A Conversation with The Asheville Scout Guide

A little feature about me and my work on TSG Asheville this morning!

Thanks Meagan! And big shout out to Bren Photography for the mug shot below! xo

https://asheville.northcarolina.thescoutguide.com/post/614408490416488448/a-conversation-with-rachael-mcintosh-photography

A Quick Business Update during these times of COVID-19

Hello again from self-isolation!

Lindsay and I are still working remotely and answering emails but I wanted to send you a little business update to be transparent on how we’re spending this time!

When the coronavirus hit the US, travel restrictions were put in place and events were advised to postpone; we feel extremely fortunate that all of our March, April and May weddings postponed immediately and worked with us to find other dates that we were also available. I’m excited to read in recent wedding polls that 96% of couples are postponing their weddings and not just canceling and that people still want to host big events and share this big day with their friends and families.

We found some great resources quickly and got advice from companies like Harper’s Bazaar that helped us navigate through this time. We always want to make sure our customer service is top notch and though we have had to worry about our own business, we want to first and foremost assist our clients and be kind human beings.

I don’t know if the industry will ever be the same! One thing is for sure- hiring a wedding planner and having wedding insurance seems more important than ever before!

We are still booking new weddings and portraits for 2021; however, we are not, for the time being, booking any new weddings for 2020 in case we need to shift our current client’s events to one of those dates. We are also not taking any new appointments for family portraits or branding sessions in the studio due to the current restrictions. We have offered our studio and Airbnb to any medical professionals in the area that might need a place to self-isolate for whatever reason.

I think that we’re still in this unknown period and are waiting for updates from our clients and the CDC on what will happen with our June/July/August dates. Fingers crossed, this will all blow over sooner rather than later with no more events for this year being affected!

Our retainers are non-refundable but can be applied to future events. For our couples with new postponed dates, we created new contracts changing not only the actual date but also the due date for final payments (30 days out from their new wedding date).

For other photographers that might be reading, we quickly looked at our business expenses and tried to find ways to save money immediately. For example, our phone bills, Adobe and other subscriptions. I’m also lucky to be surrounded by really great photographer friends that found some great resources to apply for grants and loans like the Paycheck Protection Program.

We’ve been staying busy fine tuning our business processes but from a personal standpoint, I’ve also been taking this time for self-care and quality time with my family, working on our garden, building a tree house and spring cleaning our home. The kids have taken on homeschool like champs and I’m about to drag out my painting supplies from hiding. I hope that you all have been able to treat this time like a ‘life sabbatical’ and make use of all of this downtime we find ourselves with. We’ve been eating better, exercising more, and doing travel research so that when the time comes, we’re ready and more informed to book some awesome family vacations. I know we’re going to come out of this experience stronger as people and small business owners.

If you missed my last blog post, I created an awesome little photography project with the community and hope to start working on that again soon when the “Stay in Place” lifts in our county. Also check out the Asheville Scout Guide who has been working diligently to keep us informed on ways we can support our local community here in Asheville.

Stay Healthy! Stay Home and Stay Safe! xo

#AVL6FTAPART | A Personal Photography Project and Portrait of Asheville 6ft Apart

This is us on our porch during these terrible crazy times of COVID-19, March 30th, 2020 {Photo taken by Bryan using the Canon App , camera on tripod}

I decided a couple of weeks ago to spread a little joy and photograph families on their porches for fun! What started as a way for me to serve my community and ‘stay busy’ during this time turned quickly into a personal photography project. My mission: to photograph as many porches as possible and to create a honest real-life portrait of Asheville 6ft apart. The vision: to collage the images together, creating a sense of community and an attempt to bring Asheville together in self-isolation.

I knew I needed to be outside and at least 6ft away from the subjects (in order to stay at a healthy distance) and the porch seemed such an appropriate location. The entranceway of the home has so much character; we’re proud of our porches and we spend so much time there, sipping our morning coffees on the front stoop, watching our children play in the yard, and chatting with neighbors.

It has been such a weird and scary few weeks as we watch the news and read about the virus spreading and the death toll rising. Locally, businesses are suffering, people losing work and families are trying to cope with their new normals with children at home. Let’s face it- we’re all in this together and for the long haul.

I hit pause on the project to honor Governor Cooper’s “Stay in Place” declaration but hope to get back out there soon and continue to provide a little joy, offering a small distraction and keepsake of these times together in self-isolation. I’m grateful for the amount of enthusiasm and interest in my little “porch project” and will never forget all the families I’ve met and the stories we’ve shared. As awful as this pandemic is and the challenges it’s brought, I know that one thing is for sure- people have come together in new ways and our communities are stronger than before.

