Collab #7

These designs are created by NMJ Crochet Creations. They are handmade leather earrings. As big as they are, the leather is so lightweight. When I get to go places again, you better bet I’ll wear these!
The next time I shoot a collab like this, I will definitely take a pull back shot of my set up. You wouldn’t believe what I’m using.
I have spent years photographing people. But I have found the challenge of product photography fulfilling and fun. Something that I definitely needed during this time of social isolation. It has helped me keep my identity as a photographer when I cannot photograph actual people (other than the ones I live with).
I am actually hoping to make some connections with businesses locally that I can help with their marketing. If you know someone, please don’t hesitate to send them my info or shoot me theirs.

Future MUA?

This girl. My sweet girl. She’s watching everything and learning how to be her own person. Wednesday night, she agreed to be a model. Actually wanted to participate. So I let her put on her own makeup. I convinced her she didn’t need mascara and then put on a pretty shirt and her little kitten heels. We headed out to the porch. She applied the lip gloss. Fortunately I was ready to photograph when she started. Because, then she was done with me. I managed to convince her to sit on my lap for a few. Then made Tj take my picture. Dinner was very late that night. But the pictures of her are worth it. Says me. Sorry Tj (I’m not sorry).

Collab # 6

I have been working with Golden Dot Lane to create some images for their social media. Adelei performed better than she has in a long time. You know what the difference was? I treated her like I would treat any other 2 year old I photograph instead of like my daughter. It was just her and I.

And it was fun!

We changed her shirt 3 times, added a jacket at the end and had 2 changes of pants along with 3 pairs of shoes. She was such a trooper! Never do I expect that from a toddler!

The following are some of my favorite images of her showing off the cute bows from Golden Dot Lane.

Collab # 5

Just before the pandemic hit, I was contracted to do a collaboration with Bad Beez based out of California. We discussed our plan for using models and using some of her more vibrant colors along with some of the nudes.

I had 4 women enlisted to help. Then the Stay at Home order went into place. We put the modeled images on hold. After 7 weeks, I messaged Margaret and asked if she would like me to photograph some flat lay images of her lip glosses and Liquid Matte Lipsticks. She happily agreed.

I set to work that evening trying something a little different than I had done the last time. I searched my house for “fancy” things. Admittedly, 2 of the things I grabbed were dresses that my daughter has long since grown out of. I grabbed some jewelry, one of my favorite pair of glasses, a sparkly purse and a few scarves. In a half hour I had a ton of images to send for Margaret to choose.

A few days later our stay at home order was extended. I was so sad. Even when it’s lifted I plan to stay home a few extra weeks before scheduling sessions because of our 2 young children and my underlying conditions. However, this meant it might be at least June before I go to a place, do a thing and see people. If you know me, I’m a hugger. It’s been tough.

I sent another message to Margaret and told her I would get gussied up and hand the camera to TJ (my husband). She said I might feel better with the makeup on.

She was right. Man. I loved the liquid matte lipstick. It didn’t dry my lips out. They felt nourished and I could still kiss my kids without getting them all sticky. I was sad to wash it off. But I had decided I would try at least 4 that day.

I do plan to photograph more of the blue with a much younger more adventurous person. So keep your eyes peeled for that.

A few days later, I felt inspired by our family’s weekly Google Hangout. I asked Margaret if she would like me to have TJ photograph another set with me “on a Hangout.” She agreed and TJ didn’t grumble.

More to come. Eventually.

Staying at Home

Amidst the stay at home order in Pennsylvania, we took the kids out to the edge of our property to photograph. I have felt badly that I haven’t been as good at keeping up with their pictures during the last few months.

Most of the images of the kids I’ve photographed lately have been uploaded to my phone via the WiFi option on my camera. Which is super cool… Then I have been editing the images in Adobes Lightroom App. While it’s not perfect, it’s been getting the job done. Maybe I will have some time to catch up on my computer based edits of my kiddos.

With that all being said, enjoy these images of the kids tonight!!!

Collab #4

A few weeks ago, amid the social isolation, I volunteered to do a collaboration for a 12 month t-shirt designed by Happy Brooke Designs.
We decided on the deer themed shirt. Once the shirt arrived and we allowed the cooties on it to die, we ventured off up the road.
Torben wasn’t super thrilled about his shoes… he prefers to be barefoot. So he looks pretty concerned. But. We made it for Golden Hour!! Once I finished torturing him at the top of the hill, we headed home and snapped a few images in our driveway. He’s growing up so fast. Today, he walked at least 5 feet and took more than 9 steps before moving into crawl. His birthday isn’t until the end of May, but he fit the shirt :-)

The following are some of my favorite images from the quick little shoot. Of course I had to snap a few of Adelei too.
I tried out a different edit on a few of the images. Leave a comment and let me know which ones are your favorites!

