Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Paola Rachal. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Paola , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you manage your own social media?

I manage my own social media. I feel more connected to my clients or potential clients when they see me interact on a message or on a post. I am thankful that I do have the time to do it myself, for now haha! Having my Photography business is allowing me to be creative and show case it on my social media by either doing my own videos or posting a little something personal. I think that is important for the viewers to see who I am.
I had decided to do it on my so thus far because it does allow me to interact with with viewers.
Just know that it is your own social media, your business and I say you are in charge of what your post or how often you post.
Do not let social media drain you, focus on you and your business, it is all up to you how you run your social media, do not let it run you.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have been a full time photographer almost four years this August 2025. But I have been doing it on and off for almost 13 years. When I say on and off, I had a full time retail job for 15 years. I worked hard during that time from check out to becoming an assistant manager. But when I had the time I would always pick up that camera and do small sessions whenever I would be off. I would capture family, maternity, and engagement sessions. I did what I loved but I was still afraid to do it full time. I was comfortable where I was at cause I had a steady income, benefits and all. I’d say thing hit different after covid hit in 2020. Things were getting harder and stressful that if started to affect my health. That’s when I knew I had to make a change. By the grace of God and the faith that I have, that is when I took that leap of faith and do photography full time, August 2021 was the last month and the first of being a full time photographer. During all that time I have a husband of almost 9 years, but together for 19 years, that supported me through the transition, but I must admit it was scary and concerning . But I did it and here I am today thriving and still learning.

With my buisness I implemented what I have learn in retail, from sales or profit and how to get profit, how to provide customer service and how to communicate to the clients. I have then started to learn about pricing, contracts, invoices, etc. I have learn what how to calculate what I made in a month and compare it to last year and determined what worked and what didn’t. I think that is a great benefit to have for any business cause you need to know where you are investing, what is expense, and what is personal.

Now I provide In Studio sessions and travel to you, Lifestyle, Events, Quince, and Weddings. I love that I can get creative and give my clients the visions that they ask for and definitely love the clients that give me that creativity and trust to do what I do.
I do have an Associate on Graphic Design and this is why I am so detailed on my editing. With the programs that I use there is always something new to learn or better way to edit and I am always open for that.

I am Family oriented and I love to work with kids, I have and a soon 8 year old son. As a mom I can understand the frustration that can come when kids are involved. I love to have a great time with my clients. I am always trying to break the ice because I can understand how it is and feels to be in front of that camera. I know!!

As a full time photographer, I am now able to capture memories for families, for couples or milestones. I love their reactions when they see their galleries and that fills my heart. That just means I did my job.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding to me is seeing the art come to life through my lens. When I have that vision as soon as I see my clients and I present it to them and they trust me with the vision is just amazing to me, when the clients come back to me for their growing family and to capture their memories, when the customers show me that they printed the images for their homes, is very humbling experience and makes me want to do more for my clients. Going full out for my clients and potential clients and capture their vision and make it come to life. When my clients leave an an amazing review or when I capture something that they have been wanting for a long time, it really melts my heart and this is how I connect with my clients. There are some that we stayed connected till this day.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Post, post, post!! Staying active and interacting with your viewers because they get to see how you are. I can say it can get tiring or frustrating at times and is ok too to take a small break. At the end of the day is how you run it. Post what you do, show your viewers your creation, what you can work with, behind the scenes, how to’s, etc.
I have done give aways to show my appreciation, I have done discounts for my vip clients, and promotions and tag a friend. Collaborations with other vendors as well. This is the kind of things that the viewers catches their eye and this is how you can interact with them even more. Showing your work and how you set up to behind the scenes makes that connection with your audience.

Just know, for any business, connecting with your audience is one of the main reasons your business will thrive. If you do what you love and are passionate about and this will not feel like a job or a have to thing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.paolarachalphotography.com
• Instagram: paola.rachal.photography84
• Facebook: Paola Rachal
• Yelp: Paola Rachal Photography

Image Credits

Photographer all taken by : Paola Rachal Photography
Creative Credit Yellow backdrop: Dia de Los Muertos Catrina, Makeup and outfit: Belleza Tarasca