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 style inspo

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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Permission To Not Be Ok | My Conversation About Grief On The Inner Monologue Podcast

In the midwest where I’m from, when someone dies, we don’t send flowers and condolences; we send casseroles and small talk. We don’t like to feel uncomfortable with the discomfort of death. It’s unpalatable like those same “death” casseroles that had taken up space in my refrigerator. I assumed after my mother’s suicide that what the people around me wanted was for me to bypass the topic that sat between us all together and instead focus on bite-sized conversations that felt a bit more appetizing.

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Allie + Justin Flagstaff Buffalo Park Adventure Engagement Session With Their Bird Viridian

like you & you want to plan something meaningful, intimate and maybe a little more adventurous and amazing, email me & let’s create something authentically you. I take on a limited number of weddings and elopements each year so that I can be invested and present for you & your story. You are uniquely you unlike anyone else, and I love that. Available for Wedding Photography in Arizona, Minnesota and Worldwide.

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Ceci + Michael-St. Paul Engagement Session

Ceci + Michael-St. Paul Engagement Session