Today we’d like to introduce you to Celeste Feole.
Hi Celeste , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Celeste, and I was born and raised in the Philippines. In 2011, I came to the United States as a J-1 student intern while earning my Bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management. Like many, I started out working a traditional 9–5 job, living paycheck to paycheck while building a life for my family.
In 2018, everything began to shift when my husband gifted me my first professional camera and encouraged me to pursue photography. I was hesitant at first, I started small—shooting for friends and family on my days off—never imagining it would grow into something more.
In 2020, the pandemic changed everything. Like many families, we were impacted by reduced work hours and uncertainty. At the same time, we found ourselves seeking safe ways to spend time together, which led us to camping. That simple idea sparked what would become my camper rental business. I took a leap of faith—building a website and marketing a camper I didn’t even own yet. When my first booking came through, I knew I had to make it happen. With determination, creativity, and a lot of problem-solving, we purchased our first camper, figured out logistics, and officially launched.
At the same time, I went all-in on photography. I built a small home studio in our basement and began offering newborn sessions, eventually expanding into family, senior, and wedding photography. I worked around my husband’s schedule so we could raise our children without the burden of expensive childcare, all while growing the business.
What started as survival during a difficult time has grown into multiple thriving ventures. Today, I run a photography business, a luxury photo booth service, and a camper rental company that serves clients all across Northern Michigan. I’ve also expanded into a creative professional photography studio space for clients and built partnerships within my community.
At the core of everything I do is my family. Building businesses that allow me to be present for my children while creating opportunities for others has been my greatest motivation. My journey is rooted in resilience, faith, and the belief that sometimes the biggest opportunities come from the most uncertain moments.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Behind everything that looks successful today were a lot of risks, uncertainty, and moments where I had to figure things out on the fly.
In the beginning, one of the biggest challenges was simply not having the resources. I launched my camper rental business before even owning a camper, which meant I was taking a huge leap of faith and carrying the pressure of delivering on a promise I hadn’t fully secured yet. Financially, it was stressful to say the least. We were raising three young kids, living paycheck to paycheck, and making decisions that felt risky at the time.
Logistics were another major hurdle. I didn’t have a truck to tow the camper, didn’t have a place to store it due to subdivision restrictions, and didn’t even know how to haul one. Every step required problem-solving, asking for help, and learning quickly. There were moments where everything could have easily fallen apart, but I just kept pushing forward.
On the photography side, building a client base was a quite a challenge because I wasn’t originally from here all while balancing motherhood it was not an easy task. I was working nights, weekends, and around my husband’s schedule just to make it work. There were long days, little sleep, and a lot of trial and error in growing both my skills and my business.
Emotionally, there were also doubts—wondering if I was doing the right thing, if the risks would pay off, and if I could truly build something sustainable for my family.
But those struggles shaped everything. They forced me to become resourceful, resilient, and confident in my ability to figure things out no matter what comes my way. Looking back, the road wasn’t smooth—but every challenge played a role in getting me to where I am today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a multi-business owner based in Northern Michigan, and I specialize in creating elevated, experience-driven services through my brands. I am the founder of Celeste Lovely Photography, a luxury photo booth service, and a camper rental company that delivers fully set-up campers across Northern Michigan.
In photography, I specialize in branding, motherhood, newborn, and milestone sessions, as well as weddings and senior portraits. My style is clean, timeless, and intentional. I focus on creating images that not only look beautiful but make my clients feel confident and seen. Beyond just taking photos, I guide my clients through posing, lighting, and overall vision so they walk away truly loving their images.
My camper rental business is known for convenience and experience. We don’t just rent campers. I deliver, set up, and create an stress-free experience for families, travelers, and event guests. As our tag-line says “Camping in style without all the hassle.” We try to deliver just that and then some…Over time, I’ve expanded this into a consignment model, managing multiple units and helping others generate passive income through their own campers.
I’m also proud to have expanded into a luxury photo booth experience and launched a creative studio space in Gaylord that gives my clients access to a high-end environment without additional fees. Everything I build is centered around providing value, ease, and an elevated client experience.
What I’m most proud of is building multiple businesses from the ground up while raising my children and staying present in their lives. Every decision I’ve made has been rooted in creating both financial stability and freedom for my family.
What sets me apart is my ability to see opportunity where others might see limitations. I’m not afraid to take calculated risks, figure things out as I go, and turn ideas into something tangible. I also genuinely care about the experience I provide, whether it’s a photography session, an event, or a camper rental, I want people to feel taken care of from start to finish.
At the end of the day, my businesses are built on creativity, resilience, and a deep commitment to both my clients and my community.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is my family and the life we’re building together. Everything I do is rooted in creating freedom, freedom with my time, freedom to be present, and freedom to raise my kids without choosing between work and motherhood.
I also care deeply about leading by example. I want my children to see that it’s possible to build something from nothing through hard work, creativity, determination and optimism.
At the end of the day, success for me isn’t just about income but it’s about time, presence, and the legacy I’m creating for my family.
Pricing:
- Weddings starting at $1000
- Senior Sessions starting at $175
- Camper Rentals starting at $575 delivered
- Photo Booth Rental as low as $450
- Vintage Telephone Video Guestbook – The Love line starts at $750
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.celestelovely.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestelovelyphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelesteLovelyCamper and https://www.facebook.com/celestelovelyphotographyllc
