Meet Raquel Langworthy

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Raquel Langworthy. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Raquel below.

Raquel, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience is something inside of all of us that morphs in form and changes throughout our life. When I was in my mid-twenties I took the leap to become a photographer with very little knowledge of how to become one professionally. I was working as an Art Director in advertising, when I took a leap to pursue photography full time. Back then, I’d say my resilience came from a refusal to fail. I felt like no one thought I could succeed, and I wanted to prove that I could. I remember at the time that I was sharing newborn sessions and event photos on Facebook – anything and everything I could get hired to do. My friend sent me this gritty photo journalism article that seemed cooler to her. It was an odd transition figuring out what I wanted versus what my network was into – lonely is probably the best word. It worked out though, I kept trying new things and eventually found my niche.

Twelve years later, that resilience has been tested by many other forces. Getting pregnant and giving birth three times, a global pandemic, home schooling, a broken ankle, and burn out. Each of these life experiences tested my resolve that I would remain a self employed photographer. I think the only way we remain resilient is by checking in with ourselves through each test. Is this what I still want? Am I becoming the person I want to be? Am I growing in different areas of my life?

Sometimes the answer has been no. Usually when this happens, it’s time to ask more questions and learn something new. It’s time to stretch myself. It’s time to grow – and by growing I become more flexible, more knowledgeable and more resilient. When I was young, I thought resilient meant strength, toughness grit – the refusal to fail. Now, I think the opposite. Resilience is the ability to bend, to morph, to allow oneself to fail. It’s accepting that failure is an opportunity to learn. Resilience is failing forward.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am an Interiors & Architecture photographer based on the East Coast. Most people don’t exactly know what this is. They often associate it with real estate photography – but that’s something different. I work with commercial based clients, often an Interior Designer or Architect to create their portfolio. I work with stylists and an assistant to produce stunning imagery of homes that are highly curated. I light the homes myself and work to capture the spaces with my unique perspective. My images are then promoted to magazines for either digital or print use. Brands often also purchase usage of my images to promote products. This year I’m working on a course to help photographers who are just getting started. More on that later this year!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I think my first strength is that I love observing the world and creating pictures in my head. I have always loved to observe the details of the world, the expressions people make, the way light shifts and changes in so many interesting ways throughout the day. Its this love of observation that helped me evolve as a photographer.

Next, I’m good at communicating ideas, feelings, and esoteric concepts in words. I have always loved writing, and I adore talking with others. I often ideate best while in conversation. When you work with creative people, communication is such a vital aspect of success. I think my ability to communicate well has helped me develop client relationships. It shows them how excited and invested I am.

Lastly, I’d say my ability to think like a business owner, and not just an artist has helped me succeed. Our creativity and the way we feed and grow it are vital, but our clients need to know we are accountable, professional and reliable. Having a background in branding and marketing has been very useful. These skills are necessary for sustaining a business over the long run.

I always tell young people to plug into community in every and all ways possible. Attending conferences and events have been transformative for me throughout my career. The interiors and architecture world was a tight-lipped and lonely place when I was first getting started. That is changing and it has been such a blessing. I encourage others to plug into the Shifter photography community. Link up with other photographers. Assist whenever possible. Ask questions and try new things. Value community over competition.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

My parents taught me to work hard and believe in my own intelligence. They taught me to speak my mind and believe in myself. They value education, and insisted on aiming high in all things. I took a different path than they envisioned for me, but those values have helped me be the person I am today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.raquellangworthy.com
• Instagram: raquellangworthy.photo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raquellangworthyphotography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raquellangworthy/

Image Credits

Featured Designers are Blake + Dane, Kiran Nagi Design, and Elizabeth Reynolds Interiors.
Stylist for two projects: Deirdre King Creative