Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Cornett.
Hi Rachel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I got my first camera when I was in elementary school and from that point on, I was always taking pictures of something. Trees, animals, my friends, really anything I could find. In high school, I took a film photography class and completely fell in love with it, but at the time, I never really considered photography as something I could turn into a career.
After college, I ended up working in the healthcare field, and photography became something that was more in the background of my life. It wasn’t until I had my daughter that I found my way back to it. I bought a camera because I wanted to be able to document her growing up, and picking up a camera again brought that spark right back. I remembered how much I genuinely loved creating and capturing moments that I knew I would want to remember.
From there, I started taking photos for friends and family and initially thought photography might just be a fun hobby I could pursue on the side. But it grew much faster than I ever expected. The more people I photographed, the more I realized how much I loved not only the creative side of it, but also being able to give people photographs of moments and parts of their lives that they can hold onto forever.
Within about a year, what started as a hobby had grown into Rachel Cornett Photography LLC. Since then, I’ve continued building my business, refining my style, and especially falling in love with photographing couples and weddings. It’s pretty surreal to think that something I loved so much as a kid eventually found its way back into my life and became something I get to call my career.
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?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of my biggest challenges was learning how to balance everything, especially as a new mom. I was working, taking care of my daughter and our home, and trying to build a photography business at the same time. There were definitely periods where it felt like there just weren’t enough hours in the day to give everything the time and attention I wanted to.
There was also a lot of mom guilt that came along with that. Building a business takes time, and there were moments when I felt guilty for spending that time working, editing, or learning when I could have been spending it with my daughter and husband. At the same time, I knew I was working toward building something that I loved and that could ultimately give me more flexibility and time with my family.
There were absolutely moments when I questioned whether I could really do this or whether I was even good enough to make a career out of it. But the more I photographed, the more I learned, and the more I pushed myself outside of my comfort zone, the more confident I became. I’m still always learning and growing, but I think those challenges have made me appreciate how far I’ve come that much more.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize primarily in wedding and couples photography, with a style that is romantic, true to life, and focused on capturing people as they genuinely are. I love creating beautiful, intentionally guided portraits, but some of my favorite images are the ones that happen in between. The reactions, little glances, happy tears, laughter, and moments my couples may not have even realized were happening around them.
One of the things I care most about is making sure my clients feel comfortable in front of my camera. Most of the people I photograph aren’t models and don’t naturally know what to do in front of a camera, and I never expect them to. I guide my couples when they need it while still giving them room to be themselves, so their photos feel natural and like a genuine reflection of who they are together.
I also try to be very intentional about the experience I give each of my couples, especially with weddings. I limit the number of weddings I take on so I can give each couple the time and attention they deserve. I love being involved in the planning process, helping with timelines, talking through lighting and locations, and making sure we have a plan that allows them to actually enjoy their wedding day rather than feeling like they’re spending the entire day taking photos.
What I’m most proud of is how quickly this little hobby grew into something so much bigger than I ever imagined. Every time someone trusts me to document one of the most important days of their life, I don’t take that lightly. At the end of the day, I want to create photographs that are beautiful now, but even more meaningful years from now. If my couples can look through their gallery years later and be brought right back to the people, emotions, and little moments they might have otherwise forgotten, then I’ve done what I set out to do.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I think my definition of success has changed a lot since starting my business. Of course, I want my business to continue growing, but I don’t think success is just about how much money I make or how many sessions I can fit into my calendar.
For me, success is being able to build a career doing something I genuinely love while still having the freedom to be present for my family. When I first started, I felt like I had to say yes to everything and constantly be working in order to grow. Now I’m learning that growth doesn’t always have to mean doing more.
I want to build a business that allows me to be selective about the work I take on, give my clients the experience and attention they deserve, and still have a life outside of photography. If I can continue doing work that I’m proud of, contribute to my family, have the freedom to be present with my husband and daughter, and still have time to enjoy the life we’re building together, that’s success to me.
Pricing:
- Wedding collections begin at $2,000
- Portraits begin at $250
- Engagements begin at $315
- Custom coverage and additional hours are available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rachelcornettphoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rcornettphotography?igsh=MWt6amIyMnFhOTJsZQ%3D%3D&igsi=MWt6amIyMnFhOTJsZQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19evo92Peb/?mibextid=wwXIfr
