Hi, I’m Rachel.

I’m an adventure lovin’, thrill seeking, photographer and writer based in Phoenix AZ, and Minneapolis, MN. My heart beats for cacti, city skylines, handcrafted old fashioneds and potatoes in any form.

In 2017 I lost my mom to suicide and spiraled down the awkward and emotionally isolating experience commonly referred to as grief. My story doesn’t exactly have an a-ha! moment because the light bulb that lit up for me was on a dimmer switch but since her death I slowly discovered that grief doesn’t happen in a vacuum, but alongside a mixture of all the other human emotions—joy, hope, fear, anger, and even love. Grief’s imprint taught me that life is precious and sparked me to quit my 9-5, uproot my life to the desert, and pursue my passion for creative storytelling full time.

Now I navigate life with my camera in one hand and a pen in the other and my blog is a mashup of love stories, brand stories, mental health and grief stories (it’s a niche), and my “real life” (I can’t make this shit up) stories. I bring heart and a little humor to even the toughest of stories and candidly share about a range of topics including living through loss, grief, and new beginnings, and how to run a creative based business.

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Branded | The Botanical Studio

Photography, Life & Style, Education, TravelRachel SmakNovember 20, 2018arizona brand photographer, arizona commercial photographer, arizona copywriter, arizona editorial photographer, arizona editorial photography, arizona freelance photographer, arizona interior decor, arizona interior floral installations, arizona photographer, bohemian decor, farmhouse decor, home interior installations, minneapolis commercial photographer, minneapolis content creator, minneapolis copy writer, minnesota brand photographer, minnesota editorial photography, Minnesota Engagement Photography, Minnesota wedding photographer, phoenix brand photographer, phoenix copy writer, phoenix editorial photographer, phoenix editorial photography, phoenix freelance copywriter, phoenix lifestyle photographer, phoenix photographer, Raven Hill, Raven Hill and The Botanical Studios, rustic decor, Scandinavian decor, scottsdale brand photographer, scottsdale copy writer, scottsdale freelance writer, scottsdale photographer, scottsdale wedding photographer, site-specific installation, stylized collaboration, stylized floral shoot, The Botanical Studios, wicker peacock chair