Click here to read about our story on Ashvegas

Britton + Finch Wedding | Greenville, South Carolina

Despite such a rainy day, Britton + Finch were so amazing and the event design with Curly Willow Design was incredible. We wish you a sun filled first anniversary!! Thank you for letting us share in your day!

Wedding Planner + Floral: Curly Willow Design | Day of Coordinator: Farrah Redmon Events | Venue: Private Home in Greenville, SC | Hair + MUA: To Dye For Salon | Wedding Dress: The Poinsett Bride | Officiant: Bride’s Father | Catering: Karen Walker | Cake: Kathy + Company | Band: The Band Punch | Transportation: Eastside Transportation + Southern Valet | Videographer: Steven Watts Visuals | Film Lab: PhotoVision

Ashley + James Wedding | Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC

Happy First Anniversary, Ashely + James!

We were so grateful to have been a part of your day and hope you have an amazing time celebrating your first year as husband and wife!

Wedding Planner: Asheville Event Co. | Venue: Biltmore Estate | Floral: Blossoms Creative | MUA: Blush Asheville | Hair: Suraj Spa Salon | Rentals: Classic Event Rental | Officiant: Tim Lolley | Ceremony Music: Aaron Lafalce | DJ: Split Second Sound | Film Lab: PhotoVision

Grove Park Inn Wedding | Featured on Carats & Cake

Lindsey + Will’s wedding is featured on Carats & Cake

It was a gorgeous fall day at one of our favorite venues in Asheville, and we just love this couple and their sweet pup Roux so much. The mountains were misty, the leaves were on fire and the mood? A perfect balance of cozy sophistication. Guests wrapped up in blankets by the outdoor fire place and enjoyed a finer level of service at the legendary Grove Park Inn.

More images and vendors listed below …

Wedding Planner: Asheville Event Co | Venue: The Omni Grove Park | Floral: Flora Asheville | Hair + Mua: AnaRie | DJ: Hipshack | Invitation Suite: Dixie Design |

Engraved USB Flash Drives | Partnership with USB Memory Direct

We were so grateful for the opportunity to work with USB Memory Direct to check out their laser engraved flash drives! The company was so easy to work with and helped us to create something special for our clients- each one was beautifully made! We highly recommend checking them out :)

Biltmore Event | Asheville, NC

This corporate awards dinner event at Diana on the Biltmore Estate was too awesome not to share.

Venue, Floral and Catering: Biltmore | Menu Cards: JoyUnscripted | Rentals: Classic Event Rental |

Cuba | Travel Photography

I’ve wanted to visit Cuba for as long as I can remember.

I don’t know where to start. I honestly don’t know how to type our experience up into a few sentences. It was incredible and sad, beautiful and thought provoking. I was fascinated by the relationships of color and culture and I am not a ‘street photographer’ but I wanted to capture the spirit of this city stuck in time.

I shot everything on film (despite bringing every camera I owned) as it seemed silly to document Havana any other way. Here’s a couple of days in Havana through my eyes …

The Scout Guide | Asheville, NC

https://asheville.northcarolina.thescoutguide.com/post/186192788995/more-than-just-another-wedding-photographer-photo

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Meagan the editor of The Asheville Scout Guide. She is on a mission to bring incredible local businesses together and has not only published two gorgeous guides, she’s created an amazing community that I’m excited to be apart of. We’re starting to shoot Volume 3 of the TSG but here’s me on the other side of the lens for a change. Check out the recent blog post to read more.

Big Thanks to my sweet friends Joanna of Powder me Pretty and Anastasiia for making me look good!!!

Heather + Patrick Engagement Session | Asheville Airport in Asheville, NC

Bama hopped in her plane and flew to Asheville to take some portraits with her two legged friends. They’re getting married in November at The Omni at Grove Park Inn with Inspired by Design and we’re all really excited about it.

Here’s some images from their portrait session.

Poppy Popcorn | Branding Photography

We’ve been shooting with Poppy Popcorn a lot lately. They’re launching a new website and catalogue and we cannot wait to share more images soon!!!!

Brides! Their Asheville Mix make the best welcome bag stuffers!

Tick Tock Concierge | Branding Photography

We’ve gotten to work with Kara and Tick Tock Concierge for a couple of years now and we really admire her dedication to her brand and presence online. Professional photography will really make your business stand out and we think having consistent imagery that showcase’s your business and tells your story is so important. We recently did a Spring inspired shoot with TTC to create some social media content and loved it so much we wanted to blog some of our favorites.

