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 engagement photography st paul city

Amanda + Josh’s Urban Parking Garage Engagement Session Part One

PhotographyRachel SmakJuly 17, 2020Gilbert, AZengagement outfits, Engagement Photos, engagement shoot tips, engagement photos Wedding Blog Posts, engagement photographer phoenix, engagement photography washington, engagement photography st paul city, engagement photography boston, Elopement and Couples photographer in arizona, engagement session tips, engagement photography phoenix, engagement photography with kid, engagement photos with kid, engagement photos with son, engagement photos with child, engagement photography with son, wedding photography copywrtier phoenix arizona, wedding photographer scottsdale arizona, wedding photographer phoenix, wedding blogger, engagement blogger, engagement blogger phoenix, Wedding Photography in Arizona, wedding photographer's guide to engagement photos, personality engagement photos, parking garage photoshoot, parking garage couple photoshoot, couple pose idea, Couples‎ photography arizona, romantic modern engagement session arizona, romantic modern engagement session scottsdale, romantic urban photoshoot, romantic urban engagement, romantic modern engagement session, romantic modern engagement session st paul, romantic modern engagement session minneapolis, romantic modern engagement session minnesota, romantic modern engagement session phoenix, Phoenix based engagement, phoenix engagement session, Phoenix Engagement Photos, phoenix weddings, phoenix urban engagement photos, phoenix urban couple, phoenix urban couple engagement photos, photoshoot, photoshoot in phoenix, photo ideas for phoenix, romantic couple photos, romantic couples photography, couples with a child photography

Mackenzie + Phil's Cobblestone Alleyway St. Paul, MN Engagement

Phil and Mackenzie are marrying at the Blaisdell in Minneapolis in a few short months, and I couldn't be more excited to hang out with them again soon. We had a blast at their engagement session and although I've known Mackenzie from our time together slinging coffee as barista's long ago I really enjoyed my chance to get to know Phil better and watch the two of them interact as a couple. We spent the afternoon for their engagement session roaming the adorable alleyways of their neighborhood in St. Paul that housed so much character and history, and it was the perfect start to what's shaping up to be a perfect wedding day.

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