My name is Chaunci Pirhalla, and photography has been my way of seeing the world since I was sixteen. I am old enough that my journey began with film and moved to digital years later. Eventually, I moved into professional training as a portrait photographer and managed a studio in St. Louis, Missouri. My early experiences prepared me for the work I am most in love with and focus on now, documentary-style Day In The Life and Birthing Photography. This raw, unscripted, authentic reflection of our lives, the (sometimes missed) story that lies beneath the one we tell ourselves, is the photography work that deeply resonates with me. Honestly, I really grew into the power of this work after becoming a mother. The role of parenting opened me to the importance of holding, creating, and honoring the space for small moments that evoke big emotions and strong memories.  Documentary photography has led me to further my training in technical instruction, depth psychology, ethical storytelling, and actively engage in volunteer work. I have taught numerous workshops in digital and film formats and am proud to have earned certifications from esteemed programs like Photographers Without Borders.

My home base is just outside Asheville, NC, in the quaint town of Brevard. I am grateful to work locally and bring my photography to different corners of the globe. Over the past fifteen years, I have also worked as a travel director, offering my photography to clients in over 16 countries.  I've had the privilege of working with organizations, non-profits, corporations, and individuals on a range of projects, including personal documentation, editorial, print, marketing, fundraising, and website content.