We recently connected with Rachel Westley and have shared our conversation below.
Rachel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the best thing you’ve ever seen (or done yourself) to show a customer that you appreciate them?
As a wedding and portrait photographer, I am committed to providing my clients with images that they will cherish for years to come, rather than just a quick social media post. I believe that this is the best way to show my appreciation for them by listening to their needs and desires, whether it’s for a wedding, branding, or family session. It’s crucial to me that they feel that I truly understand their vision and that it’s not just about my artistic preferences and what I want for my portfolio. By making sure that my clients feel heard and then delivering the final product, I aim to demonstrate that I value them and am grateful for their trust in me to capture these important moments in their lives.
One thing I’ve started doing for my wedding clients is providing personalized gifts based on the couple’s relationship and what I learn about them throughout the process. I don’t believe in generic gifts; I believe in gifts from the heart. They’re not always extravagant, but they’re meant to show the couple that they’re not just another client or wedding to me. I want them to know that their love story is something I’ll always remember, and I want them to remember their experience with me as a good one. I want to express how thankful I am for them trusting me with such a beautiful day. When I give these gifts, I can see the gratitude and surprise that I cared enough to do it, and that means a lot to me and to the couple.
In my interactions with clients, I strive to be as thorough as possible, answering any questions, no matter how small, and helping to build their confidence. I demonstrate that even the most nervous client can still create a beautiful photo, regardless of age, size, or confidence level.
Rachel, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am an art enthusiast who loves God and my family with all my heart. I enjoy being in nature and often find myself at the beach doing word searches whenever I can. Photography has always been my passion – it runs in my blood. There are many different types of photographers: some who love the technical side, the newest lens or piece of gear, and others who simply love the impact photography has on people. I fall into the latter category. I have always been drawn to photography for its ability to touch people’s lives. When we lose loved ones, the first thing we turn to are the photographs and the albums. They bring smiles to people’s faces and help us remember.
As a child, I loved capturing moments with a camera and taking pictures of my family. When I reached high school, I found solace in the darkroom whenever I had the chance. My teacher, Mrs. Rejda, noticed my talent and told me I had something special, which meant the world to me. I dedicated myself to working in the darkroom, winning some awards along the way, and I enjoyed every moment of it.
After finishing high school, I met my life partner, and this year, we will celebrate 16 years of marriage. Early in our marriage, we decided to start a family. During that timeframe, I had a job working at the electric company but decided to become a stay-at-home mom due to child care being through the roof in cost, besides the fact that I wanted to raise our babies at home. During my time at home, I absolutely loved raising my babies (it is one of the most fulfilling and difficult jobs I have ever done), but I still yearned to do something to bring in some type of support financially. I began looking into becoming a nurse practitioner at our state college, but this is where my husband suggested something that would change my career and life from here on out. He suggested I go to school for photography. He knew how much I loved it, and what better way than developing my craft in school? There are not many colleges that push working with film, but Pensacola State College does, and I was grateful for it.
During that time, I started my photography business. I began learning the craft professionally, doing a small number of weddings and focusing more on portraits. It was definitely challenging to balance college, raising two kids, and running a business. After running my own business for some time, I decided to pause and take a job at a local studio, where I worked for some years photographing a large number of weddings, families, newborns, brands, headshots, and anything else you can think of. After some years there, I decided it was time to get back to the basics of what set my soul on fire.
I wanted a slower pace to really feel like I was giving from a full cup while spending more time with my family. I turned the focus back to my own business, setting small goals and really focusing on every client who put their trust in me.
When clients book with me, I truly mean what I say when I tell them I am here to help. I do my best to provide guides in helping them during their session so they don’t feel lost, and I empathize with them concerning their insecurities because, man, we all have them. Which is why most people don’t get their photos taken. I’ve heard many reasons why it takes people years to get their photos done. They didn’t like their photographer’s communication skills, they didn’t feel heard, they felt like just another client or paycheck, they didn’t like their photographer’s attitude, and so on. When I hear these types of complaints I take each one to heart and do what I can for them and my next client to not feel this way.
I am proud to say how much effort and soul I put into my work. I believe it’s important to maintain a balance in the amount of work you take on, based on my past experiences. This is to ensure that it doesn’t negatively impact your client and their experience. As I mentioned before, it’s hard to give when you have nothing left to give. Providing a product to your clients that they love and that’s artistic and unique is crucial to me as an artist and business owner. I want my clients to understand that I empathize with being in front of the camera and not liking how I feel about myself. I also understand the feeling of trusting someone with the most important day of your life and expecting to receive images, only to end up with nothing.
I believe my dedication to client satisfaction sets me apart. Their happiness is my priority, and I’ll always work to ensure it.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
The driving force behind my work is making people feel like a work of art. I’ve often heard people express their discomfort in front of the camera, saying things like, “I feel awkward” or “Make me look skinny.” I understand these sentiments and the struggles people face with their self-image, whether it’s related to weight or other factors. This motivates me to show them that they are beautiful just the way they are, and I want to capture their true essence so they can see themselves as others do. My goal is for clients to look at their photos and think, “Is that really me?” I aim to present them in a genuine light, building their confidence to take more pictures and walk with their head held high. My mission is to change the way people perceive and feel about themselves through my photography.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Being myself. That’s what I believe. I don’t try to be someone I am not. I don’t follow trends, and I don’t pour money into marketing. I treat others how I want to be treated, and I believe that if I do right by my clients and make them feel seen, they will share their experience, and others will come along, and so on. I am old school, and word of mouth is my jam. I believe in giving roses where due, and I pray I get them in return.
I have had the best clients over the years. They have been the best cheerleaders for me and have kept me going on some of my hardest days when I might have had some self-doubt. I am thankful every day for them.
I don’t try to strategize to build clients; I just believe in being who I am and know that if I do right by others, good things will come my way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.raewestphotography.com
- Instagram: @raewestphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RaeWestPhotography