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 marketing strategist

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 | Inspired Architecture Is the Blueprint for ALINE’s Success

Photography, BusinessRachel SmakApril 10, 2020ALINE Architecture Conceptsbrand photography, commercial photography, brand photographer tempe, architecture, branding photographer arizona, branding, branding photography phoenix, phoenix content writer, phoenix copywriter, ALINE branding session, ALINE, architecture Phoenix, Phoenix Architecture, Branding photographer, hiring a brand photographer, branding professional, branding professional phoenix, marketing strategist, digital marketing strategist phoenix, social media branding, rachel smak writer, rachel smak blog, marketing blog, business marketing blog, business branding tips, SEO for small business in arizona, brand consulting, professional photographer, visual brand direction, visual collectives, commercial brand photographer in arizona, phx commercial photographer, phoenix blogger, phoenix commercial photographer, phoenix commercial photography, commercial brand photographer phoenix, branding phoenix, small business branding, architecture branding, architecture firm branding