazing Valentine, Nebraska wedding!

Visit Chelsie on Facebook!

Robin & Zach's Wedding Day (Nebraska Wedding Photographer)

Robin & Zach weren't about to let some rain put a damper on their wedding day. Their love trumps any kind of weather!

Huge thanks to the amazing vendors for this wedding:

Flowers: Country Store Floral and Gift Videographer: Haley Dee Media Cake: Deb Slavin DJ: Complete Music Makeup & Hair: Bella Vita Salon Dresses: Bridle Isle Reception: Cardinal Inn, Albion, NE

Tiffany & Tom (Valentine, Nebraska Destination Wedding Photographer)

When my sister-in-law, Tiffany, got engaged to her English boyfriend, you can bet I dreamed non-stop about their wedding pictures. When would I ever have this opportunity literally right down the road from my house?!?! The thing is, this wedding day far surpassed anything my imagination could've dreamed of. It was perfect. I mean it. I felt like I was transported to England, ha! I had to double check a few times with all the English accents echoing around me ;-)

The bride and her London housemates, as well as numerous friends and family, gathered together the week of the wedding to make this DIY event happen. I'd say they pulled it off.

An amazing artist and fellow photographer, Debs (Deborah Grace Photography), allowed me to photograph this day with her. Debs has been Tiffany's housemate the last 3 years and I'm honored to know of her. If you're ever in England and in need of photography, I highly recommend her.

I definitely went overboard in posting so many pictures, I apologize, but not really ;-)

Invitations: design by Bride

Ring: London vintage shop

Dress: Truvelle

Flowers: friend of Bride

Reception Tent: Timeless Wedding and Events

Dinnerware: Bride's family and thrift store finds

Reception Photographer: P&W Photography

Chelsie is a portrait and wedding photographer based in Nebraska but is available for travel. Some of the places she's been fortunate enough to photograph at are:

Valentine, Nebraska

Rapid City, South Dakota

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Omaha, Nebraska

Cedar Rapids, Nebraska

Broken Bow, Nebraska

Wyoming

Idaho

Chadron, Nebraska

Sheena & Brent (Smith Falls State Park, Nebraska Wedding)

When this couple said they were getting married at Smith Falls, I could not have been happier!! It's one of the prettiest places in Nebraska in my humble opinion ;-)  And to top it off, we had the best Spring day- not too hot and enough of a breeze to keep the bugs away. Check it out...

Joey is 1 (Martin, South Dakota and Nebraska Baby Photographer)

Robin & Zach Engaged (Cedar Rapids,Nebraska Wedding & Engagement Photographer)

You might remember these two from the surprise proposal I photographed back in October (view their movie here). They chose October 14, 2017 as their wedding date and I'm so darn excited! These two drove over 4 hours to little ol' Merriman for their engagement session and also brought their dogs AND race car! Yes, I said race car. My "job" is never boring I tell ya ;-)

I was so distracted by the cuteness overload from these two that I realized we had less than 10 minutes to unload the race car from the trailer and do an outfit change for sunset pictures. Panic mode set in (I was genuinely worried we were going to miss the sun and 4 hours of hauling a race car across Nebraska was going to be all in vain!). Oh, what little faith I had. My couples are like no others. They rallied and seriously, got the most AMAZING photographs right at sunset. My dreams came true. Take a look...

(And yes, there is a Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. Crazy.)

Allison & Colton Engaged! (Nebraska Engagement & Wedding Photographer)

[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="http://www.chelsiemorelandphotography.com/blogsite/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Allison__Colton_1080p.mp4"][/video]