Tag Archive for derwent valley

Almost 31: a reflection

May 21, 2015 in ramblings • 1 Comment

Tomorrow is my 31st birthday. Hip hip hooray! I’ve been thinking over the last week or so what this birthday means to me, and what the last year has brought for my life.

When I was in my early 20’s I’d see magazine articles saying that your 30’s are the best years of your life and so on. I used to think ‘pffft they are just reassuring themselves that they aren’t too old yet’. But you know what? It’s true. Turning 30 was no big stress for me. I don’t really think that your age has all that much to do with what you can fill your life with. But it was the start of an amazing year. We had only recently made our ‘tree change’ to the country so this year has been filled with all the adventures around that. We have made a new home for ourselves, planted an orchard, started growing our own vegies, are caring for goats (who are hopefully pregnant, fingers crossed!), sheep, chickens, getting ready to have a beehive, generally being more self sufficient. Our eldest daughter has started at school and it is going splendidly. This year, and being 30, has been about focusing on the important things. I suppose what is important to me has changed.

I discovered Taryn Brumfitt and the Body Image Movement during the last year. If you haven’t heard of it, please do yourself a favour and look her up. I don’t know if it’s turning 30 or something else, but I have ditched my negative mindframe about my body. I have been running (say what?!!) and seeing a personal trainer. And it’s not to lose weight, my focus is to be strong. I want to be fit and healthy for as long as possible so that I can continue enjoying my life and being here for my children. The size of my body and what it weighs is nothing to do with anything. If I can run around with my children, and swing them into my arms, and be here for them – that is what matters. I participated in my first ever City to Casino fun run, I walked most of the way but did run for a few short sections and am happy with the time it took me. I am sorting out my minor health issues. I have the most debilitating periods that leave me with low iron levels and wipe me out for at least 2 days a month and I have always just dealt with them, but I have realised that actually I don’t have to. I am looking forward to getting those under control!

My business has continued its journey to focus on mostly women’s beauty portraits. I love, love, love helping women see how beautiful they are. I am starting to spend more time on creative portraits as well – I think that working on personal projects helps me to find inspiration in all kinds of places which I can then use in my other work.

I’m pretty excited to see where the next year of being in my 30’s brings! But for now, I have some editing work calling my name 🙂

Rach x

Alex

October 11, 2014 in Session preview • 0 Comments

I have known Alex for years, since we were in Primary School. She has been best friends with my sister since they were both about 8 years old. When I was doing my undergraduate degree in Launceston, Alex and I lived together. We’ve been through a fair bit together really. The fun and stress of being uni student flatmates, all the random things that life throws up at you when you least expect it, she has always been there.

Alex is a gentle soul, she is so sweet and kind. She is funky and strong, independent, courageous, loving, funny and intelligent. I could write pages about how much I adore her and all her wonderful qualities. I won’t though, instead I hope that you can see her beautiful personality shining through her photos.

I was so excited when I pulled Alex’s name out as the winner for the giveaway at my relaunch. It was really awesome being able to connect with a friend in a different way, as photographer and muse. It is a whole different experience to just a normal catch up with a friend. The camera between us changes the dynamics in a lot of ways. We had so much fun though, it was a really great morning!

I hope you enjoy the images!

Rachel x

Anita

September 21, 2014 in Session preview • 2 Comments

When I was building up my photo portfolio in preparation for the relaunch, I put out a casting call for ladies over a certain size. The reason was, so many women I have spoken to tell me “wow, I love the idea of having photos like that done of me! But I just need to lose a bit more weight first…”

And you know what? I don’t think you do need to. I think that your family, your children if you have any, your partner, all the people in your life… they love you, because you are you. They don’t think any less of you because you have a bit of “extra” weight on (and let’s be honest, the majority of the time, you really don’t have any “extra”). And conversely, I don’t think that they would think more of you if you did lose that few kilos.

I wanted you to see that, too. I wanted to feature women in my relaunch of all shapes and sizes, to show you that you don’t need to wait to have those photos. I want to document you as the real you, for your curves or your straight lines, however you are made.

So I was absolutely over the moon when Anita contacted me to organise a session. Because she doesn’t have a “magazine style” body, but you know what? She’s damn beautiful. And she knows how to rock her style, and she is happy in her skin. And I think that shows in her portraits. She is so happy, and bubbly, and her personality is downright awesome. I had a great time working with her, and I hope that you can see her gorgeous soul shining through these images.

Rachel x

Jaala

September 12, 2014 in Session preview • 0 Comments

I met with Jaala and Anita on an extremely chilly morning in the Derwent Valley. Jaala is more of a local to the area than me, and we found a lovely little quiet spot near the water to hold our session. I don’t normally make a habit of creating dresses in public toilets but on this particular morning it was the warmest option! I don’t think I’ll ever forget the look on the face of a lady who came in to use the loo and found three ladies in there, two of them in the middle of being dressed in evening gowns!

Jaala is such a classically beautiful woman, and very theatrical which was a bonus. I love the green tone of the dress which I made for her, it suits her perfectly, and with the glittering headpiece she was definitely a princess. Thank you for all the laughs Jaala, it was wonderful working with you.

I hope you enjoy the photos,

Rachel x

Chloe

September 1, 2014 in Session preview • 0 Comments

Beautiful Chloe, who braved a cool morning in the Derwent Valley for her portrait session. A mother of two, stepmum to one, wife, sister, daughter… Our session gave her a chance to just be Chloe. Calm, elegant, relaxed and simply gorgeous.

Quite by chance, one of the images we created has become the face of Rachel Baker Photography, and I feel it embodies just what I want you to feel when you have your portrait taken with me: serenity.

Enjoy these photos, and if you would like to see how they look printed and framed the images from the relaunch will be hanging at Sarah Muir Body Care in Moonah for another couple of weeks.

Rachel x