Mansfield, TX Newborn & Family Photographer | Rachel’s Newborn session with family

This year will mark my 4th anniversary as a photographer. What? We are talking about the journey that started as a hobby and as a way to document my own family’s milestones. I never imagined it would be my calling.

Not knowing where it would lead me to, in 2020 when most of us became highly-aware of time and how fraile life can be, I began taking on requests from friends and family to photograph their families. Safely, in outdoor settings and with a face-mask on I happily obliged. We picked a time, a park and I looked endlessly through Pinterest to find cute poses and outfits to suggest. The session would take place, I’d look through the photos and “edit” them and would deliver them within a couple of days. Easy-peasy. We are talking about a time where I had no idea what the Exposure Triangle was, so I shot in auto-mode. But I knew they needed to be better, I needed to be better. So, I took courses and studied late at night while my family slept. I couldn’t get enough. I learned a few more things about photographing and editing. I realized it took more than a camera ‘click’ to create the perfect picture.

I then thought, omg, I really love doing this. I found something that makes me want to stay up at night STUDYING. This is it. Making these memories for these families. Watching, through my lens, as they laugh with each other and enjoy the moment. Their gasp as they get their photos back and realize the best photos were the ones that weren’t posed or planned, and that I got that perfect shot. I had found my calling.

I became pregnant in 2021 and wanted to learn to photograph babies, newborns. Their tiny features, their first ‘fresh’ days, the back rolls and flaky skin. Most importantly, I wanted to give families these memories because they grow so fast. So I took courses on safety and posing. Boy, who knew taking a photo of a sleeping child would be so complicated! But I was determined and I knew I could do it. I invested everything I had into it, time and money. I learned how to swaddle them safely, what cues to look for, how to know if they were too hot or if they were hungry during the session, the best time in the day for them to “cooperate”, how to soothe them, so much… Then I looked for the best props and sets and got started. Looking back, I slightly cringe at the first sessions I took but I am forever grateful that those families were so gracious and patient! Especially, when they’d come back, months later. I truly apologize, every time. But all the late nights, the practice with my daughter’s baby dolls, the stress to make everything perfect, it all paid off! Here we are almost four years later, over 100 babies photographed and too many families to count.

I still learn something new every day, but I am proud of where Rainbow Photography MH is now. A small business that thrives on making its clients’ vision of their beautiful family come alive. The ability to offer them artwork for their home that is better that anything they could buy at the store because its a framed image of their loved ones. That will forever be my passion, making your dream come true, one photo at a time.