Hi! I'm Rachel

professional third wheel | hype queen |  lover of all things a little offbeat.

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I’m not the kind of photographer who’s going to tell you to “smile pretty” and stand stiff in a field.

Nah. That ain't me... 

I’m the one crouched in the dirt, chasing the weird light, hyping you up while you laugh your ass off or tear up reading your vows.

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I started Rachel Dowd Photography for people who don’t see themselves in the typical wedding blogs or family photo albums. People who might not have picture-perfect relationships with their relatives. People who want something real — not curated, not posed, not performative.

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My photography journey kicked off in 2014 at Picture People in the Brea Mall (shoutout to the chaotic magic of mall portrait studios). I shot my first wedding as a favor to my ex-husband’s mom — she believed in me enough to buy me my first camera. That one wild favor snowballed into this beautiful, messy, love-filled business I get to run today.

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Outside of photography, I’m a mom to the most confident, hilarious, wildly cool 5-year-old named Denver — she keeps me on my toes and laughing constantly. You’ll find us camping, wandering through museums, binge-watching TV, or trying out whatever random hobby I’ve picked up that month (painting? crochet? building IKEA furniture with rage and determination?). I’ve got a thing for hockey, a serious case of wanderlust, and a childhood that included two years living in Kuwait and five countries under my belt before I even hit high school.

I’m here for connection, honesty, and helping people feel seen — whether that’s during your elopement, a family session full of chaos and giggles, or a boudoir shoot where you walk away feeling like a damn goddess.

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This is a space for the rule-breakers, the deeply-in-love, and the ones who say “fuck it, let’s do it our way.” If that’s you — I already like you.