Capturing Love all along the Gulf Coast
I'm Rachel, a dedicated photographer with a keen focus on capturing the beauty of weddings and the essence of individuals through portraits. Based in Pensacola, Florida, and Gulf Shores, Alabama, I have been passionately pursuing this craft since 2016. For me, every aspect of my work is an opportunity to create timeless and evocative imagery that resonates with the emotions and stories of my clients.
My vow to you
is to document your day as if it were my own.
My camera has taken me across the states and all along Florida’s Gulf Coast. But no matter where I am, I promise to give my all and treat you as if you were my only client.
I put my heart and soul into each photograph, endeavoring to do all that it takes to capture your moments to the fullest. Client Satisfaction means everything to me, so making you smile is making me smile.
Weddings
On the day you say your heartfelt vows to each other, promising to have and to hold through thick and thin, I am fully committed to capturing every precious moment of your special day. From the deeply personal exchange of your unique vows to the symbolic moment of exchanging rings, I will skillfully document these cherished memories for you to cherish forever.
Every single moment.
Wedding Day Coverage Starts at $2900
Engagement Session Starts at $550
**Elopement Coverage Starts at $1500**
You may just be putting on a white dress, or fastening a button, perhaps just fixing your hair, but these seemingly ordinary yet profoundly significant moments are everything. They hold immeasurable importance and deserve to be immortalized. Such moments should be documented not only for your present self but also for your mother, for your children, and for generations to come. I take pride in preserving these fleeting yet precious instances in time, ensuring that they can be cherished by you and everyone else for years to come.
Piecing together each aspect of your day as the fairytale it is.
“As an event and wedding planner for over 12 years, I have had the pleasure of working with Rachel with Rae West many times. Rachel is a talented, gifted photographer and my clients have always have been thrilled with the pictures. In addition, the experience with Rachel is always positive and clients consistently say they feel at ease and more comfortable with having pictures taken than they thought. She is also organized and helpful in giving direction when needed which is a huge plus in keeping within the wedding day schedule.”
— Mēgan K.
Wedding FAQs
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This is a concern for most clients and something they think about up until the wedding day. It is a valid concern but there are ways around this so you don’t have to. Here is what I recommend:
1. Have great vendors
2. Have a backup rain plan
3. Let it go
If you have great vendors in your corner on your special day, they know what to do. We have been through it and can work in the background getting things switched around, like your ceremony location, so that rain won’t be an issue. This is one reason why I ALWAYS recommend an established wedding planner (if you need recommendations, I got it)! If you have a back up rain plan 9 out of 10 the rain won’t happen. If it does rain and you hire me (another amazing vendor) then you have me in your corner to be able to visualize beautiful spots to take your photos despite the rain. Whether I use natural light or off camera lighting, it will be beautiful. I will not be frantic because it is raining but instead be a support system making sure you know I got you and that I will be able to deliver! That’s why having good vendors is crucial. If it does rain try not to let it get you down but instead turn it into a positive! It’s the memory of your wedding day and really what it is all about is the two of you promising forever with each other. So although it does not fit what you wanted aesthetically, it still will be gorgeous. I have photographed weddings on rainy days and it makes for some pretty dramatic photos, so my advice if it rains: let it go and enjoy it. Now if it is truly in your heart to have a portrait session on a sunny day in your wedding dress and tux, then we can schedule a portrait session on a different day but it would be an additional cost. This is something I don’t think is necessary though because your portraits on your wedding day that I take, whether raining or not, will be beautiful and a memory of your day. I promise to take care of you - so don’t stress it.
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This depends on your wedding and how large it is. Sometimes weddings are small and intimate and the need for a second photographer is not necessary. If you do however have a large amount of guests, 60 or more, and you and your other half will be at multiple/seperate locations, I highly recommend including a second photographer in your collection. If you are not sure whether you need one or not, let’s talk! I am on your side and would never push for something I truly don’t think you need just to make it more costly.
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This is one of the most frequently asked questions and I completely understand why. Who wouldn’t be excited to get their wedding photos back?! From the wedding day, I will have all of your photos edited, retouched, and delivered to you within ten weeks. If for any reason there will be a delay due to extenuating circumstances I will for sure reach out to you.
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There are a few factors that determine this. The number of images will be determined by how large your wedding party is, how many guests you have, how many wedding details there are, and how many hours you have hired me for. For a wedding day with all the stops you can expect to receive around 700-900 images.
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It’s easy!
Choose your collection, review and sign your contract, and then pay your retainer. That’s it!
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If unforeseen circumstances come up and you cancel your wedding and choose not to reschedule unfortunately your retainer would not be refundable but no further monies would be owed.
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Let me first start by saying what a RAW image is for someone who is reading this and may not know. A RAW image is the type of file of each image I take on my camera. It is an extremely large file and allows me to edit and add all that fabulous jazz to your image, while still allowing the file to be large once it is delivered as a JPEG. Now popping back to the question of: Can you have all of the images mean the RAWs? I do not deliver RAW images and do not know of many who do. Reason being is you hired me to capture an image and then artistically edit it for you! I only deliver high resolution, fully edited images to all of my clients and that is so important for me because what I deliver to you is art. If I were to deliver the RAW images that would not be my complete piece of work, so Rae West Photography does not deliver RAW images to clients in any circumstance.
