Interview with Rachel Kimberley

I’m often told by people who meet me through my business that they wish they could find out more about me online. I’m the first to admit I’m a little bit shy on social media and I’m not great with words, I prefer to let pictures speak for me! So welcome to the ‘get to know Rachel’ blog. Before we begin I just want a say a huge thanks to my beautiful partner Alex for interviewing me for this blog post. enjoy!

WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU DO?
Wow, kicks off with a big exsitential question! I guess the short answer is; I’m Rachel and I’m a freelance photographer and stylist based between Brisbane and Byron Bay.

WHEN YOU SAY YOU LIVE BETWEEN BRISBANE AND BYRON BAY, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
Yes, that is confusing! Well, Byron Bay was my home for many years. But then I fell in love with a man from Brisbane and his two beautiful little boys. For a long time we moved back and forth between the two places, but it only makes sense to do that for so long. Because we couldnt move the kids to Byron, I moved to Brisbane.

I built my business in Byron Bay and I still have a lot of clients and friends there, plus I love the nature and the vibe of the place, so I’m still there all the time.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED AS A PHOTOGRAPHER?
I first picked up a camera in my early teens, I was immediately hooked. For some reason this media really spoke to me. I was at a time in my life when I really needed to express myself and the camera allowed me to do that. Before long my love of photography progressed into a love of video and film, and after high school I moved straight into film degree at university.

DID YOU ALWAYS KNOW THAT YOU WOULD END UP DOING THIS?
Definitely not! After university I struggled to find my feet in the cut throat world of film and television. I had aspirations to be a documentary filmmaker and while I did work on some projects in that arena, that dream never fully came to fruition. I think it was the pain of that lost dream that drove me away from the creative industries all together for a while.

So I went back to university to do a Masters in Social Development and a few years later I found myself coordinating the delivery of International aid projects across East Africa. But eventually even this path lead me back around to photography.

I remember when it happened, I was in Kenya visiting one of the programs. I had taken my camera along and captured some images of the work being undertaken. When I returned home my images were used in a donor campaign and that achievement became the most fulfilling moment of my career - and it wasn’t even my a part of my job!

That's when I realised that I was on the wrong path. My true passion lay in storytelling. Shortly after that I founded the portrait side of my photography business and the rest is history.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO START WORKING WITH PRODUCT DESIGNERS AND MAKERS?
I’ve been moving in the creative industries of some kind since 2005, even during my time in not for profit I was very connected to the makers community.

When I first moved to Byron Bay I took a job with The Finders Keepers Art and Design Market. I spent three years organising their interstate events and assisiting stallholders with their market journeys. During this time I learnt a lot about design and building sustainable small business. Meanwhile I was busily toiling away, laying the foundations of my own creative business.

The evolution of my photography business from portraits to commercial photography happened pretty organically. I was just so passionate about promoting and supporting independent business and was already so involved in the makers community that it all seemed to flow. It was a move that made sense to me.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURTE PART OF YOUR JOB?
I love discovering new makers and designers, and I love when my clients trust me to dream up a creative vision for their brand. To have this kind of creative freedom is very exciting for me and I never know where it will lead me.

I also love meeting the families and couples I photograph on portrait shoots. I have a genuine interest in people which helps me connect with my clients and create a lasting relationship. I often find myself sitting behind my computer with a big goofy smile on my face because the images are so sweet and trigger all sorts of fuzzy emotions for me….

OK so bascially I love all the parts of my job!