"A Photograph is the pause button on life" - Ty Holland
I'm here to tell your story by capturing visuals that document passion, adventure, and authenticity. I freeze time between best friends in love, and growing families. I will be here to capture the first moments, and the last ones.
As a generally introverted and anxious person, I find it challenging to keep up with the bubbly extroverted photographers I see on social media day-to-day. Although their sense of humor and confidence is admiring, it made me realize that introverted photographers are just as admirable in their own way.
Many of my nervous clients have told me that I have this ability to make them feel at ease within minutes of their session. I believe that this quality comes from the fact that I am very uneasy in front of a camera myself, and that I rely more on prompts than poses, for a more natural feel. With patience and attention to detail, I put great effort into ensuring that my clients are comfortable and receive everything they hope for during a session with me.
Leading up to your session, I will make location suggestions that make your session more like a fun experience with your loved ones and less like a photo session. I am ALWAYS up for an adventure. If you have a unique location in mind or want to get a little wild, I am here for it! I will walk into a body of water fully clothed, climb rocks and uneven paths, or lay down in a pile of dirt to get the shot. Whether you want the urban city rooftop vibe or complete cottage core feels, I am always ready to wander with my clients.
"The Earth is what we all have in common" - Wendell Berry
As a natural-light photographer who values travel, I care a great deal about natural environments, wildlife, and how we, as humans, affect them. Sustainability and eco-consciousness are things I'm trying to incorporate more and more in my daily life; this includes my work. Becoming a Leave No Trace Aware Photographer is a step I'm taking to incorporate my values into my business to help educate and spread awareness. I want the locations that we visit today to be there, and thriving tomorrow.
Kind Words
“If you are an individual who is insecure about photos you need to experience a photo shoot with Rachel Callan! She has the incredible ability to make insecurity vanish through the strong positive connections created during photographic sessions. Her artistic talent results in people being able to view themselves differently. From personal experience Rachel Callan has built my confidence and self esteem by making me feel like a work of art.”
“Rachel recently took some headshots for me and I couldn't be more pleased with the result. She was flexible, considerate and I received the photos in under a week! I highly recommend her!”
“My boyfriend and I hired Rachel to take photos of us for our anniversary in December, and we couldn’t have been happier with the result!! Most of our photos end up looking the same from other people, but Rachel gave us a variety of poses and photos that we were able to choose from. She made us both feel comfortable and relaxed, it was so easy!”
“Rachel constantly makes sure you're feeling positive about the shoot and yourself. I was nervous about having photos taken of myself but, minutes into the session, all my worries were gone. Her photo and editing style is phenomenal. Nothing looks staged or awkward and every photo taken I'm proud to show off.”
“Rachel did engagement photos for my fiancé and I in January. Everything about the shoot and experience was professional and well done. My fiancé and I felt at ease with her from the very first minute. She has so many creative ideas for poses and weighed any suggestions that we had with equal importance.”
“Rachel did an incredible job at making sure I was as comfortable and as natural as possible during our session. In my eyes, there’s nothing worse than trying to take a photo that’s supposed to be “you in your essence” when you're on edge and constantly thinking “am I getting this right?”. When I asked for some direction, Rachel gave me feedback and tips that enhanced what I was already doing rather than totally redirecting me.”
“I would 100% recommend Rachel. She's so fun to shoot with, very professional, and I received high quality photos really quickly. Great pictures are important in marketing my visual art and I would recommend her to any other artists or business owners needing professional photos.”
“The most significant aspect of Rachel’s value, is attributed to her genuine passion and her attention to detail. She is one of the most patient young ladies I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Soft spoken with a sense of humor, she is a pleasure to work long hours with, and has a work stamina that stands in it’s own category.”
“Definitely has the eye! Rachel always gets the perfect shot and edits them beautifully! Great value for her price as well!”
“Rachel always amazes me with each and every picture she takes. While she has a camera in her hand, the world better watch out. I can't wait to see all the new pictures and projects to come!!”