I will ALWAYS advocate for families to seize the opportunity to capture precious moments together in front of the camera. Our breathtaking beaches along the Gulf provide an idyllic backdrop for creating timeless family portraits. Whether you're enjoying a summer vacation or simply seeking a beautiful setting, our beaches offer the perfect canvas for your family's cherished memories.
Starting at: $700
The Family Collections
“Rachel is the best photographer! My husband and I are what you might call awkward. And we definitely like to bring that to the forefront in photos of us… but Rachel made us feel so comfortable and happy during the whole shoot. We loved every minute of it as well as the gorgeous shots she got. It’s the first time we actually thought “let’s do that again” But only if we can fly Rachel back to take the pictures.”
-Ashley S.
Senior Portraits
Senior Portraits are everything for our graduates!
Being able to showcase you, your interests, and talents are some of the most BEST images. Ones you’ll love AND mom too! I got you both!
Starting at: $400
The Portrait
Capturing a sleek, sharp, professional image of my clients is something I love to do. Whether you need headshots for your business profile, a branding session for your company,
or just for the fun of it,
I’m your girl!
Portraits Starting at: $175
To give you the best experience you’ll never forget. Images you will always want to go back and look at. Capturing your love in the raw, every single emotion.
Portrait FAQs
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The stress of what to wear, I understand looking for multiple outfits that makes everyone happy can be a job in itself. The rule of thumb for me is pick outfits that go with your vibes! Make sure you pick something you're comfortable in and feel beautiful and handsome in! Don’t go for the outfit you saw online, but when you put it on it feels awful. Don’t force it. You can wear something as fancy as you want and as casual - it’s your choice because it’s your photos and I want you to be happy with what you have on. I will say… think about the colors. Everyone has different skin tones so you know what looks best on you. Patterns can be fun but just make sure they aren’t too busy because sometimes it can take away from the images. Color choice is always fun and exciting because you can go for a monochromatic look where everyone has the same color OR you can bring a different style and have 2-4 colors but have them all coordinate and bring pops of color in to liven up the images. Either way, I am your guide and here to help you! If you feel overwhelmed and want to have a discussion about it or need some advice, I am your woman and happy help!!
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If for some reason you cancel ahead of time or day, unfortunately I would not be able to refund your retainer. Reason being, I value all of my clients time and once the contract is signed and the retainer is paid that is what holds your date for your session and stops me from booking any other clients, even if someone else requests that day. I understand that sometimes things happen like family not showing up or a wardrobe malfunction but I will be happy to do all I can to reschedule your session at another time that works for us both. However, if we are not able to reschedule, the retainer would not be refunded.
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Weather has a way of worrying clients but here’s the thing, don’t let it! Don’t constantly watch the forecast or stress every day because 95% of the time everything is just fine! Florida is forever changing, HOURLY, and there is no need for you to constantly check your weather app to see what you should do. I promise I will pay attention to the weather for your session date and will keep in touch with you so you know the plan! If the weather decides to be difficult and it is raining during the time we are supposed to be shooting then we will reschedule, no problem at all. I will do everything in my power to reschedule on a day that works for both of us and go from there! If it is not raining and it is just overcast we will still proceed with the session because overcast skies are still absolutely stunning and gives its own vibes that are just as beautiful. The weather call normally will happen day of because of last minute weather shifts. Reschedules unfortunately can’t be made prior to the day due to other scheduled sessions, but again most of the time everything tends to be just fine!
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Unfortunately at this time I am not offering any discounts unless there is a promotion I am advertising for.
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You most certainly can! Once I deliver your photos you are free to download them and print them however you choose! If you would like them to be printed through a professional photo lab then I will have the option for you to order prints through your gallery. If you do opt to print through another party I cannot stand by their products but I can stand by the quality of prints if you choose to print through Rae West Photography.
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When I edit your photos I will take certain care in doing retouches. If I notice blemishes that I can tell most likely you would like for me to take out, boom done! If you receive your photos though, and notice you would like a little more work done, all you have to do is reach out to me. Be specific in what you would like done and to which images and I will have that taken care of for you. If they are in depth retouching requests and will be time extensive then I will give you an eta on when to expect the retouch requests to be completed. There is no additional charge for retouching to your images. My goal is for you to love what I deliver and if a little more retouching is what is needed to make it the perfect framing then trust me when I say I got you!
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This is one of the questions I get asked the most! I totally understand and tell people all the time, don’t feel bad for asking because I too would want to know exactly when to expect my photos. So here is the answer: I will have all of your images back to you within three weeks! If for any reason there is some type of delay due to unexpected circumstances I for sure will let you know, otherwise just three weeks!
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I LOVE this question and it’s definitely a discussion we will have. I would love to know if there is a special location or area that matters to you because to me that’s what photos are about. If however you have NO IDEA that is completely ok. I will chat with you about the vibes and energy you want to bring to your session and from there I can guide and pick the spots where we will go!
Let’s do the thing!
Please fill out the Contact Form for date availability followed by a meet up consultation to discuss details, collections and more. I would love to work with you!
XO
