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 creative director phoenix

Branded | Hatun Haus Import Boutique

PhotographyRachel SmakNovember 9, 2020HATUN Fine Olive Oilsbranding photographer arizona, brand, brand photographer tempe, brand photography gilbert arizona, brand photographer in phoenix, branding photographer gilbert, branding photographer scottsdale, Branding photographer, brand campaign, branding photographer colorado, brand consulting, branding photographer minneapolis, branding phoenix, branding professional, professional photographer, professional website arizona, professional website minnesota, professional website phoenix, logo design, logo branding, Design studio in phoenix, phoenix brand, phoenix branding, phoenix brand photographer, phoenix logo design, phoenix copywriter, phoenix content writer, phoenix copy writer, phoenix commercial photography, creative hybrid, creative director phoenix, phoenix creative director, phoenix engagement photography, phoenix photographer, phoenix lifestyle photographer, arizona li, phoenix commercial photographer, commer, commercial photography, commercial brand photographer in arizona, commercial brand photographer phoenix, olive oil branding, olive oil brand photography, marketing, marketing strategist, business marketing blog, business branding tips

Branded | Hunter, Gatherer, & Treasure Finder, The Story of Kalen Mehlman Owner of Kalen's Place

PhotographyRachel SmakDecember 13, 2019Kalen's Placebrand photographer tempe, brand photographer in phoenix, brand photography in arizona, scottsdale freelance copywriter, website themes phoenix, website themes, phoenix website designer, branding photographer arizona, business branding tips, business marketing blog, interior design, arizona interior decor, arizona interior floral installations, artist, arizona artist, arizona art class, phoenix copywriter, phoenix blogger, phoenix content writer, photographer tempe az, phoenix freelance copywriter, phoenix event space, brand consulting, brand photographer in arizona, brand photography teaspressa arizona, creative hybrid, Phoenix based creative director, creative director phoenix, phoenix creative director, arizona creative, arizona creative community, The Beach House Restaurant Arizona, Kalen's Place, Kalen Dee Studios, Kalen's Place Design, Design studio in phoenix, webdesign firm phoenix, interior design phoenix, creative clients phoenix, The Beach House Restaurant, The Beach House Restaurant Phoenix, The Beach House Restaurant Phoenix Arizona, interior design copy, interior design website, interior design seo, interior design photography, artist website design, artist copy