Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel McGowan.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Rachel. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My first experience with photography came when I received a camera as a gift back in 2009. I immediately began taking pictures of all my friends and family. I quickly fell in love with capturing and immortalizing those special moments. Once I realized that I wanted to turn my passion into a career, I began learning and fine tuning my craft and officially established Guiding Arrow Photography in 2016.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Well, starting a business is hardly ever smooth – there are always a lot of lessons to be learned. Early on, I struggled with establishing my identity as a photographer and what I wanted my areas of focus to be. I had so much passion and excitement for photography that I wanted to take pictures of everyone and everything, but I eventually realized that that will quickly burn you out. I narrowed and refined my interests by focusing on the situations and subjects that I truly enjoyed and what made me happy. And now, I’m content to say that I don’t need to take as many pictures as possible in order to feel successful
Please tell us about Guiding Arrow Photography .
I’m primarily a wedding and family photographer. Rather than use a studio and arrange my subjects in poses, I prefer to rely on settings that are more natural. I truly believe that the most beautiful photos come from capturing moments and emotion that happen organically, derived from a natural human interaction. A candid laugh or smile will always provide a better end result than a posed one and the client will always be able to have that photo to remind themselves of the exact moment that provoked that reaction. My shooting and editing style results in bright and airy images.
I would say that what I’m most proud of professionally are the other doors that have been opened to me as a result of my efforts and success. I’ve been fortunate enough to have the chance to do such things as take marketing shots for various companies and also participate in styled shoots with other vendors and colleagues, including one recently at the Dallas World Aquarium. Additionally, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to work with StubHub to cover their activities at various major sporting events, such as the Masters golf tournament and, just this month – the Super Bowl.
What sets me apart from others is my ability to connect with, and relate to, my subjects. I focus on really getting to know them and ensuring that we build a lasting relationship that will endure beyond our photo session. I try to make every client feel as though all of my time, efforts and resources are devoted to them and no one else. I purposely don’t schedule more than one wedding per weekend, just so my clients know that they have my full, undivided attention. My goal is to get them so comfortable with me that they almost don’t even notice the camera, which results in all those amazing organic moments to capture.
Additionally, I’m proud of my willingness to help other photographers who are in need of it. Photography is an extremely competitive industry and over the years that I’ve been involved in it, I’ve seen many photographers adopt a cutthroat “me first” attitude towards their work. But, I believe that a rising tide lifts all boats and I’m active in many different online groups and forums for photographers and I’m always eager to provide tips or advice to anyone who asks. I was once in that same position myself, so I’m more than happy to give back in the same way that I was helped by so many others when I was first starting out.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I would have invested in more training and education at the beginning, rather than teaching myself via trial and error. It would have saved so much time and effort to have a mentor show me the intricate details of things like customizing camera settings to the specific situation or how to arrange lighting for a certain setting.
Pricing:
- Wedding packages begin at $1750 for 5-hours of coverage and a custom USB with case.
- Family packages are $375 and include one hour of shooting time and 20 digital downloaded images.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.guidingarrowphotography.com
- Phone: 972-413-8653
- Email: rachel@guidingarrowphotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/guidingarrowphotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/guidingarrowphoto
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/guidingarrowpic
Image Credit:
Guiding Arrow Photography
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