Rachel Gill
An extraordinary mother of 3, stellar horse rider, and exceptional photographer...Rachel Gill! She hits it on all cylinders when it comes to capturing unforgettable memories. Read all about her story and the secret behind what makes this businesswoman and photographer standout and excel even in the middle of a pandemic!
CR8VSPOT: Please tell us about yourself.
Rachel Gill: I am a mother of 3, married to my sweetheart for 8 years. My husband and I run a family business that my Father started over 30 years ago. Along with taking care of my three kiddos, keeping up with regular household responsibilities, and running a business with my husband, I ALSO have my own photography business. Life is a major adventure!
—“Being able to remember, revisit and relive those moments is something I wanted to share with others.”
CR8VSPOT: Knowing fully well how male-dominated and demanding professional photography can be, what inspired you to take it on?
RG: I have always been inspired by photography, even as a young girl. The thought of seeing something so beautiful and capturing it in a photograph to forever revisit is inspiring. A single photograph could speak so beautifully; say so much! The feelings and memories you get from looking at a photograph are priceless. I realized how precious each moment is with the ones you love. Being able to remember, revisit and relive those moments is something I wanted to share with others. I don’t think I ever really thought about photography being male-dominated. I’ve looked at it as something I wanted to do and I went for it. I think I’ve always lived life like that in a sense.
CR8VSPOT: What major challenges do you face as a photographer and how do you overcome them?
RG: I think for me personally I face new challenges and different challenges. As a mother and wife, I have to work my schedule around my family at all times. So finding the time to sit and edit is one of my greatest challenges. I’m such a perfectionist and I like to take my time to edit and re-edit. OCF(off-camera flash) has been another one of my toughest challenges. Making sure position and flash power are correct in order to not cast crazy shadows. Also, photography technical lingo, definitely not my strongest aspect but we’re always learning right?!
—“Gaining new clients and keeping them, in my opinion, is success.”
CR8VSPOT: What has been your biggest achievement so far?
RG: I think my biggest accomplishment is starting my photography business and having repeat clients. Gaining new clients and keeping them, in my opinion, is a success. I have families that I have done pictures from their weddings to their first babies to now family portraits each year! Warms my heart to know they want to stick with me to capture those most precious moments in their life!
CR8VSPOT: What would you say is the most fun part of your job?
RG: I think the most fun part of my job is getting to meet new people and learning about their families. For weddings, it’s so fun traveling to different venues and seeing the creative ideas each bride has envisioned for her wedding day.
CR8VSPOT: In light of the ongoing pandemic, is there anything new you have been playing with lately, in terms of hardware and software?
RG: With the pandemic, I didn’t get much down time to try new software. I did stumble upon Photo Mechanic through the suggestion of another fellow photographer. I don’t know how I have gone this long without it!!!
CR8VSPOT: What do you do with your free time when you’re not swinging around with cameras? Also, If you weren’t a photographer, what would be your specialty?
RG: Any free time I get I am usually spending it at the barn with my horse. I have been working with her for over a year now to get her ready for the competition world. If I didn’t do photography, working with horses would 100% be my specialty?
CR8VSPOT: How easy is it for you to find the right clients in a world of “smarter phones,” where everyone sees themselves as their personal photographer?
RG: Yes smartphones can make you a self-proclaimed photographer, BUT I also think they are helpful to find those great photographers who would rather take your picture for you. It’s information and research at your fingertips. Word of mouth referrals or in this case, the text is an extremely great form of marketing.
CR8VSPOT: There must be something big on your mind. What is your dream project or collaboration?
RG: My dream project would be to work with professional trainers and their horses. Capturing their training and learning from them as well. I would also LOVE to do a wedding in Italy.
A collaboration I would love to do is anything to shine a light on the importance of family. There is a friend of mine that fosters children and is really big into supporting the foster care system and bringing awareness about it. I would love to help support and bring awareness to that.
—“Practice, practice, practice! Don’t put yourself in a box, try new things…”
CR8VSPOT: If someone were an aspiring photographer or newbie entering this industry, what advice would you give them?
RG: For newbies entering the photography world I would suggest they find someone to learn under. Find photographers through social media that you admire and see how they tell the stories through their work. Practice, practice, practice! Don’t put yourself in a box, try new things, try new angles and if it doesn’t look great then no one has to see that picture! Haha. Always stay humble and ready to learn! Be confident in your work and always strive to do your best.
Rachel Gill’s Favorites!
Design Software: Lightroom and Photo Mechanic.
Lens: 85mm.
Color: Blue.
Movie: may be cliché coming from a wedding photographer, but Father Of the Bride and Secretariat.
City: Monterey, California.
Inspiration: Brocato Photography Collective, Brooke Boyd Photo, Brittany Bruce Photography to name a few.
Resources: My community of fellow friend photographers.
Achilles heels and turn off: Photoshop. Know-it-alls and rudeness.
To see more of Rachel’s work click here to visit her website
