Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachelle Miller.
Hi Rachelle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My foray into the creative field started when I was in high school during a film photography class. That was when I was 16, I am now 35. In that high school art class, I learned how to photograph and develop my own film in a dark room. I learned so much from that experience. From 2008 – 2016 I resided in Akron where my part-time job was in freelance photography specializing in children, families, and holiday-themed shoots. I had a steady stream of work that kept me entrenched in edits during my downtime. In 2016, my husband and I decided to pack up our belongings and move from Akron to Cleveland where I was scheduled to begin classes at CSU for my marketing degree. During this time my photography fell to the wayside as I pursued a major and a minor taking 18 credit hours and working multiple jobs. I lost myself a bit amongst all the chaos of life and major deaths that impacted us, including the loss of my mother in 2012 and my sister in 2016. Depression and anxiety have run rampant through my life for as long as I can recall and these losses only intensified my mental issues. During my career as a full-time student, I chose to focus on my studies, my creativity felt stagnant. Enrolling in therapy and working on myself provided me the opportunities to expand my perspective while prioritizing my mental health. These pathways led me to finish my degree strong where I graduated with honors at the age of 34. A month after graduation I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, whom we later named Vera-Lynn Mae Miller. During and after college I focused more on marketing, social media management, and advertising. I have always felt a creative calling but with the boom of social media I found so much joy in sharing my story and helping others share theirs, However, becoming a mother, after enduring depression, anxiety, and the pandemic shifted me on an internal level. Nowadays I am focusing more on families, and maternity, and interjecting more moody nuances into my photographic and social media work. I feel like my portfolio is a juxtaposition of darkness and light. My depression being the darkness and the hope I am striving toward being the light. I believe in embracing the reality of the darkness of life so I can work through my emotions which I believe are reflected in my work.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road to my journey as a photographer has been full of ebbs and flows. When I lived in Akron I had a very loyal client base and moving to Cleveland I lost that. I essentially started over, from the ground up when I moved. During my hiatus from photography during my college career, I fell out of touch with trends, social media apps, and the newest gear. When I graduated, I felt as if I had an opportunity to breathe and get in touch with my creative side. However, becoming pregnant, my priorities shifted. Life was slower and I felt less compelled to remain competitive. Upon having my daughter, I felt inspired by her. The way children encourage us as parents to be in the moment while appreciating the mundane has given me a new perspective on how I approach my photoshoots. I used to be so fearful of posing clients, seeming “bossy” or not trusting my gut. Becoming a mom has given me a confidence I never had before. While I feel like I have fallen behind my peers, “catching up” has been an exciting journey and I have learned so much about myself and my work as a result.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a photographer and social media manager/content creator. I have been a photographer since 2008 and working for others in social media management since 2016. I am fueled by passion for community, love for the Earth, and unity. My work tends to encompass a myriad of subjects from landscapes, to models, local cuisine, and everything in between with unity at the core of everything I do. I have a collaborative soul and a penchant for learning. There’s so much to be explored and I love having a wanderlust soul. I hope to someday soon incorporate travel back into my work. Until then I have found so much inspiration living in Cleveland.
I am most proud of how I have continued to move at my own pace while appreciating trends enough to remain authentic to myself. It is easy to get caught up in competition and the fear of missing out. I try to use those feelings as a catalyst for inspiration.
I feel like what sets me apart are: I value connectivity over trends, humanity over social media likes, and authenticity over replication.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
Glennon Doyle’s books (specifically Untamed) and her podcast (We Can Do Hard Things) have been a saving grace for me, her values, transformation, and motherhood journey are a continued source of inspiration for me as both a creative and a mother.
The book Wild at Home by Hilton Carter is an essentially a guide for how to care for indoor plants. I am an avid plant enthusiast, with over 75 indoor plants. This book is an easy read that allows me to get back to my beloved hobby, especially when I am feeling disconnected and in need of feeling centered.
Michelle Gardella, a photographer based in Texas, she has a warm soul and a love for all things old and precious. She’s an amazing photographer and poet whose work seems to really come from the heart. I find solace in her work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rachelledavinamiller.wixsite.com/website
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelleintheland/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=rachelle%20miller%20photography
- Other: https://www.rachellemillerphotography.mypixieset.com/?fbclid=IwAR1o3LzHzKt8fN2xwgZepYAft3n-F6U-mZoggzsJHCXyvnzSSaBZBPjhWYA
Image Credits
Michelle Loufman
