Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Nash.
Rachel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always loved photography. My first memory of really thinking about taking photographs was driving through Wisconsin on a trip to visit my grandparents and passing all of the farms and thinking, “Someday I want to make a photography book about barns”. I think I was around 10 years old. As a child, I took photography classes at camp in the summer and during high school in Connecticut.
I loved taking photos of just about everything I came upon and after I graduated from college and moved to Minnesota, I discovered the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. I took some classes to continue my education. One memorable assignment was to take one photo every 15 minutes during the day. I chose to get in my car and drive around, setting a timer and stopping wherever I was when it went off, taking a photo of something around me.
I remember heading off to the Northwest and driving around Lake Minnetonka and out into the farmlands of Watertown, Winsted, and Hutchinson. All photos were developed in a darkroom and that was one of my favorite things. I loved being in that dark space, usually by myself, being able to slowly discover what I captured as the photo revealed itself in the tray. Then I became pregnant and could no longer be in the dark room among the chemicals.
After I had children, I decided to leave my job in International Human Resources to be a stay-at-home mom. I am very fortunate to have had that opportunity. I loved raising my kids (and of course taking tons of photos of them as they grew up). Once they were in school, I returned to my love of photography and joined a class at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. It was called “Making Photographs”, and focused on finding your passion and exploring the narrative and emotional aspects of your work. We studied the work of other photographers and had weekly individual portfolio reviews. Hearing other photographers’ feedback on my work was invaluable.
I continue to search for opportunities to learn more about photography, both the technical and creative aspects. Access to so many resources online means I can learn on my own time from photographers all over the world! One of my favorite ways to learn is to participate in hands-on workshops, both locally and abroad.
In 2022, I took a trip to Italy to do a week-long workshop in Tuscany with a wonderful photographer I met doing a workshop in Charleston, North Carolina in 2018. As we discovered gorgeous landscapes and quintessential hilltop villages, the focus was on composition and technical aspects of getting a great shot. I learned a lot, had fun, and came home with some wonderful photos. My goal is to go to at least one photography workshop a year.
Throughout my life, I have been blessed to have parents who both loved and had the means to travel. Because of them, I have been able to visit places throughout the United States, and around the world. I love exploring and photographing diverse cities, landscapes, and wildlife. Places on my bucket list to travel and photograph are Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, and Argentina.
At some point (I’m not entirely sure when) I became unable to just view the world around me. Now I see everything and think, “how would I photography this?” or “wow, the light is amazing coming through the trees like that!”. Just driving down the road, my mind is constantly composing photographs. I hope that never ends! Through my photography, I want to share the endless beauty of the world around us.
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 has not been a smooth road, for sure. The challenges I have faced in my journey of becoming a photographer have all been in my head, literally. I have struggled with depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember. One of my biggest obstacles has been a lack of confidence. I am constantly wondering if I’m good enough. That thinking creates a wall, a barrier, that seems impossible to get through.
Spending hours working on photos just to look at them again and be dissatisfied. I find myself looking at Instagram and seeing all these amazing photos that seem so much better than mine. It is overwhelming and often discouraging. But I have to remember that there are hundreds of thousands of lawyers, doctors, actors, singers, etc. in the world. And they are all important in what they do. There are hundreds of thousands of photographers, too, but that does not mean I shouldn’t or can’t make my mark in the field.
Then there is fear. What happens if I fail? Fear of failure makes it difficult to get started sometimes. Why try if no one is going to like my art or want to buy it? On the other hand, there is the fear of success. What happens if I do well? What would happen if I did become a big-deal photographer? Would that take me away from my family? Would people resent my success?
For me, this fear also feeds into guilt. Spending time and money on my photography when I should be devoting those things to my husband, kids, family, and friends. I need to overcome these obstacles. I know I have a ways to go, but I am working on improving both my art and my inner voice.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a freelance photographer. I like to say that I photograph everything, except people. While I like taking candid shots, I am not a portrait photographer. I enjoy nature photography the most, primarily flowers and wildlife. I also really enjoy travel photography. Exploring and sharing with others the treasures around us, that are not always accessible to everyone.
I am most proud of my ability to share the beauty of nature and the world with people. I think I have a creative eye when it comes to photographing nature in all of its forms. What sets me apart from others is the fact that I have had the opportunity to travel to and photograph a variety of places in the world. I realize that this is not something many people can do, and I am very fortunate.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Curiosity, to me, is an essential characteristic of being a successful photographer. Being interested in what is around you, and looking at it from different angles or positions can create dynamic art. The curiosity to learn more about photography is also important. Whether it is new equipment or technology or a new way of seeing things, a love of learning and discovering new things is paramount. My goal is to continue to learn and grow as a photographer.
One key to my success is the support I have from my family, friends, and fellow photographers. My husband has been very supportive, from buying me gifts of new equipment to holding down the fort while I go away on workshops. Having supportive friends is also integral to my success. They are my cheering squad and my sounding board. They encourage me and delight in my achievements. I don’t know where I would be without them.
My parents have nurtured my love of photography, too. As a gift for Christmas one year, they gave me 5 hours of working directly with a National Geographic photographer to review my work and advise me on how to improve and become the best photographer I can be. That was a truly invaluable experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: rrnphotography.smugmug.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/rrnphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rrnphotos
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhotoRrn
Image Credits
Liz Allen Photography (Headshot photo)
