» Personal Projects

So much graditude…

Rachael Grace Photography — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:44:07 +0000

…for everyone that said yes, that said prayers, that gave words of encouragement before and after the trip, that where there when I needed someone and put money on the table. Thank you. I’ve left a piece of my heart in Nepal that someday I will have to go back to. The children are beyond adorable and melted my heart on more then one occasion. And the shire generosity and humanity of the Nepali people blew me away.

I have so many stories, photos and videos to share. I scarcely don’t know where to begin. I feel a huge obligation to the people of Nepal not to forget everything I saw. And to tell the rest of the world how incredibly humble, happy and resilient the Nepali people are.

I’m still working through everything that a trip like this gives you, but I promise to share more as the desire stirs in my heart. And as I find the words that the Nepali people deserve.

A quick glimpse into Nepal. My wonderful host family in the village of Phulali. We were the first westerns to ever stay in the village let alone help build a school. Honor doesn’t go far enough. Boys enjoying the view while reading

This is the view of Phulali as we hiked into the village. The pile of rock and dirt to the right is where the school will be.

The view as we left the village just 7 days later.

A progression shot of the site. All the rocks were moved, crushed, dirt sifted by us or the incredibly strong Nepali workers. No earth movers here!Bright, resilient, and giddy with happiness these are just three of the girls that will benefit from the school.

And just a few shots of Nepal life.

My life will never be the same in the best way possible. Nepal has a piece of my heart forever and I can’t wait to share more stories of these beautiful people.

Humbled and so much gratitude. Life is good.

It takes a Village

Rachael Grace Photography — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 02:26:27 +0000

It takes a village to raise a child, or for that matter put her through school. Whether it be here in the good old US of A or in a small village in Nepal. It takes everyone doing their part to see to her future.

Many of you already know that I’m headed to Nepal in just a few short weeks to help build a school for girls. My passion and shire excitement can’t be fully expressed through words. I’m over the moon with anticipation. But I’m also nervous. There’s going to be a lot of first’s on this trip, including a 10 hour hike one way. But despite all the worrying and fussing, I can’t contain my excitement! Seriously SOOO much good is going to come from us all being a part of it. So many amazing souls to meet and hear their story! So so so much good. A school means a higher education, life beyond poverty, a future to become whatever they want, a means OUT of their current situation. And you know what the most amazing part is? YOU CAN BE A PART OF IT TOO! When everyone comes together it’s amazing what can be accomplished. The girls in Nepal need our help and I want to take you along with me to do it…together. Be apart of something so much larger then yourself and bring hope to hundreds of girls for years to come. If we work together we can move mountains…maybe even the Himalayan Mountains.

Alexa (another awesome chick headed to Nepal) and I have put together a drink night at Delite to raise funds for the trip and get people involved here. Check out the invite and if you need something to do on a Tuesday evening, please consider joining us for a Kentucky Cider! Cider to School House Fund Raiser! Join us in building a bright and wonderful future for these girls.

When: Tuesday Nov. 8th 6pm-9pm

Where: Delite, 32 S. Broadway

Why: Because a school would mean a BRIGHT future for hundreds of girls.

If you can’t make it out to our event please consider joining us in spirit and donating HERE. Every amount matters and every heart matters. I’m so humbled to be the spokesperson for you. You are the one that make it possible and you are the one that I will carry with me as we do something amazing together.

THANK YOU THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to all of you who have shown your support in one way or another. I wish I could squeeze you into my carry on bag. Your support is what gives me hope that anything is possible when you believe and when people come together. I’m truly honored to carry the torch and bring new life to girls in Nepal. *hugs*

I will leave the world a better place then when I found it.
Rachael

Portraits for Nepal

Rachael Grace Photography — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:03:41 +0000

When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better.

We all know how important an education is, to our children as well as to the children living in poverty. An education can change the path of a child in poverty so drastically that everyone around them changes too.

