Kelly Eskelsen Photography

Name: Kelly Eskelsen Photography
Address: Annapolis, MD, US
Telephone: +12108235533

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Kelly Eskelsen Photography

USNA Midshipman and Senior Portrait Specialist in Annapolis, Maryland. USNA Portraits, Seniors, Headshots and more!

05/08/2026

Your photos should represent you exactly as you are as you complete your journey at USNA. Cami’s session reminded me of that because we began in her Navy choker whites doing some standard feminine posing, it was cute, but I can always feel when something isn’t landing for someone in front of my camera. I can tell when I am having someone do something that isn’t “them”. And I don’t want that. In this session, I didn’t feel like I got to REALLY meet Cami until she was in her MARPATS. She wore them like she was born in them. I know this woman was made to be a Marine after spending one hour with her. Once she swapped uniforms, everything about the rest of the session felt more authentic and easy. I felt I was able to honor WHO she is. Then by the time we put her gloves on, I knew I was getting to see who she really was; easygoing and kind, intelligent, quick to smile and laugh… but a tiny undertone of “try me”.
Having someone show me who they are and trust me with their image is a privilege. And these are experiences I live for as a photographer. I’m very grateful. Thanks for letting play, Cami! You’re the best

05/04/2026

Malachi and I have an inside joke where I call him my “junior photographer.” It started because somewhere along the line, people began asking for my junior photographer’s schedule.

The funny part? While Malachi is younger than me, I didn’t hire a junior photographer—I hired an associate. I brought him on knowing he already produces elevated work.

All I really did was walk him around the yard, show him a few of my go-to locations and traditional poses, explain what you can and can’t do in uniform, what to do when colors goes off, and give him just enough Navy lingo to get by.

From there… he’s taken it and run.

As I work through edits, I can already see him getting stronger every day as he settles into the culture, the light, and the rhythm of the yard. He’s finding shots I haven’t even thought of yet, and honestly—it’s awesome to watch.

The sets and reps are sharpening him here, no doubt; But he was never my junior. I’m just really grateful to have him as an associate. 💜

05/01/2026

You’ve seen my photos for years and you know I added Malachi to my team, so I want to take a few posts and show you the amazing work he has been producing. This particular session blew my mind. Any photographer with experience will take one look at these and tell you that light was HARSH and difficult for portraiture. While most portrait photographers immediately look for open shade or somwhere to hide from it, the BOSSES learn to work WITH it to create stunning, dynamic, emotional images like Malachi did here. This set exemplifies the elevated journey and growth Mids experince here on the yard and OF COURSE it shows how beautiful and capable Miss Murphy is. He managed to work the light and draw out her sweet personality. I love that she included her ensign cover as well! All around perfection for Malachi and Miss Murphy. If you’re booked with Malachi, you’re in GOOD hands ✨✨✨

04/29/2026

Last day vibes courtesy of Malachi and Mr. Carroll😏😎

📸:
Edit: meeeeeee

03/28/2026

I’ve been getting a lot of questions this week about base access and weather, so I wanted to use these photos of Luke to grab your attention and reassure you on both! 💜

First—base access: both Malachi and I are fully approved to be on the yard, and we have not missed any sessions. Due to restrictions. If anything were to change, we would communicate with you immediately!

Second—weather: it looks gross this week! I always aim for the best possible conditions for your session because it truly impacts the quality of your portraits. If weather looks questionable, I reach out directly to the Midshipman to see if a reschedule is possible. If not, we can often use beautiful covered or sheltered locations. And if conditions are too harsh (for you or my equipment), we’ll work together to find a new time very soon so you still receive images worthy of this moment.

Thank you so much for trusting me with these decisions—it means everything, and it allows me to create the best possible work for you. 💜

02/23/2026

Do you have a favorite location on the Yard?⁠
⁠
After abour 500 sessions, I can say these three are my favorite: ⁠
⁠
#4 - The Chapel Dome⁠
A no-brainer and obvious choice as it is arguably the most iconic structure on the yard! After all, The Naval Academy Chapel, and specifically the chapel dome was constructed by Ernest Flagg himself to be the crown jewel of the United States Naval Academy!⁠
⁠
#3- Dhalgren Hall⁠
With its fantastically dramatic lights, the wriight flyer, and large windows, this is the most versitile space for photographing on the yard. ⁠
⁠
#2 - The Sea Wall⁠
Sunrise and sunset is my jam! So, maybe it’s not an obvious choice, but for me it is purely a personal one. I am an outdoorsy person. and I’m also a sucker for the drama and beauty that nature lays out on the Severn River every single day, twice a day.⁠
⁠
#1 - Mahan Hall⁠
With its perfect symmetry, open shade, and unmistakable Naval Academy details -from cannons and stairways to gold details, arches, doors, flags, and the piano room and marbled interior spaces—Mahan Hall is my favorite place. Maybe I should keep this one a secret? Ha!

02/17/2026

“Presidents’ Day always makes me think about legacy 🇺🇸💜

About leadership. About service. About the quiet beginnings that eventually shape history.

Did you know that Jimmy Carter was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy before he ever became President? Long before the world knew his name, he was a young midshipman with a uniform, a future, and a story just beginning.

That’s why military portraits matter so much.

These images aren’t just “nice photos.” They are documentation. They are history in real time. They are the before of a life that will hold leadership, sacrifice, adventure, growth, and impact.

Every midshipman standing in front of my camera is at the starting line of something extraordinary. And years from now, these portraits will say, “This is where it began.” ✨

On this Presidents’ Day, I’m reminded that today’s uniforms may hold tomorrow’s leaders. And that preserving this season — right now — is more important than we even realize 💜

02/14/2026

“Happy Valentine’s Day to those celebrating today 💜✨

Love is such a beautiful thing to witness—especially when it’s just beginning it’s forever chapter like with this awesome mid and his sweet bride-to-be at ring dance last year. Let’s hope we all have a chance to be looked at the way these two look at one another!
Celebrating love today and always ✨
And sending a little extra to these two. Happy Valentine’s Day 💜

02/12/2026

More work by Malachi! Also, We will be at Commissionig 101 THIS Saturday Feb 14 if you want to come meet us! There WILL be an event special for those who book with us! MOSTLY, I would love to see you in real life, introduce you to Malachi, and show you all the cool stuff I never have the time to put on social media!

02/09/2026

As you know, I am featuring my new associate photographer, Malachi this week! Today, I wanted to tell you WHY I chose him. For starters, I’ve known Malachi for a couple of years through the Peculiar Collective. He’s even taken photos of my daughter for me. I surely admired his superb technical skill and kind demeanor. But then I saw him working on the yard this summer for Plebe summer. I watched him fall in love with the Naval Academy, USNA culture, and Midshipman Photos. All sumer long, he had many questions and was seeking to learn more about photos on the yard and immediately applying skills myself and other photographers shared with him. Then, It hit me one day while watching him take photos of plebes turning themselves into sugar cookies via calesthenics in the severn... THIS GUY is the answer to a long time prayer that I’ve had about how I may be able to help more Mids and their parents document their legacy every year; someone talented, kind, and outgoing who was both looking for this work and trustworthy enough that I could share the blueprint to this business I have grown with all my heart and passion. I could not allow just anyone near my Mids and Mid parents! So pelase know, this is no accident! If you book with Malachi, you are in very very good hands! Link in bio for ALLLLL the info!

Address

Annapolis, MD

Telephone

+12108235533

Website

http://www.kellyeskelsenphotography.com/, https://lnk.bio/kellyeskelsenphotography

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