Why did I choose to be a Photographer?

Why did I choose to be a photographer?

Growing up, I always had a camera in my hands. My grandparents bought me a little point-and-shoot digital camera, and I took it everywhere.

One day, I snapped a picture of a truck speeding down the highway from my grandparents' yard. Looking back, it may not have been anything extraordinary, but I remember loving the composition and thinking it looked so cool. When I showed my grandparents, they told me, "You could be a photographer one day."

As the years went by, my love for photography continued to grow. Then, as an early college graduation gift, my grandparents bought me my first professional camera—a Nikon D3400. I spent the next year learning everything I could, practicing whenever I had the chance, and falling even more in love with photography. In May 2018, I officially started REA Photography. The first couple of years were slow. I wasn't making money, and there were times I wondered if photography would ever become more than a hobby. But I kept showing up. I kept practicing. I watched videos, studied other photographers, experimented with new techniques, and challenged myself to improve with every session. After COVID, things began to change. More families started trusting me with their memories, and my calendar slowly began to fill. Looking back now, I can see how God was preparing me during those quiet years. He was teaching me patience, perseverance, and the importance of doing every session with excellence, even when no one seemed to notice.

By 2023, photography no longer felt like just a hobby—it had become my calling. Every year since has been busier than the last, and I continue to be amazed by how God has grown REA Photography. REA Photography started because of two people. Two people who invested in a camera, not knowing that it would become a business that God would use to bless my life. 

I picked up a camera because I loved taking pictures, but I never imagined it would grow into a business that would allow me to meet so many incredible people and preserve some of life's most meaningful moments. From welcoming newborns into the world to celebrating seniors as they prepare for their next chapter, it has been such a blessing to be trusted with these memories.

If we've never met, hi! I'm Rachel—the eyes behind the camera at REA Photography. I'm a small-town photographer who loves Jesus, golden hour, creative mini sessions, and helping people feel comfortable in front of the camera.

One of my biggest goals isn't just to give you beautiful images. It's to create an experience where you can create memories.  God has gifted me with the ability to take good photos and I feel that it is what He wants me to do. I try my very best to make sure that all the glory goes to Him, because without his guidance I wouldn't be where I am today. I hope that when given the opportunity to take photos, people see Him in all of it. The experience, the images, everything. I don't do photography to make a lot of money, but as a chance to glorify God. The past 8 years has taught me so much and I know for sure that one thing I have learned is that when I put God before everything else, the rest falls into place. My hope for new clients (and current clients) is that you see Jesus in the way that I run this business. Every time I pick up my camera, I remind myself that I'm doing more than taking pictures. I'm preserving a mother's first moments with her newborn. I'm documenting the excitement of a senior's final year of high school. I'm capturing grandparents who won't always be here and children who won't stay little forever. Those moments matter. Photography has given me a front-row seat to some of life's greatest blessings, and I don't take that responsibility lightly. If God allows me the opportunity to tell your family's story one day, I would be honored to do so.

Whether you've been here since the beginning or you're just finding my page, thank you for being here.