We were lucky to catch up with Rachel Dodson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Rachel, thank you so much for making time for us today. We’re excited to discuss a handful of topics with you, but perhaps the most important one is around decision making. The ability to make decisions is a key requirement for anyone who wants to make a difference and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your decision-making skills.
As someone who has always been a bit indecisive, I’ve learned that the best way to make thoughtful decisions (especially in business) is to take my time, seek trusted perspectives, and consider the potential impacts. My go-to people are my mom and my husband, who often bring different insights or point out things I hadn’t considered. I also believe in the power of stepping back—there’s truth to the phrase ‘I’ll sleep on it.’ Giving myself time to process ensures I make calm, well-thought-out choices!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Hi, friends! I’m Rachel, a wedding and portrait photographer based in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. What started as a side hustle while I was a teacher has grown into Rachel Dodson Photography, a full-time career that I feel so lucky to have! I love photographing families and seniors, but my heart is truly in weddings. My husband, Daniel, and I work together as a photography team, so capturing love stories on the weekends is our favorite version of date night!
Our photography style is timeless, genuine, and intentional—we want our couples to have photos that will look just as stunning decades from now and truly reflect who they are. Plus, we think having a husband-and-wife team who’s been through it themselves is a wedding win!
For me, photography is about more than just creating beautiful images—it’s about building meaningful relationships. There’s nothing more special than when a wedding or portrait session turns into a friendship.
Since client experience is a huge priority for me, I’m working this year on creating more resources to help my brides plan the perfect wedding day, as well as crafting custom gifts to make their wedding experience even more special. I’m super excited to take things to the next level!
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?
Adaptability – Running a photography business (or any other business) means rolling with the punches. Whether it’s figuring out a backup plan when it rains on a wedding day, adjusting my editing style as I grow, or shifting my business strategies, being able to adapt has been huge. The best advice I could give is never stop learning and always be open to trying something different.
Relationships – This job is so much more than just taking pictures. Ultimately, photography is customer service. Connecting with my clients and making them feel comfortable is everything. Treat people better than the way you’d like to be treated and prioritize genuine connections.
Intentionality – It’s easy to feel like you have to do everything when you’re new, but being intentional with my time, my business structure, and my style has helped me grow in the right direction. Prioritize opportunities, relationships, and strategies that help you closer to where you want to end up! Truth be told, even though I’m years into it, I’m still working on this one!
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
This past year, my biggest area of growth has been confidence in my business. A year ago, photography was still something I balanced with another job, but now it’s my full-time career and a successful business in a way I wasn’t sure it could be —which has meant learning to trust myself in a whole new way. I’ve grown in setting boundaries, refining my client experience, and getting comfortable saying no when something doesn’t align with my goals.
The biggest thing I can see is that I’ve really learned to own my expertise. Sometimes I still need a little encouragement, but my confidence in my knowledge and experience has been at a whole new level! I am so grateful for the support of friends, family, and clients who have all played a huge role in shaping Rachel Dodson Photography into what it is today!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://racheldodsonphotos.com
- Instagram: @racheldodsonphotos
- Facebook: @racheldodsonphotos
Image Credits
Rachel Dodson Photography
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