Hi, I’m Rachel.

I’m an adventure lovin’, thrill seeking, photographer and writer based in Phoenix AZ, and Minneapolis, MN. My heart beats for cacti, city skylines, handcrafted old fashioneds and potatoes in any form.

In 2017 I lost my mom to suicide and spiraled down the awkward and emotionally isolating experience commonly referred to as grief. My story doesn’t exactly have an a-ha! moment because the light bulb that lit up for me was on a dimmer switch but since her death I slowly discovered that grief doesn’t happen in a vacuum, but alongside a mixture of all the other human emotions—joy, hope, fear, anger, and even love. Grief’s imprint taught me that life is precious and sparked me to quit my 9-5, uproot my life to the desert, and pursue my passion for creative storytelling full time.

Now I navigate life with my camera in one hand and a pen in the other and my blog is a mashup of love stories, brand stories, mental health and grief stories (it’s a niche), and my “real life” (I can’t make this shit up) stories. I bring heart and a little humor to even the toughest of stories and candidly share about a range of topics including living through loss, grief, and new beginnings, and how to run a creative based business.

Latest From The Blog

Posts tagged bartlett lake scottsdale arizona wedding

Marsha + Joe Bartlett Lake Arizona Stylized Shoot

PhotographyRachel SmakFebruary 26, 20191970 bronco engagement, 1970 bronco engagement session, 1970 bronco stylized photoshoot, 1970 bronco stylized shoot, 70s Engagement Photos for Groovy People, 70s inspired stylized engagement, Adventurous Engagement Photographer, Adventurous Engagement Photographer Arizona, Adventurous Engagement Photographer California, Adventurous Engagement Photographer Colorado, Adventurous Engagement Photographer Minneapolis, Adventurous Engagement Photographer Minnesota, Adventurous Engagement Photographer New York City, Adventurous Engagement Photographer Utah, Adventurous Engagement Photos, Adventurous Engagement Photos Arizona, Adventurous Engagement Session, Adventurous Engagement Shoot, arizona boudoir photographer, arizona brand photographer, arizona commercial photographer, arizona content creator, arizona copywriter, arizona editorial photographer, arizona editorial photography, arizona elopement photographer, arizona elopement photography, arizona elopement session, arizona enagement photography, arizona engagement photographer, arizona engagement photos, arizona engagement session, arizona freelance copywriter, arizona freelance photographer, arizona lifestyle photographer, arizona photographer, arizona wedding, arizona wedding photography, arizona writer, Arizona's Premiere Photographer, AUTHENTIC ARIZONA WEDDING & ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY, bartlett lake, bartlett lake engagement, bartlett lake engagement arizona, bartlett lake scottsdale arizona stylized shoot, bartlett lake scottsdale arizona wedding, bartlett lake stylized shoot, bartlett lake wedding, best places to take engagement photos az, Bohemian styled engagement, Bohemian styled engagement California, Bohemian styled engagement Phoenix, Bohemian styled engagement Scottsdale, Bohemian styled engagement session, Bohemian styled engagement shoot, Bohemian styled engagement shoot arizona, boho engagement photos, Bright and Fun Engagement Session | Renting a Bronco, bronco engagement, Classic Car Engagement, como park engagement photos, couple pose idea, Elopement photographer, Engagement is Full of 1970s Vibes, engagement photos Wedding Blog Posts, Engagement session with vintage car, escaping winter, Fearless Love, Green Wedding Shoes, Junkyard Engagement Session, minneapolis wedding photographer, mpls wedding photographer, mpls wedding photography, Outdoorsy and Adventurous Engagement Shoot, Outdoorsy and Adventurous Engagement Shoot Arizona, Outdoorsy and Adventurous Engagement Shoot Bartlett Lake, Outdoorsy and Adventurous Engagement Shoot Phoenix, Outdoorsy and Adventurous Engagement Shoot Scottsdale, phoenix blogger, phoenix boudoir photographer, phoenix brand photographer, phoenix commercial photographer, phoenix commercial photography, phoenix copy writer, phoenix copywriter, phoenix editorial photographer, phoenix editorial photography, phoenix engagement photographer, phoenix engagement photography, Phoenix Engagement Photos, phoenix engagement session, phoenix freelance copywriter, phoenix freelance photographer, phoenix freelance writer, phoenix lifestyle photographer, phoenix photographer, phoenix social media stratagest, phoenix wedding photographer, phoenix wedding photography, phoenix weddings, photography gear for beginners, photography gear guide, phx blogger, phx engagement photographer, phx wedding photographer, pinup engagement, pinup engagement session, romantic couple photos, Romantic Vintage Car Engagement Session At Sunset, scottsdale boudoir photographer, scottsdale brand photographer, scottsdale commercial photographer, scottsdale copy writer, scottsdale copywriter, scottsdale editorial photographer, scottsdale editorial photography, scottsdale engagement photographer, scottsdale engagement photography, scottsdale engagement photos, scottsdale engagement session, scottsdale freelance copywriter, scottsdale freelance photographer, scottsdale freelance writer, scottsdale lifestyle photographer, scottsdale photographer, scottsdale wedding photographer, scottsdale wedding photography, scottsdale wedding photos, scottsdaleweddingphotos, Sexy Romantic Couples, Sexy Romantic Couples Photography, st paul engagement photographer, st paul engagement photography, st paul engagement photos, st paul photographer, st paul photography, St- Paul MN Elopement photographer, St- Paul wedding photographer, St- Paul Wedding Photography, st- paul wedding photos, stylized collaboration, stylized shoot in scottsdale, stylized shoot with bronco, stylized shoot with vintage bronco in arizona, stylized shoot with vintage car, stylized shoot with vintage car in scottsdale arizona, sunset engagement, sunset engagement session, sunset engagement session in arizona, superstition mountain engagement photographer, superstition mountain engagement photography, Tattoo Engagement Session, Tattooed Couple - Engagement Session, tattooed engagement, Tattooed Rustic Ranch Engagement Session, The Beach and a Vintage Ford Bronco, This 1970s-Themed Engagement Photo Shoot Won The Internet, This Couple Shot 70s-Themed Engagement Photos, Vintage Car Engagement Session, Vintage Car Engagement Session Arizona, Vintage car engagement shoot, Vintage car engagement shoot Bartlett Lake Arizona, vintage car shoot, Wanderlust Hippie Chic Boho Engagement, Wanderlust Hippie Chic Boho Engagement Photographer, Wanderlust Hippie Chic Boho Engagement Photographer Arizona, Wanderlust Hippie Chic Boho Engagement Photography, Wanderlust Hippie Chic Boho Engagement Photography Arizona, Wanderlust Hippie Chic Boho Engagement Session, Wanderlust Hippie Chic Boho Engagement Session Arizona, Wanderlust Hippie Chic Boho Engagement Session Mesa Arizona, Wanderlust Hippie Chic Boho Engagement Session Phoenix Arizona, Wanderlust Hippie Chic Boho Engagement Session Superstition Mountain, wanderlust hippie chic engagement