Subscribers are already familiar with Chelsea Sound. She’s the baker behind Achoun’s Bread in Portland. In this week’s Micronesian Monday Feature we get a little more Chelsea and some sage advice. Motivational Micronesian Monday.

Growing up, Chelsea Sound found herself designated as the family photographer.

She said she would be the one tapped to film family gatherings so that her uncle, who was disabled and who was unable to attend, could watch the recording.

“I really enjoyed being behind the camera and getting to capture moments that he would appreciate or find funny,” Chelsea recalled. “Thinking back, that’s probably where the love of taking photos and videos came from.”

photosbychelsss

A post shared by chelsea sound (@photosbychelsss)

Five years ago she started taking photos for fun. As she honed her photographic skills she contemplated buying a camera of her own and, finally, as she said, she bit the bullet. 

The 25-year-old has an Instagram account where she’s uploaded some of her work. The latest photo is captioned “The Mamas” and in it, she captures a jubilant moment among these Micronesian women. You can almost hear the laughter and feel their joy through the picture. 

photosbychelsss

A post shared by chelsea sound (@photosbychelsss)

Her photos have a softness to them and she finds interesting ways to play with light and shadows. 

Her VSCO account showcases even more of her work, a testament to her keen eye. 

photosbychelsss

A post shared by chelsea sound (@photosbychelsss)

“Photography was always intended for fun so I never really thought about what kind of a future I could have with it. I’m very grateful for the people that I’ve gotten to shoot with so far. If opportunities arise, I would totally go for it,” she said. 

Chelsea urges aspiring Micronesian business owners and photographers not to be afraid of failure.

“How else are we supposed to improve our craft if we don’t mess up and learn along the way? The amount of blurry photos I have on my external drive is hilarious,” she said. “The baked goods that I would forget and burn in the oven? Yikes. It is truly a part of the process.”

There will be things that go awry that are not in your control when running a business.

“But I think being Micronesian gives us an advantage when it comes to facing challenges. Our people know how to adapt well and still find a way to provide and take care of our families. It runs in our blood,” Chelsea said. “So take courage. Practice your craft and make time for things that bring you joy.”

Chelsea radiates great energy. I cannot thank her enough for sharing a bit of her life, a lot of her business, and a lot of her time. 

She also makes bread and malasada and sweet rolls by hand. If you’re in the Portland area, shop small and buy from Chelsea. 

Find Chelsea’s photography work on Instagram and VSCO.

Thank you for reading. If you liked this, consider subscribing to The Husk. You’ll get weekly stories about Micronesian makers, creators, and professionals sent to your inbox for free. Do you know a Micronesian we should know about? Email thehusk@substack.com.

Have a great, fearless, week!

Read more about Chelsea

The Husk

Sweet Role: Chelsea Sound, creator of Achoun's Bread

In this Micronesian Monday Feature, we learn about Achoun’s Bread a small online bakery based in Oregon, run by Chuukese creator Chelsea Sound. Imagine biting into a warm, pillowy malasada dusted with sugar with a cup of coffee at the ready. Please, refrain from closing this email to get your next confectionary delight until after you’ve read it (althou……

Read more

20 days ago · Jasmine Stole Weiss