A few months ago I met some amazing people through Architecture for Humanity and Edge of 7. The spirit of these people has been awe inspiring and life changing for me. The two organizations have teamed up to build schools for girls in the Everest Region of Nepal. A region that the majority of the people live on less then a dollar a day and most girls never get past the 8th grade. Change Begins with Her is an amazing documentary showing just what these girls face every single day. Things most teenage girls here in America can’t even fathom.

For me seeing a project that encompassed architecture, education and girls was like a light bulb going off. I have to do something for these amazing girls. I want to go. I want to get my hands dirty and see first hand what these girls face. So I am going to Nepal! A trip that will take all my faith, energy and strength. But a trip that I hope will change so many lives beyond my little world.

So to help raise the money for the girls in Nepal and my trip I’m doing special portrait sessions just for them. I’m so excited to offer packages that not only give my clients a deal but also will go directly to helping the girls in Nepal. All proceeds will go to Edge of 7.

The details:

Package A $250

A 45 minute session and disk of 35 images.

Package B $500

A 45 minute session, a disk of 35 images, and 50 Christmas Cards

Package C $750

A 45 minute session, a disk of 35 images, 50 Christmas Cards, and 2 signed fine art prints from Nepal. AND styling by the uber talented Jill of Common Couture! (not sure what to where or want your hair and make up done, Jill’s your gal!)

Session will be held on three different dates, Saturday Oct 15th, Sunday Oct 23rd and Thursday Oct 27th. There are also 4 time slots each day, 10am, 11:15am , 3pm, and 4:15pm.

Locations of the portraits are Saturday Oct 15th at a secret location here in Denver. It’s a fantastic park that won’t disappoint. When you sign up I’ll fill you in on where the park is.

Sunday the 23rd and Thursday the 27th will be at Botanic Gardens Chatfield. They have their awesome corn maze going on right now!

I feel so blessed to have such amazing opportunities and such amazing clients. Thank you so much to all of you for your support and love. I can’t wait to get back and blog all about the amazing people I’ll meet.

If you’d like to support the girls and the trip without purchasing a portrait session please click here. THANK YOU so much!

And portrait session can be just couples too, not limited to families.

Spots are limited so sign up quick!

*hugs*

(Nepal photos taken by Sarah Andrews)

Life as a home owner

indeliblemind — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:55:38 +0000

Life as a home owner is always interesting, especially when you bought a foreclosure property. Many of you already know that we are always doing something to the house, but recently it’s just been boring projects that you really don’t even see. But over the fourth of July weekend we called in the troops, aka our fathers, to help build a much needed deck in the backyard. When we bought the house the yard was nothing but weeds. We planted grass and put in the pavers our first summer in the house. Then along came a four legged crazy dog named Champ, who promptly all but destroyed the grass. The back step had become nothing but dirt, which of course brought the dirt straight into my kitchen….anyone with a dog or children can relate to a dirty kitchen floor. So a deck was put into the plans this summer. Which I have to say the boys did a fabulous job, and in a day I might add. I’m already envisioning the new path to the gate and a big patio under the tree….awww the joys of do it yourself. Anyway I thought you all would enjoy knowing what we’ve been up to beyond the day to day wedding biz.

Champ likes his new squirrel watching perch too.

And my own personal victory, we now have a disk washer! Five years of hand washing have paid off in a brand new stainless steel dishwasher. It’s bizarre to see the sink empty.

Hurray to all the Weekend Warriors out there!

Idaho Springs Holga

indeliblemind — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:03:35 +0000

I took a holga workshop recently. Not so much to learn more about holga, it’s a plastic camera with two f-stops. But to shoot holga for fun. I use the holga all the time with clients, but I rarely just go out and shoot for myself. And I love Idaho Springs. It’s such a cute little old mining town. And the bonus of the workshop is we’re displaying a few shots in a studio space, Eliot Street Collective. Which is an awesome space that anyone can rent out too. So if you’re in the area check it out the next few weeks. There’s some pretty talented people here in Denver.