GET TO KNOW ME
Hello! I am so glad you are here. My name is Rachel Danley and I am the face behind Sweet Reflections Photography. I am twenty-eight years old and am married to the love of my life, Jacob. We were married in the spring of 2020 right smack dab in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, our wedding was significantly downsized to just our two immediate families because of it. Together, we have a two children, Mae and Ellis. I have been taking photos professionally for 12+ years. I was born in Decatur, AL, but was raised in the Shoals area. I am what you might call an introvert and homebody. I love the Lord and deeply and treasure my relationship with Him - it is because of Him that I am blessed with the talent and eye to do what I do. Outside of my love for photography, I enjoy reading a good book, keeping up with the latest styles and trends in the fashion industry, scrolling Pinterest for home decor inspo and spending time with family (I am 1 of 11 children) and friends.
WHY I LOVE WHAT I DO
I have always loved taking pictures. Even as a child I loved buying and developing disposable cameras. If ever asked what I wanted to be when I grew up my answer was always be a photographer, but deep down I thought that was a very unrealistic and unattainable dream. As a teenager I was gifted my first digital camera and it went pretty much everywhere I went. From family vacations, slumber parties with friends to church youth camp - I even used to make my sisters dress up and be my models just so I could practice. In the summer of 2012 (at age 16), I began working for my aunt at her women's boutique. From the start I photographed all the clothing and was responsible for running the shop's social media pages. A lot of my practice came from years of doing that! Since then I have upgraded my gear several times and have gradually perfected my craft, although I am always learning and growing. From time to time, friends and family would ask to book a photo session with me and from there my business slowly took off from there. Looking back at photos I took when I first started charging for sessions I can't help but cringe, but thats the beauty of the industry. I don't think photographers ever truly stop learning and growing, but are rather forever evolving!
I officially launched Sweet Reflections Photography as an official business in 2018 while dating my now husband in hopes of establishing a clientele so that one day I could stay home with our future children all while still making an income. It has been an incredible journey of constant learning and growing, but the Lord has been so faithful to bless my business and I am confident that it was Him who put the desire in me even as a small child to pursue a career in photography so that I could be there for my husband and family in such a present and available way. Taking photos and editing them truly does not feel like work to me. It is a creative outlet that I never tire of! I am just so thankful for this gift entrusted to me and I pray I steward it well.
Sweet Reflections Photography was born out of my passion for story telling through photo taking. But more than my passion for photography is my love for people. I deeply value stories and experiences. I'm for those who love the in between moments and who prefer mood over technically correct. I’m a lover of genuine candid moments, and the images that represent those moments. Forget the stereotypical poses and anything traditional or cliché. My goal is to capture the raw, the chaotic, the genuine emotion, tears and belly laughs, and everything in between.
