Welcome to the Chelfoto Digital Media website

Whether you’re here for inspiration or elevate your business through intentional digital marketing strategies, welcome.  

This started as an online image portfolio for Rachel Alvarado (Strevey), an experienced, Chicago-based photographer, to share links to her work- and it still is- but this has evolved to also include more projects with online presence.

Vision: Capturing Unique Moments

The goal is to translate real-life authenticity into narratives that feel genuine, vibrant, and meaningful—whether for personal storytelling or brand expression.

Photography and digital marketing both shine a light—literally and figuratively—on what we want others to see and feel. With a strong background in communications, I’ve been honing my craft in photography since 2008 and am a professionally published photographer with iStockphoto by Getty Images.

Our eyes follow the images that guide us, spark curiosity, and shape our perception. Candid interaction ‘moments’ are powerful for both personal storytelling and brand expression. The result: a perspective that finds beauty in the everyday and captures the energy, nuance, and narrative of the world around us.

My genre experience spans travel locations, product photography, portraiture, and event photography, as I strive to be a versatile, skilled visual storyteller. The photography portfolio sections of this site offer a glimpse into my creative approach—imagery with purpose, personality, and heart.

Please reach out to rachel(at)chelfoto.com to connect with inquiries.

More History:

Chelfoto started as an outlet to study and document culture wherever it can be found. Being a Chicago-based photographer has made it even more interesting with international families celebrating with style in front of a stunning city backdrop. Photography has taught me that capturing moments on a global scale only enhances my day-to-day perspective at home in Chicago, and so I became Chelfoto Digital Media.

Photos bring back memories of significance. From the point of getting to know clients, being invited to anniversary parties and events, turning the corner and seeing your work framed in someone’s home, raising more than $2,000 for a Gallery Fundraiser using prints taken after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, or getting published on an international photography website, are all the same reason why this will always be a significant part of life. This is something I take very seriously, and I’m constantly searching to document the most important, meaningful moments for my clients and storytelling on digital channels.

This act of capturing significant memories started early. My mother was also a photographer, which she learned from her dad, and one of our favorite hobbies when I was young was to take photo walks. “Line up the bumble bees in the middle,” she would say when teaching me to use her manual Canon camera to focus the ISO. She shot and developed her own pictures in a creative lab. That’s right, manual. No autofocus at the time! Then, when I got older, we started entering photos into competitions and won first-place blue ribbons in return! She bought me my first 35mm in 1995, an SLR Canon Rebel, after that, and then I was hooked! Her nickname for me was “Chel” so I’ve incorporated this into the name as it’s start has been very personal to me.

In 1999, I photographed a volunteer trip to Monterrey, Mexico, and every year since, for 20+ years, there was an international trip with my cameras ready to do the same. Destinations include Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Haiti, Hungary, and much of the Americas, Caribbean, and Europe. Along the way, I’ve learned Spanish and some German. It’s simpler because ‘foto’ is spelled the same in both languages, so I’ve spelled it that way in ‘Chelfoto’. Photography has been one of my ways to study culture.

To view a gallery specifically of my world travel scenic photography featured by Getty images and other online publications, click here: http://chelfoto.smugmug.com/Travel

Note: A portion of the proceeds supports World Vision, an international relief organization. http://www.worldvision.org/

Chelfoto Digital Media’s Photography History

Rachel has a rich portfolio that includes:

• Travel and Location Photography: Exploring and photographing diverse travel locations, Rachel's images offer a window into the beauty of the world’s cultures at many destinations.

• Product Photography: Creating captivating images that highlight the uniqueness and culture of various calendars, high-quality art prints, and other products, inspiring adventure.

• Portraiture: A formal photo shoot can be done on location for professional headshots, student photos, or with loved ones, creating a gallery of memories to share and look back on for generations.

• Event Photography: Capturing the vibrancy and diversity of Chicago family celebrations and professional events with a keen eye for detail and emotion.

• Wedding Photography: Documenting over 60 weddings in the Chicago area and beyond, Rachel excels at preserving the precious moments of a couple's special day.

  
  
  
  

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