Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel File.
Hi Rachel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Do you remember your first digital camera? I sure do. Back when they hit the mainstream consumer market (circa 2000), my parents bought a 3.2-megapixel Olympus D560 from Wolf Camera (RIP). It came with a whole booklet of free photography classes, and my mom would drive me over there until I had learned all about the rule of thirds, the golden spiral, framing and how to control light with my settings.
Art is in my blood: my aunt was a wedding photographer during the film era, and most people in my family are either artists or musicians, or both. In 2012, I decided to start my photography business. I photographed my first wedding in the summer of 2013, and since then, I’ve shot everything from Aston Martins in the desert to couples saying their vows on mountain tops to military veterans canyoneering through slot canyons.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
To be cliche for a minute, a smooth sea does not a make a skilled sailor. Adversity can propel us forward in the most miraculous ways. There have been three massive disruptions in my life that have led me to where I am now. I am grateful for the lessons I learned and the people who supported me when I couldn’t even ask for it.
After being medically retired from the Army in 2017 due to a hip injury, things got rough. I moved to Houston to attend trade school, but I ended up homeless and jobless in a city where I didn’t know a soul. My ex-fiancé had defaulted on everything while I was away, and my bank account was drained. I sold all my camera gear and computer, nearly $10,000 worth, to a pawn shop for $1000 just to have money for food and gas. The next day, I was going to sleep in my car. I had too much pride to let anyone know what was happening and I refused to go back home to DFW. That very day after a school event, the wife of one of the school instructors greeted me and told me “If you ever need anything, a place to stay-” I stopped listening after that because I couldn’t believe it. Even though I was angry at God, he still provided for me. They let me stay with them for free until I got some income and was able to find a place of my own.
Slowly but surely, I got my feet back on the ground. The thing about that hip injury though, was that staying pain-free and healthy meant going to the gym nearly every single day. When COVID hit in 2020 and the gyms shut down, it took only 3 months for my hip to snap again. I couldn’t get out of bed for weeks, which meant school and my job were on hold. My mom came down and took care of me for a few weeks. Weeks turned into months. My treatment fell through the cracks at the VA and both my job and school were calling asking when I’d be back. I made the decision to drop out of school and walk away from my job to finally go full-time with photography. It was the best decision I ever made.
I launched my Texas adventure & elopement photography brand named “Off the Beaten Path” in fall of 2020. As a lover of hiking and camping, I knew that Texas had so much natural beauty to offer, and couples didn’t need to fly to Utah or Colorado to have an epic elopement. Later the next year, I teamed up with another photographer wanting to do the same thing. They were already an established wedding photographer in their area, so coupled with my knowledge of the Texas landscape and planning skills, we seemed like the perfect match. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that not everything is as perfect in reality as it is on paper. After walking away from my business to build a new brand with them, they took ownership of my entire portfolio of images I planned and photographed from 2021 through the first half of 2022. I realized much too late how predatory their business practices were. I’m currently in the middle of a huge lawsuit with them, so I moved back to DFW and am starting my business over from scratch. If there is one thing I can say, it’s to stress the importance of having a lawyer look over anything before you sign it. When it comes to business, never trust someone’s word unless they put it in writing, don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself and always be willing to walk away from something that seems too good to be true. This was an expensive lesson for me to learn, and I hope my story can protect others from making a similar mistake.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an untraditional wedding photographer on a mission to bring intentionality and authenticity back into the wedding industry. I was never one of those little girls planning my wedding and daydreaming of finding Mr. Right. I was too busy playing with garden snakes in my backyard and watching my dad customize his old hot rod Beetle in the driveway. I’m a tomboy to my core, and what I believed a wedding was supposed to look like never interested me. I don’t think couples need to conform to all the wedding magazines or treat their wedding like a photoshoot. I’m over recreating fake moments off Pinterest and all about crafting incredible experiences for my couples and documenting the moments as they unfold naturally.
My favorite thing in the whole world is helping couples realize the untraditional aspects of what their wedding day can look like when they focus on their experience with each other instead of everyone else. Hot air balloon rides, getting matching tattoos, kayaking, or rock climbing. I’ve had couples do the wildest things. I just think that when you look at your wedding photos, they should look like you, your unique personalities coming together! Intense emotion, lots of in-between moments, and eye-crinkling smiles; these are what I live for.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
The Dallas/Fort Worth community has welcomed me with open arms. It’s been nearly a decade since I’ve lived here, and it’s never felt more like home. I want to give a HUGE thank you to the following people:
Mom and dad- Thank you simply isn’t enough to express my eternal gratitude for your love and support <3
My Houston friends- I was in such a dark place and you kept me going when I wanted to end it all.
Sarah Lee + Lore (& Waypoint Vets organization)- You have changed my life so drastically. I am forever grateful to know you both
Leah (Batch Bakery)- Thank you for nominating me! The way I cried when I got this email.
Bethany + Kyle- You gave me a place to stay, and your continued friendship means more to me than I can ever say.
Melanie (Rayne Drop Body Products)- My sweet neighbor who quite literally helped keep me alive.
Sarah (Bahay Dallas)- my BIGGEST supporter from the beginning! You’ve been there through all the craziness.
My photographer friends who helped me realize that most photographers are loving and supportive!
Ray (& Hendershot Law Firm)- I could absolutely not get through this without you! I am grateful for your wisdom and dedication.
The DFW wedding industry- there are simply too many to name, but the way you absorbed me into your community is so heartwarming.
There are so many people to thank; if I did not name you, please know that your support and love have NOT gone unnoticed. I would NOT be where I am without you. Each and every person I’ve met has had a direct impact on me for the positive. Even the negative experiences have taught me a wealth of knowledge, and I would not changed anything.
Pricing:
- Full-Day Coverage (12 hour): $6000
- Standard Coverage (8 hour): $4000
- Half-Day Coverage (6 hour): $3000
- Portrait Session (1 hour): $500
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rachelfilephoto.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/weddingswithrae
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/weddingswithrae
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/rachelfile
- Other: www.elopewithrachel.com
Image Credits
Madeline Faye Photography
