I'm Rachel.
I'm just an Irish girl living with my British husband, our three-legged dog, and a houseplant collection that we'll never admit is "getting out of control."
The house is covered in dog fur and books, and seriously, not joking about the plant situation. ...We're running out of surfaces.
I grew up watching BBC crime dramas and never really stopped.
Running around in the mountains makes me the happiest (and usually there are tears), but also sitting at home in sweatpants with tea in a room full of plants is really cozy.
I'm the "B" in LGBTQ; all love is love, and you are so so welcome here, my darlings xx
Queer. PLANT ENTHUSIAST. TRAVEL JUNKIE. 98% TEA.
MEET YOUR ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER/RIDE OR DIE
1. connection is key
I love getting to know my couples before their elopement for a few reasons: for starters, your elopement is about you, not about me. And the better I know you, the more likely I am to suss out the perfect location for you. Plus, if we aren't total strangers, it's not going to be weird when I'm third-wheeling your elopement.
my approach
2. location, location, location
I don't ask Mr. Google to spit out the most popular trail in the area. No thanks.
I spend a staggering amount of time scouring maps and satellite images, driving and hiking around, and amassing a collection of locations that will suit any type of elopement, any couple's preference. ...It's kind of a huge part of my job. I'm not just a photographer, I'm like that weird aunt who lives in a cabin and knows how many trees are between here and that one rock she really likes.
3. my photography style
There are two parts to this:
The way I actually take photos is more of a documentary style. I'll offer some suggestions here and there, but for the most part, I document how you and your partner are interacting with each other and with the environment. I'm not into orchestrating things; your photos are going to look like you.
The second part is about the editing. All of your photos will be professionally edited, and I favour a true-to-life look. They'll pop, they'll wow, but they aren't going to mimic whichever weird trend is taking off on Instagram. Why? Because I want you to be able to flip back through your album in 50 years and still love the photos. I don't want you to think "oof, those early 2000's, right? People were into some weird shit."
I'm on board; let's go
does that sound good to you?
on my
bucket list:
cuddle puddle with cows
see the northern lights
grow plants bigger than me
I
III
II
Rachel is amazing! We hired her to be our wedding photographer this past March and had done an engagement shoot with her a few months prior. We had a small, intimate ceremony, followed by a reception. She is incredibly talented with a camera and truly captured all the detail that made our wedding so special. She is great to be around and has a great attitude.
-Steve and Topher
wHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
next
Rachel did an incredible job as our wedding photographer! We enjoyed every moment with her, from our engagement shoot to the big day. Her easygoing nature was super helpful when nerves and stress can run high. The photos are amazing quality; she did a great job documenting the day and capturing natural moments. We love looking though them and can't wait to print and hang in our home. She also gave us a couple referrals for both hair stylists and videographer, helping make sure that the day ran smoothly! We'd definitely hire Rachel again, and would refer her to others in a heartbeat.
-Gabe and Leigh
wHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
next
Rachel was our photographer about 5 months ago and had great energy. She was talkative but also calm. She gave great direction and hyped us up when we felt a little awkward (who doesn't when getting photos done?!). I'm glad to have been photographed by her! Highly recommend!
-Madelyn and Emmalaine
wHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
next
I loved working with Rachel! My wife is not a fan of being photographed- although she is very photogenic. I was able to convince her to have Rachel over for a home session. We were just us. We made dinner and planted succulents on our patio. We just hung out like old pals and got some adorable and very natural photos of us in our home. My wife and I were both extremely comfortable and really enjoyed Rachel's company.
-Kim and Bianca
wHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
next
Rachel is a joy to shoot with! I love the fun, spontaneous photos she took of my husband and I. They really capture our relationship - full of laughter and adventure.
-Rachel and Jeff
wHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
next
Rachel is amazing! We hired her to be our wedding photographer this past March and had done an engagement shoot with her a few months prior. We had a small, intimate ceremony, followed by a reception. She is incredibly talented with a camera and truly captured all the detail that made our wedding so special. She is great to be around and has a great attitude.
-Steve & Topher
wHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
next
Rachel did an incredible job as our wedding photographer! We enjoyed every moment with her, from our engagement shoot to the big day. Her easygoing nature was super helpful when nerves and stress can run high. The photos are amazing quality; she did a great job documenting the day and capturing natural moments. We love looking though them and can't wait to print and hang in our home. She also gave us a couple referrals for both hair stylists and videographer, helping make sure that the day ran smoothly! We'd definitely hire Rachel again, and would refer her to others in a heartbeat.
-Gabe & Leigh
wHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
next
Rachel was our photographer about 5 months ago and had great energy. She was talkative but also calm. She gave great direction and hyped us up when we felt a little awkward (who doesn't when getting photos done?!). I'm glad to have been photographed by her! Highly recommend!
-Madelyn & Emmalaine
wHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
next
I loved working with Rachel! My wife is not a fan of being photographed- although she is very photogenic. I was able to convince her to have Rachel over for a home session. We were just us. We made dinner and planted succulents on our patio. We just hung out like old pals and got some adorable and very natural photos of us in our home. My wife and I were both extremely comfortable and really enjoyed Rachel's company.
-Kim & Bianca
wHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
next
Rachel is a joy to shoot with! I love the fun, spontaneous photos she took of my husband and I. They really capture our relationship - full of laughter and adventure.
-Rachel & Jeff
wHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
next
"Solar Rose Co."
Where in the name of pants did that come from? What does it mean?
I've always been a little off-kilter. Drawn to the road less traveled, saying "yes" every time someone tells me "no," mulishly stubborn in my convictions. There's always been that voice inside tugging me toward what I really want to do, and once I hear it, I can't ignore it. No matter what other people think.
I live for the raised eyebrow.
It was no surprise to anyone when my partner and I chose to elope instead of having a big, traditional wedding. it just wasn't our style. Getting married in front of a big pile of rocks by the sea absolutely was.
The compass tattoo on my back isn't about traveling, although with 16+ countries stamped in my passports and counting, I'm all about it. The compass is about the internal sense of direction that we all have. (...not literally, in my case. Can't navigate my way out of a paper bag with a map.) It's the drive that we all have to live life on our own terms. The voice that says, "This, this right here is the call we need to make. This right here is the choice that'll take us where we want to go."
I started photographing elopements because I knew I wasn't alone. I knew there were other couples out there who were attuned to what they really wanted, who knew that a big, fussy wedding wasn't for them. Who were brave enough to choose a different way to get married, one that reflected who they were and what mattered to them.
I'm not personally one for "woo woo" or life by the stars, but in the end, all of those different beliefs are rooted in the same thing, aren't they? Whether you're religious, spiritual, atheist, or cosmic, you're here (...on my website, not on this planet) because something is driving you to make this incredible choice and elope.
The solar rose. Your celestial compass.
ABOUT THE STUDIO
long story long enough?
I'm in, let's do it