We always try to incorporate some little vignettes and lay-flats into our session as well as some great portraits and lifestyle images of Kara. Thus creating a great mix of visual content for Kara to use on social and web.

Engagement Session in River Arts District | Asheville, NC

We were fortunate to be a part of Haiku I Do’s Couture Collective this spring with so many amazing Asheville wedding vendors like Turner and Co. and Angela Kim Couture to name a couple. We also met some awesome couples. Enter Janae + Joe!

Janae + Joe were the winners of our engagement session giveaway! We had such a great time with them during their session! I mean, that mustache and those smiles!!!

Congratulations guys! We wish you all the best and many, many years of wedded bliss- keep having fun!

A Proposal at The Omni Grove Park Inn | Asheville North Carolina

Being a part of a proposal is such a fun experience albeit a little nerve wrecking :)

Chris reached out to us mid-March about proposing to his girlfriend, Tiffany, at The Omni Grove Park Inn during their little mountain getaway. They are such a sweet couple and Tiffany was so surprised! The Sunset Terrace is always so beautiful and the mountains were showing off with the first hints of spring!

Pro Tip. You have to have pre-approval from the hotel for any professional photography!

Grand Bohemian Wedding in Asheville NC

Ninety percent of our clients live in other parts of the US and Asheville is a destination wedding location for them! We were thrilled when Emmalyn and Max reached out to us and we learned that they live right here in Asheville. You guys these two are absolutely amazing and it was such a pleasure to be apart of their big day! So much more to come from this intimate wedding but we wanted to post a little sneak peak.

Venue: The Grand Bohemian | Hair + MUA: The Suraj Spa | DJ: Moon Sound Entertainment | Film Lab : Photovision

Headshot Photography | Asheville, NC

What comes to mind when you think about the term “headshot?” An actor or model trying to find a job? Or maybe it’s a department store studio or the malls of yesteryear with big hair? Headshots have come a long way in the last 10-15 years and thank goodness! What used to be awkward and uncomfortable has become an opportunity to really showcase who you are!

One of our favorite offerings, especially now that we've moved into our studio, is working with people for lifestyle branding and headshots. We love meeting new people, learning about their unique ventures, and supporting independent businesses. Our goal is to make our clients feel comfortable and create some truly fabulous photos- people are often surprised at how good they look and we love being able to show them just that!

So, who even needs a headshot these days? and truly the answer is Everyone! Many people are used to seeing them for business whether as a LinkedIn profile or in an “About” section of a business’s website. But there can be so many more uses for them! It is a great way to build your personal brand whether through a website or other social media outlets. We have people use these services for speaking engagements, programs, or even dating apps. Hiring a professional photographer for headshots can create a strong first impression and really capture your personality through posing, location, composition, lighting, etc., all areas that a professional has the experience and equipment to make happen!

For us, we want to make sure that the whole process feels easy and seamless from an initial inquiry to the final product. Once a session is booked, we help you and/or your team prepare for a great shoot day. This can include sharing our experience with wardrobe options that will not only photograph well but also convey your brand and personal style. It may also be setting up different environments to shoot in such as indoors with natural light, studio lighting, or an outdoor space. Throughout the planning process, we want to provide guidance so that the shoot conveys the feeling you are hoping to create or message you want to share.  Don’t worry, we promise to help you with posing so that you feel comfortable! After the shoot, we send over a proof gallery so you have a chance to pick your favorites before we head into post-production. From there, you will receive your final images with the ability to download as high res or social media size while still maintaining the quality of the photo. We also are fortunate to be able to offer prints through our online gallery service.

We would love to help you or your organization put your best face forward so send us an inquiry with your thoughts!  Here are some ideas to help get you started:

Option 1: 30 minutes at the RMP studio, one outfit, proof gallery and 3 high res images- $125
Option 2: 1 hour at the RMP studio or on location, 2-3 outfits, proof gallery and 12 high res images- $250
New! Option 3: Headshot Happy Hour. Host a team retreat or fun gathering at an appropriate location and have your friends over for headshot party! You get your headshots taken while hanging with friends and a bit of liquid courage. Pricing depends on group size.

Graduate Portraits | Asheville Family Photographer

This is more than an excuse for a family photography session and such a momentous occasion to be captured on film. I want you to know that I am right there with you with the selfies and the quick cell phone pics everyday of my life BUT there are some moments (graduating high school being one of them) we just HAVE to do better than that.

If you’re interested in creating some amazing photographs of your graduate? Get in touch and let’s set up a portrait session with the family.

We also offer gift certificates if you want to surprise someone in Asheville graduating in 2019.