meet rachel
I actually became a photographer because I learned how quickly life can change.
I’M RACHEL.
I’m a wedding photographer, a mom, a former teacher, and someone who somehow always has approximately 47 things going on at once.
But photography wasn’t something I’d dreamed about since I was a kid.
When I was 24, I went through a divorce with a one-year-old.
Suddenly, I wasn’t there for every bedtime. Every morning. Every little milestone.
There were parts of my son’s childhood that I only heard about after they happened.
And that was hard.
Really hard.
When you go from seeing your child every day to only seeing them part of the time, you become painfully aware of how quickly moments disappear.
Photography started as a way to hold onto what felt impossible to hold onto.
And somewhere along the way, it became so much more than that.
A few months after my divorce, I met my now-fiancé, Zac. He showed me what a healthy, steady kind of love could look like.
Not the grand, movie kind.
The everyday kind.
The kind that shows up. The kind that makes you feel safe.
And seeing that kind of love—and watching my son grow up surrounded by it—changed me, too and it made me realize something: What I loved about photography wasn’t just getting to take photos of the two of you at a huge party. It was getting to document people loving each other in a world where moments are fleeting.
THAT'S THE PART THAT STUCK WITH ME.
I think once you’ve experienced how quickly life can change, you look at photographs differently.
They’re not just pretty things to hang on your wall. They’re proof. Proof that you were there. Proof of what your people looked like at that exact point in your lives. Proof of the way someone looked at you before either of you realized how much you’d miss that version of your life someday.
And that’s probably why I’m so sentimental about this job…because I know first hand these photographs become more valuable with time.
THE STORY BEHIND THE CAMERA
it’s fine. It’s only 4 o’clock.
That’s literally why you’re hiring me. I’m awkward in front of the camera too.
Put me on a plane and I’m happy.
Sorry. I don’t make the rules.
I will absolutely have a plan but I will also be completely fine when we abandon it.
Which means I’m really good at getting people to listen to me when I tell them where to stand.
THE LESS SERIOUS VERSION.
You can have the portraits. You can have the candids. You can have the beautifully composed, editorial images and jaw dropping detail shots AND actually be present for your wedding. That’s the whole point.
Yes I’ll move you into better light. I’ll tell you where to stand if it’s beneficial to you and the photo and I’ll give you something to do with your hands when your brain suddenly forgets how arms work (this is a real struggle, trust me lol)
I’ll make sure you get those editorial portraits you were hoping for and we’ll be intentional about the time we use to take them (typically no more than 15 minutes) and mark my words I will make sure you are eating those hor dourves at cocktail hour.
I fully believe getting beautiful photographs shouldn't require you to spend your entire wedding performing for the camera.
But I’m also not a “I’ll just stand in the corner and never speak to you” kind of documentary photographer either.
Because more often than not, some of the best photographs need a little direction.
Those are the photographs I don’t want you to miss.
It means I’m paying attention. Like a lot of attention.
I’m watching what’s happening around you while you’re busy actually living your wedding day.
The way your dad looks at you before you walk down the aisle. Your brother who has everyone crying laughing during cocktail hour talking about how quirky you were as a kid. The way you reach for your partner’s hand without even thinking about it.
Think all of the tiny things that happen in between the things that were actually on the timeline.
But it is a day you’re going to wish you could relive someday and the only way you get to do that is through the photos. So yes, I’m going to care about the lighting and making sure you look incredible BUT I’m also going to care about whether you’re actually enjoying yourself. Whether you got to sit and eat dinner. Whether you danced with your friends. Whether you got five minutes alone with your new spouse. Whether you got to be there.
The photographs are supposed to remind you how your wedding felt.
They shouldn’t be the reason you missed it.