Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Buckley.
Rachel, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I have always had a passion for art; art history, architecture, movies, illustrations, writing…you name it. As a child, when my classmates were taking ballet and gymnastics, I was enrolled in private art classes. I learned early on, however, that while you can love something, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will be good at it. And let’s be honest…I was not a great artist. Creating something out of nothing was just not within my creative wheelhouse. Deconstructing something that was already there – that, that I could do. Enter photography.
Sixth grade…walking into a girlfriend’s room for the first time, I saw a single frame filled with photographs of her favorite people (okay…it was her pets), images of school events and slumber parties with friends. It was timeless. Frozen memories. In that moment, I felt like I was missing my own life by not documenting every second, every person, every success, even every heartache. I immediately starting purchasing those disposable cameras – seriously don’t laugh, I was 12 and had NO money – and started exploring what soon became what my sister calls my “sixth sense.” It was effortless. It felt natural. And thus began, the obsession with capturing my life. By the time I left home for college there were 200 nail holes in my bedroom walls (which I, of course, left for my mom to fill in. Whoops!). Legit, floor to ceiling covered in frames and closet doors plastered with images of laughter, joy and all those tiny little moments that make what feels like ordinary lives so extraordinary.
I attended Savannah College of Art and Design where, eventually, I landed on a BFA in Photography. I say eventually because I actually began as a double major in graphic design – or what my beloved father would call the “safe” career choice (hi, 401k; hi, paid health insurance 😉 ) – and photography. It took me 3.5 years to work up the courage to trust my instincts, drop the graphic design (buh-bye dreaded typography class) and move myself into the dark room full-time (hello smelling like developer, stop bath and fixer). Perfection.
After 4 years of working in the commercial photography sector, I was asked to photograph a friend’s wedding. I was hesitant. The pressure of one day, no do-overs scared me and, while I had spent countless hours in a studio environment, it had been years since I photographed on the fly without art direction and specs to adhere to. Friendship won out – I shot the wedding and as I downloaded the images at the reception and watched them flash across the screen, I found myself back in a very familiar place. It was effortless. It felt natural. Quite frankly, it was freaking obvious. Four months later, Rachel Buckley Weddings was born. Wedding photography provided me once again the opportunity to start hammering those nail holes back in the walls. Except this time, it wasn’t my own walls, it was yours. 11 years and 250+ weddings later, the camera is still my most reliable companion. I am grateful every day for this profession which has been equally humbling and rewarding. A profession that has given me the gift of travel, independence and creative expression. I am grateful every day for the couples, the graduates and the families that have let me into their lives trusting me to capture their laughter, joy and tiny little moments that…you guessed it…are extraordinary.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
It took me a handful of years to really delve into my “why.” I had this pre-conceived notion it needed to be deep and angsty; however, when I started sifting through my body of work, I found something actually quite innocent and simple. Something equally as powerful…Joy. From day one of running the business, I created a gallery titled “laughter” and filled it with all my favorite images of individuals losing themselves to that moment of head thrown back, mouth wide open laughter. I’ve always appreciated, not only in my work but in my personal life, a genuine- non-material- carefree expression of happiness. Often when I am editing these types of photographs I will find myself spontaneously/uncontrollably smiling right along with the people in the images. Truth is life can be hard and these types of photos remind me of the best (in my opinion) moments life has to offer us. There simply is no better place to find this emotion on display regularly than at a wedding celebration. I choose to create bright, airy, colorful images of people living one of their most joyful experiences. My hope is when I share my photographs, family, friends and even strangers, will find themselves smiling as I do.
How can artists connect with other artists?
You said it sister (or mister!) This career path can get lonely. Especially if you are working from home alone 90% of the time. I feel terms like “self-care” and “work life balance” are thrown around a lot and, in concept, these are of course necessary. In action, they are much harder. It is tough to put your business and art aside when it is tied so inherently to your identity and purpose. I think everyone has one or two things that they “bliss out” on. I know for me personally it is travel so I carve out time and budget for adventure. It is rejuvenating and re-inspiring. I also can’t stress enough the importance of networking. Joining organizations such as a local Rising Tide chapter, attending ASMP or PPA events and creating private Facebook groups with some of your fellow photogs have saved me from loneliness on more than on occasion. I am constantly making coffee/cocktail dates to connect and re-connect with people in the industry. Of course, it goes without saying that hanging with family and friends outside the industry is equally as important.
When an aspiring photographer asks me “if I could give one piece of advice…” I always respond with DIVERSIFY! Not only is this financially wonderful but this is also an awesome way to grow your community beyond the industry you work in. I have met incredible people through being a freelance digital artist and photographer’s assistant. Have made friends while working on set as a stylist and production coordinator. It is a relief and a joy to be around peers who can truly relate to what being an artist and entrepreneur means. To know you are not alone in your insecurities, that your confidence isn’t unfounded and that we all have failures and successes.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
You can find my wedding portfolio at www.rbuckleyphotography.com and www.instagram.com/rachelbuckleyweddings. You can find my lifestyle, family and travel photographs at www.instagram.com/thisinspiredlife. I have also been published in WedMaine, Seacoast Weddings, Wedding Boston and Wisconsin Bride. I have been featured on Brides, Style Me Pretty, Grey Likes Weddings, Burnett’s Boards. It is always a pleasure to see my images shared by reputable companies such as The Knot, Bhldn, Wedding Wire, Jenny Yoo and Justin Alexander to name a few and I would be remiss in not giving a shout out to Heidi at SHE Luxe Weddings and Design and Heather at Cairn Events who are designing the beautiful events that get featured.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rbuckleyphotography.com
- Email: rachel@rbuckleyphotography.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/rachelbuckleyweddings
- Facebook: facebook.com/rachelbuckleyweddings
- Other: instagram.com/thisinspiredlife
Image Credit:
Rachel Buckley Weddings
Vendor Teams:
Cairn Events
SHE Luxe Weddings
Katydyd Events
Watershed Floral
Robert Jensen Floral Design
Carolyn Snell of Snell Family Farm
Aphrodite Salon
Adore Rouge
Amanda McCarthy Beauty
Makeup by Sarah Lord
Hidden Pond
House Island
The Fells Historic Estate and Gardens
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