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 phoenix branding

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 | Metamorphosis Fitness by Deanna Kane

PhotographyRachel SmakSeptember 11, 2020Metamorphasis Fitnesswebsite designer, phoenix website designer, phoenix web design, phoenix branding, phoenix brand, phoenix lifestyle photographer, phoenix creative director, website themes scottsdale, website themes mesa, website themes phoenix, brand photographer tempe, brand photographer in phoenix, brand photography gilbert arizona, brand photographer in arizona, brand photography phx, brand photography in arizona, brand photography arizona, brand consulting, branding, photographer tempe az, phoenix freelance photographer, phoenix photographer, fitness photographer, fitness photography, fitness photographer phoenix, business, small business branding, small business mindset shifts, SEO for small business in arizona, website copy phoenix, website copy arizona, website copy, website copy gilbert, scottsdale copywriter, phoenix copy writer, scottsdale copy writer, scottsdale copywriting, freelance writer, freelance copywriter, arizona freelance copywriter, scottsdale freelance copywriter, arizona photographer, arizona business, arizona fitness trainer, photography, brand photography, brand photographer phx, brand photographer gilbert, brand photography tempe, brand photographer gilbert arizona, fitness coaching, fitness coaching arizona, arizona fitness coach, arizona, arizona fitness branding, arizona fitness photographer