Rachael Grace Photography

Getting past the nitty gritty

Rachael Grace Photography — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:13:08 +0000

(After months of thought and reflection, I’m finally writing about my trip to Nepal. This is what I’ve learned and wish to share with you.)

It can feel like once you’ve made up your mind, the universe throws up a mountain sized road block. The kind of road block you’re not sure can truly be conquered. It looks like Mt. Everest covered in the blizzard of the century. Oh and by the way you’re out of oxygen.
My road block came from a place close to home. I had to convince the people closest to me that yes it was ok that I go. That I needed to go and not going meant a little piece of me was going to die. Dramatic? Maybe, but it’s how I felt deep down in my core. For me, going was so much more then, I wanted to travel. I wanted to feel like I was making a real instant impact on someone’s life. I wanted to do something for someone, that could never repay me back personally. I needed to know there was more to life then what I was starring at before I left.
It’s an incredible thing for a marriage to go thru, a cross roads that could either strengthen or tear you apart. For us, it strengthened our bond and marriage to a whole new level. A level of understanding and unwavering support. Through late nights and deep discussions we came to a middle ground and we are infinitely stronger because of it.
The lessons learned from this trip were already happening and I hadn’t even bought my plane ticket.

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Ruffled Feature

Rachael Grace Photography — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:50:55 +0000

Feeling incredible honored to have my first inspiration shoot featured on Ruffled. How did I get so lucky to have such amazing and talented friends?Check out the full post of the inspiration shoot here.

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Vintage Photography

Rachael Grace Photography — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:46:51 +0000

They wrapped their arms around one another in a moment so surreal. They were husband and wife. The feeling of awe and excitement rushed over them like a warm embrace on a cold winters night
A moment captured with nostalgia and beauty. A timeless moment captured on Holga film.I shoot Holga film for moments like these. Moments where it feels like time has stopped. it’s just the two of you and nothing else matters. There’s just nothing like Holga film; digital doesn’t come close not even 35mm film. It captures the moment in such a way that only it can. They are real moments captured with grace and love.
I shoot Holga film because it’s imperfect in a world that tries so hard to be perfect. I shoot Holga because it’s simple.

I shoot Holga film because people say it can’t be used in the professional setting, I say it can. I shoot Holga film because it’s part of my heart and soul.

On a personal note; I am putting my money where my mouth is and working my ass off to bring a level of service and uniqueness that only I can deliver. It’s going to be a rock’n wedding season this year!

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Reasons for living

Rachael Grace Photography — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:05:10 +0000

At first I thought I would write a book. Then the very thought of trying to write my first book ever scared me right into ‘oh I’ll do that tomorrow.’ To much pressure. Instead I’m going to write a blog post from time to time talking about the very thing I would have written a book about. Why would you take a humanitarian trip to the other side of the world?A village in a remote region of Nepal needs a school, and it’ll take you two days to trek into the village…Oh Hell Yea, where do I sign up! Giddy with excitement way before I had even asked myself the practical questions. I just knew I wanted…no needed to be there. A complete unexplainable gut wrenching pull to go on this trip. I went crazy at the possibility of such an amazing opportunity.
Taking a humanitarian trip has been on my bucket list for years, probably since high school really. Something about traveling, adventure and seeing how other people lived fascinates me. How does someone live without running water, electricity, cars and what we consider to be can’t live without necessities of the modern world. But I think more than anything I wanted to learn and appreciate my world more. And the only way is to put myself in someone else’s shoes literally.
‘You’re what? But aren’t there people to help here in the US, why go to the other side of the world?’
When I decided to go to Nepal, people had on of two reactions. One, Holy Sh*t that’s awesome! I always knew you would do something like that. Or the response above. Why go at all? Tough questions I had to ask myself. What kind of impact would my leaving for 2 and a half week have on my family and my business? How am I going to raise the money to go? Like any major life altering dream, the excitement and passion comes long before you figure out the nitty gritty. It’s how you handle and get around the road blocks that make the dream come true or not. I almost didn’t go a number of times. What if I can’t raise all the money? What if my being out of touch for 2.5 weeks ruins my business? I’m the only one here, no one to pick up the slake while I’m away.
Every time I started considering not going, my head and heart felt heavy. I was sad ( I cried about not going more then once). I wanted so much to go. So I met each road block with a deadly stare that would take down a bangle tiger. Not Matter what, I was going. Done.
Have you had a dream like that? Something you couldn’t get out of your head? Every fiber of your being was saying you need to do this? Don’t ignore that. It’s what amazing life altering experiences are made of. Don’t let the resistance silence that dream…it is possible. As long as it’s in your heart, you can make anything happen. Done.

I’d love to hear about your life altering dreams and adventures, write a comment.

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Family Vacation, Taos NM

Rachael Grace Photography — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:22:49 +0000

A mid 1990′s blue suburban. A vehicle that has a standing argument between my parents. My mom thought it was to expensive to leave in the garage. My dad thought it was to expensive to take out of the garage. So it was our ‘vacation wagon’. A vehicle large enough and spacious enough that my brothers and I wouldn’t fight…much.
Last month we took the old bird for another road trip from Denver to Taos, (Tahos as my mother would say). This trip though my baby brother was replaced by my husband. Sorry Nate. Once the film was back I starred at it for a bit. Then realized I never took one photo of us on the trip….ahhhh. Do I not photograph people for a living? Reminder to myself, take more photos of people while on vacation. For this trip it’s scenery.

The day before we left the mountains delivered a snow storm like nothing my Minnesota native parents have seen. Huge fluffy flakes of pure white. My mom was lost in a dream. Thankful that was the last snow fall I say of the year! Flip flops have been a permanent fixture on my feet the last few weeks.

Don’t forget to check out a couple’s experience during a shoot!

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