Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachael Buechler.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My love of photography starts back when I was sitting in my grandparent’s living room in Northern MI where I grew up, I still recall the scent off the printed image on film. I would sit and thumb through stacks upon stacks of photo albums for hours. I was mesmerized by the faces and the stories left untold. It was a beautiful trigger for my grandmother and she would sit with me and tell the stories through these photos, frozen memories of our family.
At the age of 10, in the middle of winter, my mom enrolled me in a film class. With the shoot taking place outdoors during freezing snow covered days, I was found myself captivated in the way I could capture the shots of snowflakes and frozen puddles. Our shoots took place outside and despite the freezing weather, I was in love with capturing snowflakes and frozen puddles. From that moment on, I was hooked and in love with the art of capturing any moment in time and preserving forever.
Highschool approached and my passion shifted to architecture and design leading to pursuing a degree in engineering as I entered college. With the passing of my beloved grandma, I was called to switch to premed. Ultimately I decided not to complete my degree, moved to LA and landed a position in the medical field that launched an X year career in that field.
After running two very successful medical practices, I took six months off and moved to Tanzania to volunteer at an orphanage and health department at the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Having put down my camera for almost a decade, I was reunited with my love of photography wanting to capture this moment of time. The faces of the children representing their stories to be told began to spark the urge to never put it down again and to never miss capturing the story!
Upon returning back to LA with $100 to my name, starting a business wasn’t in the cards at the time. Ended up, I landing the role of COO for a lucrative concierge practice in Santa Monica all while side hustling in photography. I would volunteer to take photos of anyone I knew and for any reason. From family photos and headshots to pets and second shooting weddings. I enrolled back in college but this time for photography at SMC.
After eight years as a side hustle and two babies later, I knew it was time to get serious and make the scary leap to Solopreneur.
Rachael B Photography became a full-time reality in early 2018 and I haven’t stopped moving since.
Has it been a smooth road?
If you would’ve asked me this last year, my answer would have been a bit different. These days, I think smooth and struggles are only how you define them. Understanding who you are, what you stand for and knowing there are no obstacles in your way allows for a much clearer perspective than framing life with struggle and missed opportunities.
2020 has most definitely shown us all that what you think isn’t always reality. It’s the ability to see and know how to move past the rubble. One of my favorite movies is the Shawshank Redemption and just like Tim Robbins’ character shook bits of rock out of his pocket everyday in the yard after digging his tunnel in his cell, each day you pick a little of that rubble in front of you and take it with you. Soon, you will have built the most beautiful bridge to success, whatever success means to you. Defining what happiness in life means for you is the key to the smooth road, those definitions become your road map.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Rachael B Photography & SoCal 3D Spaces story. Tell us more about the business.
Rachael B Photography is an ever-evolving photography company and I like to think of myself as the chameleon of photography, blending in where needed and standing up and out when called upon.
I am most known for my ability to make any child light up with their real smile during School Picture Days, bust out my sweet dance moves when shooting Events and having all the crazy fun in live (and VIRTUAL) Photo Booths.
Most recently, my love of perfect lines and architecture has resurfaced in Real Estate photography.
In the beginning of the pandemic, a long time friend and I combined our expertise of photography and 3D Virtual Walkthroughs and in a matter of just 24 hours, we started a company, designed a website, logo and designed an organized backend system.
SoCal 3D Spaces is the epitome of what can be done when faced with a struggle. To me, it was not only an opportunity but more a saving grace. It kept our minds and bodies busy during this time of uncertainty but more importantly, it has proven to me that determination and dedication to success can be achieved even in a global pandemic.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
There is so much in Photography to look forward to and many advances in cameras including the new iPhone 12 that I love to see. There is a lot of conversation in the photographic community whenever a big shift like this is released but I am always present in mind that knowing we all need help and not everyone wants to do everything themselves. We need support from other professionals and while yes, you can take magnificent photos with an iPhone or buy your very own Professional DSLR camera, the beautiful images you see are filled with passion and expertise. I am hopeful for the future and know that it will only continue to push us in ways that are necessary.
Contact Info:
- Address: 14622 Ventura Blvd #2053
- Email: hello@rachaelbphotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/rachaelbphoto, www.instagram.com/socal3dhomes
Image Credit:
Grant Terzakis Photography
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