Hey, y'all! So many updates! 

I started a business called Chiles Creative LLC this summer. I write and take photos under that umbrella. I'm official!

• I still use Mary Ellen Chiles Photography as a DBA (doing business as)

This spring and summer I helped several campaigns with portraits and event photos! These included:

• Lucas Kunce for U.S. Senate
• Citizens for Crystal Quade
• Fogle for Missouri
• Blansit for Missouri

I also continued writing for PrimeWays, 417 Biz, the Chamber of Commerce, and others. 

I slowed down on Ol' Abner, my baseball site. I still took photos at occasional Cards games, but sometimes I like baseball to be a nice escape instead of a job. You can, however, find my interview with Jack Flaherty on OA, and more recent pix on my baseball Instagram.

However, I did start covering more Missouri State soccer. I also got a press pass to cover a Sporting KC match in October (I will add photos to this site pronto, but you can find some on my Instagram.

Due to the uncertainty of campaign work and the high rate of inflation, I decided to add a "day job" of sorts late this summer:

• I became a school photographer for Shutterfly. As an unschooled kid I had only one experience with picture day (Glendale High, 2002!), but it's been pretty fun. I think I am more patient because of it. 
• Now, I am adding work as a family studio photographer under the Shutterfly umbrella for the winter. Will I manage? Time will tell! School photos stop until February and I like having a more consistent income stream.

Wait! There's more!

• I have also started writing feature articles for the Springfield Daily Citizen! Huzzah! 
• Here's an article on opera superstar and self-proclaimed hillbilly knight Michael Spyres!
• Here's a piece on former Missouri State hockey player Louis Chaix, who rollerbladed 2900 miles across the US to raise money for a disease that nearly burned him from the inside out ...
• I've also done freelance photography for them! Check it out!

I started doing family photos!

Because I wanted to add another income stream and had never done many family photos, I decided to give it a shot. So fun! You can book here on my website by clicking on "Book Me."

Best Northern Lights? Again? Yes!

• I updated my site and switched to a different host for an easier user experience. Check it out!​​​​​​