Meet Rachel Newman

We were lucky to catch up with Rachel Newman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel , thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?

I love this question. I feel like the majority of humanity is constantly wondering the same about others.
Risk is a mindset. Taking a risk basically translates into taking action. Once you frame the mindset to start taking action, fear isn’t so deeply associated with the new decision you’re contemplating. Of course, risk factors like survival and life and death are important, but I’m talking about everyday life risks, not skydiving.
So much language in our society is deeply rooted in fear. Taking a risk that might elevate your life isn’t something to be afraid of. Sure, there might be some difficulties, but the risk outweighs the alternative, which is inaction and the threat of remaining stagnant. Growth happens only when we take risks. I think of this quote often whenever I’m applying myself in a situation that has an uncertain outcome, and requires the approval of others: “The worst they can tell me is no.”

I consider the risks in life to be chasing after your happiness, relentlessly, even if some of the roads you’ve taken along the way were dead ends. If you learn the important lessons from the doors that have closed, it will expand your vision to see the doors that open. Opportunities are everywhere if you teach yourself how to find them. Only you can take charge of your entire life path. Only you can determine how you feel about the decisions you have made. One of the hardest lessons I had to learn in life is to stop ruminating about if I’m being too audacious with my goals. I got rid of the thoughts I considered “cringe” and “not important enough” because self negativity isn’t helpful when making life decisions. Having hope and inspiration for your own future is a beautiful thing. Failure isn’t something to be embarrassed of. Failure does not exist without the effort of an attempt. You cannot fail something that you have never tried. Beginnings happen when you take those risks and actions in life regardless of if you fail. Keep your ideal state of life in mind, and you can achieve things that you desire. It takes a lot of motivation and self awareness. What do you want to experience more than anything else? How can you get yourself to that goal? It will be uncomfortable at first. It was for me. I tend to be a bit more introverted. I’m the one that has to advocate for myself and I hope anyone reading this will feel empowerment to become your own advocate, even if you struggle to. My ambitions, my goals, my photography business, they all operate on my terms. If you apply yourself somewhere, and it requires other people’s involvement, please remind yourself that the absolute best they can say is an enthusiastic yes.
Whenever I receive a “no” in life, it teaches me an incredible lesson. I don’t see it as rejection anymore. Seeing it in this mindset allows me to move on to the next thing that’s meant for me. I see it as “This wasn’t the opportunity meant for me at this time… but there’s another opportunity waiting.”

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My main passion and goal in my career is to become a dedicated media creator for bands all across the world. Concerts and live events are my biggest passion. I knew that I was meant to photograph people on stage. I knew that I was meant to photograph history and events. I knew that I was meant to photograph rock stars and musicians. Capturing video as well is so incredibly meaningful to be able to rewatch those memories in real time. Nothing is more important than history. History is what connects all of us. I am capable of capturing history in such a way that is storytelling and full of art, and that is the best thing that I can leave behind in this world.
I find my field of interests incredibly special. That’s why I do it. There is nothing quite like experiencing something in the moment that brings you joy and then being able to relive it afterwards.

2025 is proving to be very busy so far. I have been to quite a lot of concerts already this year, and being able to document those events keeps reinvigorating my life purpose. This year, my biggest goal is producing an entire gallery of large wall canvases to display at art events and museums. We have an art emporium downtown that hosts new local artists for the first friday of every month. That’s where I’ll be submitting my work and giving it a shot for my first gallery appearance. I have a few other galleries I have in mind as well to submit proposals to. It’s time for my art to be displayed. My second goal that I am currently working on involves social media, marketing, and ease of access for clients. I am becoming as mobile as possible for travel. I feel too constricted to only being able to work at my home computer, and I need to make some investments in technology such as a new laptop for editing, some condensed camera gear, etc. I’m trying to make it as seamless as possible for any of my clientele, and becoming more mobile will definitely help in that regard. I want to splurge a bit for my business. I currently work with a Canon 6D as my camera base, but this camera model is over 10 years old at this point and it has seen much better days. I’m thinking of purchasing a mirrorless camera body, just doing more research into what the current models have to offer in the Canon line. A lot of these are big financial decisions and I have to take it slow.
I know I’ll get there one day. The dream state I have for Hidden Light Imagery is bright and vast.

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?

Patience
Mindset
Love

I feel like patience is one of the hardest and most essential skills to learn in all areas of life. Learning patience with my art took a really long time for me. I have been on this journey for 17 years now. I gave up multiple times. I would try again, become unmotivated, and the cycle would repeat itself. The biggest skill that I can ever teach is patience. Not just patience with the craft, but patience with yourself, most importantly. Patience with others around you. Patience with your progress. Patience with your journey.
The second skill I would say is the framing of your internal mindset. What does your internal mindset sound like? Does it sound like someone you would consider a friend? Does it sound like someone who’s constantly putting you down? Once you step back from yourself and analyze how you speak to yourself, you’ll see that you’re your own harshest critic. Do you speak life in your heart, or do you only speak of all of the things that you fear?
The third skill is love. I think that love should be deeply rooted in our passions in life. Without finding what you love in your craft, you won’t have passion. This is why I think developing the skill of love only enhances your work and never takes away from it. When we create things from love, other people can feel it. It exceeds time and space. Someone can view a picture that was taken 200 years ago and feel the emotions behind why the photographer took something.
That connection is our legacy.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes. I’ve applied to a few production companies, such as Alive Coverage, and my goal would be to collaborate and work with other photographers and videographers involved in the concert and music scene. This is also an international goal of mine as well. I love travel and I have a lot to offer to this world.
For any inquiries, contact at: [email protected]

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photo 1: crowd of fans at the Jantsen concert in Knoxville, Tennessee
Photo 2: Rezz performing in Atlanta, Georgia
Photo 3: Hyunjin of Stray Kids in Seattle, Washington
Photo 4: Ascension Rave in Atlanta, Georgia
Photo 5: Spectruum performing in Knoxville, Tennessee
Photo 6 & 7: Progtoberfest in Knoxville, Tennessee

All images taken by Hidden Light Imagery

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