Class of 2016 (throwback - Corey)

I babysat Corey when I was a senior in high school. Then my mom took over when I worked full time at Keystone Rehab Systems. When we photographed his senior portraits, we started at the Train Station in Beaver and worked our way down to the Veterans Memorial Park in Bridgewater.

Class of 2016 (throwback - Angelina)

Angelinas mom was my favorite 5th grade teacher. I was thrilled when she called me and asked me to photograph her daughters senior portraits.

I went through the images I sent to them back in 2016 and I was so happy with what I saw. This just gets me so excited to be working with this next group of senior class students.

Class of 2016 (throwback - Brendan)

Your senior portraits tell your story. They tell who you are today… so that years down the road, you can recollect. I always remind the students that I photograph that their kids will see these pictures one day. Brendans session was one of my favorites. We walked downtown and photographed from the north shore to the point. We stopped along the way and found different places to shoot. I’m am really looking forward to the self isolation ending and being able to get out and photograph again.

Stay safe and be well.

You must stay for Tea!

Almost two months ago, my friend Alyssa called me and asked if I wanted to collaborate with her and put together an Alice themed shoot. Alyssa is my go to photographer for my family images. We often will trade services to each other.

Her daughter, Harley, turned one on March 10. Alyssa photographed her in at least 11 different DC villain themed shoots for her first year. She created her own costumes for Harley and did a fantastic job. I knew this was going to be good… but I didn’t realize how good until I saw the magnificence that the hats were.

Harley was dressed as the Mad Hatter. Clint, her son, was costumed after the March Hare. My daughter was Alice and son had to be included as the White Rabbit.

The weather was rainy and super uncooperative. I contacted a local greenhouse that gave us permission to photograph in their shop. I wasn’t sure what we were going to walk into… expecting a cinnamon scented gift shop. What we found was a perfect location. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better background for our shoot!

We set to work getting the kids photographed. After 25-30 minutes… we were (I mean the kids were) done. We packed up and headed back to my house for some Mac and cheese. Because, 2 and 3 year olds.

After lunch, we wrestled the kids back into their costumes with the promise of cake. We headed outside to our back porch with a background of floating flowers and a table set for tea. The kids enjoyed cake pops and each other’s company… then the mud.

I hope you enjoy these images as much as we did creating them for Harleys birthday, and all of our unbirthdays.

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Collab #3

I know you have been seeing a lot about the collaborations I’ve been doing lately. I’ve really enjoyed getting the opportunity to test my creative boundaries and learn some new things.

I have white backgrounds. For this shoot, I used a vinyl white. I typically bounce my flash or use shoot through umbrellas with flashes. When I initially set up for this, I had the vinyl background wiped down and bounced flash on my ceiling in the kitchen. Guess what… the bottle is so smooth and reflective… you could see my entire kitchen in the first picture I took. I was appalled. I ended up having to put up a white fabric background over the product and myself to get images without my house in the reflections.

It was a trip. I dyed my hair purple the day before. I was so concerned that I was going to get purple on the background that was over my head… and man was it hot. Lol. I know there are product tents out there but I’m just getting my feet wet with this. I would love to do more product photography. If it becomes a thing and I need to, I certainly don’t have anything against purchasing one.

So hire me. Give me a reason to need it.

jk.

bur seriously… call me.

I do have to say, I’ve been using the lotion and lip balm that was sent to be photographed. My eczema on my wrist is starting to go away. I have made some changes as far as using gloves when I wash dishes or give the kids a bath and don’t leave my hands in our water very long. But. I do think this lotion has been helping. Click the button at the bottom to check out their line of products!

Spring Mini Session Samples

In the end of February I rented out Studio Bevy in Zelionople to photograph samples for my Spring Mini Sessions.

I will only be offering 9 sessions on March 21, 2020. These sessions will be up to 20 minutes. You will receive your proofs via email within one week of the session. The $150 cost covers the session fee and up to 15 images delivered via digital download and includes print release to those images. Additional images will be made available for purchase at $10 per image.

I was so happy with how these pictures turned out. The background is a simple white wall with windows covered with white sheer curtains. The floor is a beautiful hardwood. I always try to keep the kids clothes simple without crazy patterns, and will recommend the same to my clients.

If you like what you see, call me at 724.601.7532 or email me at exposurebyrachael@gmail.com to book!

