Featured Photographer - Rachel Nielsen

Rachel Nielsen is a full time elopement and wedding photographer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is married to her best friend, a mom to 5, obsessed with light, and can be easily bribed with a diet Mt Dew. She is inspired by being outside, teaches Click Photo School’s Mastering Manual Exposure workshop, and is the co-creator of the Lightfinders Workshop.

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HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY?

My husband took a photography class in college and mentioned that he thought I would really enjoy it. I told him that it would be too technical for me and so I wasn’t sure it would be a great fit. I finally gave in to curiosity and I signed up for a manual class. I went into the class hoping to take better images of my kids and I never had any intention of going into business.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?

I love to incorporate light, the environment, and connection in my images. I look to align all three things by creating moments with genuine emotion/connection between the couple while also showcasing the beautiful world and light around them. I love to edit in a way that enhances what it truly looked like in that moment.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN AN IMAGE?

I am constantly looking for connection in the image as a whole, with a circular perspective. Connection not only between my couple, but between the light and the couple, the light and environment, the couple and the environment, etc… When all three come together, those are the images that grab my attention most.

WHAT INSPIRES OR MOTIVATES YOU?

While I love a beautiful environment or location, light is what inspires me most. It is the first thing I look for during the session or day and I love to watch how it moves, filters, and drapes over everything it touches.

WHAT CHALLENGES YOU?

The thing I love most about photography is that there is always something new to learn. While I both like and dislike being out of my comfort zone, I love the challenge of doing something I have never done before. Whether it is playing with light in a new way, a new location, or a tough situation overall, I try to keep in mind that as we change and grow as artists and humans, our work will grow right along with us. Challenging situations can encourage growth and a new perspective.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT OF A WEDDING?

Of course I love the time I get to spend with the couple just after the ceremony but I also love the vows. It is a time where emotions are high and the couple is truly focused on each other. Hearing even more about their relationship and everything that has led up to that moment always pulls me right in.

OF ALL YOUR IMAGES, DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ONE?

My favorite image is constantly changing and I could never narrow it down to just one. The moments that were unexpected, spontaneous, and still somehow magically aligned are always the ones that end of being my favorite ones. I immediately recognize them as I am watching it unfold and I know instantly how I am going to process it.

TELL US ABOUT DVLOP

DVLOP absolutely changed the way I post-process my images. Being able to mix and match presets with different tone curves and tools gives me the ability to truly create something unique and perfect for my style. It has given me a consistency across my work that is almost effortless. No matter the lighting situation or environment, I know that I have the tools I need to beautifully enhance my images.