“We enlisted Rachel’s expertise recently to have some updated family photographs completed. Rachel was punctual, professional and knowledgeable. With grown children in our family she knew how to keep the session fun and not overly posed. She worked with our family on selecting our outdoor location and was creative in her approach to achieving some unique photographs.”
“The amount of effort Rachel puts into each shoot (before, during, and after) is remarkable, and is reflected in the incredible quality of her work.”
“Seriously, thank you again! Literally laughing my head off and crying all at once looking at the photographs. You literally showcased all of our families' souls in the photos. I cannot thank you enough.”
“Rachel has done our family pictures twice now and we absolutely LOVE her! Her photography style is so organic, and she makes you feel so comfortable while shooting. Anytime my friends and family see our photos they always comment on her editing style, it is so stunning. She is always so friendly and professional, and you can tell she loves her career. Rachel has a true talent!”
“Rachel was a pleasure to work with. She is friendly and accommodating. Any time I need a photographer, Rachel will be the one I'm messaging!”
“Oh Rachel, we cannot thank you enough for such a beautiful gallery of photos. I was crying looking through all of them. You really captured he essence of one of the best days we've ever had, and we are so grateful for that. Thank you so so so much.”
“Rachel is a phenomenal photographer who is so creative and clearly loves her passion. From the very beginning - she knew exactly what we were looking for and I could not of asked for a more smooth day. My husband and I chose to do first looks, intimates and family photos before our wedding ceremony. Rachel reached that expectation and more.”
“I cannot recommend Rachel Callan Photography enough. She did our wedding photos and was incredible. Throughout the whole day she was a calming presence, made photo taking fun (and not awkward), communicated well with all the family, and captured our day beautifully. We were honoured to have her as our photographer.”
FAQ
What camera gear do you use?
I use a Canon 5D III with the Sigma 35mm f1.4 & Canon 70-200mm f2.8 lenses. I also have a variety of lighting equipment for studio, in-home sessions, weddings etc.
Do you edit & retouch?
Yes & no. I do edit all photos in both colour as well as black and white in Lightroom, but I do not do a huge amount of retouching as I love to keep my photographs natural & authentic. I will retouch any marks that are not permanent such as blemishes, cuts/scrapes & bruises, however, I will not touch any scars, freckles or birth marks unless I'm specifically asked.
What subject matter do you photograph?
I specialize in lifestyle sessions for individuals and couples, however, I will photograph pretty much anything and everything! I have experience photographing families, pets, sports, headshots, newborns, etc. Feel free to contact me with any questions if you are unsure about what type of session you would like to have photographed.
Do you photograph destination weddings & elopments?
Yes! I am open to photographing any type of wedding. Big or small, near or far, feel free to reach out if you have any questions regarding your big day! I am proud to offer worldwide photography services and would be thrilled to go on an adventure with my clients!
Will there be a second shooter?
I am a very independent photographer. I have photographed all of the previous weddings I've been hired for on my own. I often bring an assistant for equipment purposes however, I photograph and edit everything solo.
When & how will I receive my photos?
All sessions will be delivered using an online, password protected gallery within 2-3 weeks of your session, and weddings will be delivered within 4-6 weeks. From the gallery, you will have full access to download all of your photographs in full resolution.
Will there be a travel fee?
Local sessions will always include travel time in the initial package price. There is a travel fee of 50 cents per kilometer travelled for sessions taking place further than 25km from Port Perry, Barrie, or Orillia.
Can I order prints through you?
Absolutely! All photo packages include digital copies of your images as well as personal use and printing rights however, I am fully equipped with a professional printer if you would like to order through me.
Can I extend my session?
If it suits both of our schedules, you can absolutely extend the length of your session, for an additional fee, if needed. Message me for advice for the length of time you may need for your session.
What should I wear?
Where something that you have worn before, that you know looks good on you and try to go for loose, flowing, comfortable fabrics. Try to avoid bright colours by opting for neutral colours such as beige and grey. Avoid busy patterns and logos and if one subject does wear a print, try to limit the patterns worn by other subjects. Avoid matching colours perfectly so the subjects don't blend into each other. If you choose to wear blues for example, try combining various shades or matching it with a neutral colour. For more information, visit the style guide in my photo journal.