Collab #2

I signed up to work with Abbey & Ava for their St. Patrick’s Day bows. Initially I thought I would just be photographing Adelei and my brothers girlfriend… but the bows came a few days later than planned and I started thinking about putting it on Torben. Sounds weird. But it made a great Bow tie and an embellishment for his little hat.

I started with Adelei. Who doesn’t stand still for anything! I knew it would be tough going in. Then it was Torbens turn.

O. M. G.

He looks like a little leprechaun. The most adorable little red headed leprechaun! 😂

Beating the winter boredom

I knew the slow season was coming. I thought I was ready for it. Financially, we were. But I’m so bored!

In January, I did a model call and worked on a new session style. More info will come about that in the near future. I also spent a lot of time working on the business side of things (ex: building a website, legitimizing Exposure with the PA state… signing up for taxes, getting insurance… you know… all the super fun stuff.)

I have mini sessions and a wedding coming up in March. There are some other things in the works. But right now, I’m bored. Creatively bored.

A few years ago I joined a collab group on Facebook that connects small business owners with photographers. I decided I would start getting more involved with it. My first shop owner was Julie T. Rose Boutique. She sent me 6 shirts to photograph. I contacted a few of my beautiful friends and we set up times to shoot.

This was very different than what I normally do. I wasn’t just trying to make my model look their best. I had to focus on making sure their shirts were legible, both through posing and straightening them out. I am all about paying attention to detail as much as possible. I hate having to retouch something in Photoshop that I could have just fixed during the shooting process.

The following are some of Julie’s favorites, mixed with a few of mine. I’m looking forward to doing a few more to keep my creative juices going. Honestly. If you are interested in having this type of work done for you, please contact me. I really enjoyed it!

We are going to do a fun thing.

That’s what I tell Adelei when I wake her up and get her ready to leave the house.

Typically, my “in office” days (aka working from my couch or hitting the ground out in the real world) are Tuesday through Thursday. Which means Monday and Friday are days I get to have a work free day to do fun things with my kids. My husband isn’t so excited about leaving the house, so I’m always up to meet up with other moms or friends that want to love on my kids too.

Monday, we went to the National Aviary with my good Friend, Alyssa and her kids, Clint and Harley. Adelei was very excited to see the birds.

The kids held hands while we walked through the exhibits. Adelei was amazed at the waterfall with the birds. She didn’t like the big bird that wandered along the walking path. It’s size (and I think tail) scared her. Clint took some time to photograph the birds he saw, including the “Birds on Parade.”

We visited the bats. Clint had to wear his Batman mask and cape while we were in there with them. Then it was off to see the penguins!!

The Penguins were by far our favorite part of the Aviary. The kids could move around freely. They got to walk into the cave and peek through the windows into the world the penguins live in. Torben and Harley were able to stretch out and watch the silly waddling birds swim gracefully through the water. Occasionally, they would swim right up to the glass and peak at the kiddos watching them.

We saw an eagle. However briefly, it was there.

Then I put my camera away while we visited the rest of the birds.

It was a great day and my babies had a blast. Until Adelei fell down and got her pants wet on the way to the car. Don’t worry, she’s fine.

My Sweet Diva

I have been eying up this location for many years. I didn’t want to go too far from the car because it was cold. Next time I get back there, I’m going to take the kids around near the Old Navy in this pretty plaza.

Wyatt and Leila

I met up with these kiddos and their mommy on January 11th for a model call. We had hot cocoa at Beaver Falls Coffee and Tea in Beaver Falls Pa. Wyatt and his sister took a little bit to warm up but we had all sorts of fun once they did!

Then we decided to take to the Geneva College Campus. On the way we passed an alley that I couldn’t resist. The kids gladly posed for me!

When we got to the campus, Wyatt and Leilas mommy decided their home town needed a college campus. It was nice to have a well groomed place for her kids to walk and run and play.

It was so much fun making memories with these kids.

Bubbles!!

TJ (my husband) insisted that we should get Adelei a bubble maker for her birthday. I talked him down from splurging on the $150-$200 bubbletron his friend has for a less professional one. Her birthday was 12/29. We finally pulled out the bubble maker today.

Torben didn’t know what to think but Adelei was all about showing him. Hopefully he will be more excited about it the next time he sees it 😂

Brothers at the Library

It’s always a great day to go to the library. Rain. Shine. Snow. We met up outside the Carnegie Free Library in Beaver Falls and the boys were ready to pose and show me how cool they were. Then we went inside and explored the display showing the history of Beaver Falls Sports. The boys then headed downstairs to find a really fun childrens area. They found books, checked out the really cool chairs and played with the cash register and toy food. It was a great day!