Meet Rachel Veltri

We recently connected with Rachel Veltri and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
This is such a critical thing to practice as an artist of any kind. The moment you feel your creativity slipping from you or when you begin to play it safe for the sake of being comfortable than you know you must do something differently to keep the creativity alive. One thing I always do is try to find inspiration in everything around me: colors, light, music, books, fashion, architecture, movies and cinematography; literally the list is endless. Let the things that inspire you challenge and push you to take more risks with your work. Surround yourself with things that spark your creativity. Don’t be afraid to play. Play with direct flash or funky LED lighting, use different lenses to get creative with weird angles and posing, create creative scenes or real moments rather than generic pose prompts that are more of a performance than a real moment, TRY new things. As a photographer, it’s so easy to play it safe and get comfortable doing the same poses that you “know work” in a way. Trendiness will kill your creativity. I used to try to recreate other popular photographs or poses, but it never translated the ways I ever wanted it to. I now go into every photoshoot and wedding I photograph with ZERO expectations. I know in my heart that because I practice daily how to be inspired by all that’s around me, I am able to stretch my creativity to the limits of any setting I am in. I embrace the challenge of finding the ways I can get inspired with others and how to create art out of anything.

I also think it’s important to try new things/ other modes of creating to keep the creativity alive as an artist in general. I am a photographer, but I’m also a painter, a musician, a chef (in the making) and much more. I signed up for piano lessons as a 33 year old mom with my 11 year old son and it’s been the best experience ever. It’s SO challenging, but it honestly feels like a workout for my brain in such a good way and I’m grateful to learn new things at this age. I think the more you challenge yourself ultimately, the more you are strengthening your creativity.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am Rachel Veltri, a mom to two way cooler versions of myself and professional photographer. Everything my heart creates has a piece of my family in it. I have an 11 year old son and 8 year old daughter and I’m a full time mom while simultaneously being a full time wedding and portrait photographer. I take being an artist very seriously. But also carelessly and recklessly, as my best work comes from have no expectations of any sort of creative outcome other than to just make art. I have been photographing weddings and memories for 8 years now and have watched the industry evolve in front of my eyes. Most especially after COVID hit. Since then, I’ve had to realign my own direction, my brand, and purpose with my photography career. Over the past few years, I was super, duper, extra close to just throwing in the towel and giving up. But instead of quitting, I decided to recommit at the beginning of this year and it’s been such a wonderful reawakening to my creative soul.

2024 is a year of expansion and transformation for me. I have signed up and attended some incredible workshops already for this year to learn new strategies and ways to challenge my creativity. I started a huge rebrand project with the most talented and artistically aligned brand and website designer, Celeste with Sainte Noire @saintenoire, the best copywriter on planet earth, Sasayda with Jayde Haus @jaydehaus, and a production team one could only dream to work with, Natalie @nataliebergfalkvideo and Sara @sarawelchphoto with Vibe Haus @wearevibehaus. My creative team and I will launch my new brand and website in May 2024. I absolutely cannot wait for that. I also started a new branch of photography within my business that’s become a new wild passion of mine- polaroid boudoir photography. Trying new things and putting myself out there in new ways was scary at first, but now more than ever I realize how good things come from stepping into the uncomfortable. I am so grateful for my clients and the people who trust me to make magic with them. My main mission is for everyone I work with to see themselves as a work of art.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey were learning time management skills, being patient and kind to myself and my mind, and invest in the things that really matter to level up when you’re ready.

The number one token of advice I give every photographer early in their journey is I advise them to learn their camera and equipment (flashes, lenses, etc) in MANUAL mode over AUTO mode right away. This will save you SO MUCH time and headache learning the skillset you really need in order to be a professional photographer.

Learn how to schedule and properly balance your time and energy with your photoshoot to editing ratio. It’s easy to get burnt out super quickly if you don’t manage your time efficiently, especially if you have tiny humans to chase around and feed. You don’t want to book yourself ragged and not have any real quality time to edit and get creative in the post process. Prioritize and learn how to manage your time to fit your flow best.

Next, we are are own harshest critics. The way our inner talk speaks to our minds with directly impact our creative work. If you tell yourself you suck all the time or you’re not as good as so and so, then you’re going to genuinely start making crap work and live in a comparison loop. Hype yourself up and believe in yourself. Don’t be mean to yourself and keep practicing in the areas you want to be better in. Room for growth is an opportunity, not a bad thing.

Lastly, when you’re ready and feel confident in your brand and your work, invest and take it to the next level. Whether that be in singing up for educational courses or workshops, learning new techniques or skills, hiring or outsourcing others to make your business more professional, or in my case hiring an entire creative team to help coach and help you redefine a whole new brand that really sets you apart as an artist and individual. Spending and investing large sums of money is terrifying, especially as a “professional artist” but believe me when I say, it’s worth it all. Ten fold. The more you learn and are willing to push yourself, take the risks, work hard and invest the money the outcome is profound. The more you put into yourself and into your business, the more that comes back to you.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My dream clients are artists too. They are creative minded humans with the appreciation for life and all its beauty. They work very hard for the life they lead and appreciate the hustle. They love the outdoors, adventures, and good times. Most importantly, they love and support each other deeply.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Cover photo: Natalie Bergfalk @nataliebergfalkvideo www.wearevibehaus.com  and Sara Welch @sarawelchphoto www.sarawelchphoto.com.
Photography: Rachel Veltri Photography

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