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"Your small voice has a way of spilling into rooms where you thought there would be no place for you.

Even when it is only a word or two, your small voice has a way of pushing through.

And if you happen to be a little quieter, and you sound differently from others, the words you choose resound with truth all the same."

-Morgan Harper Nichols

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2019 Holiday Gift Guide

That special season we look forward to all year long is finally here! No matter which holidays or traditions you celebrate, I think we can all agree that there’s something truly wonderful about the tradition of exchanging gifts. Taking the extra time and special care to find just the right thing to show a loved one just how much they mean to us… well, now you’re speaking my love language. No matter who you’re shopping for this holiday season, there’s something for everyone on my 2019 Holiday Gift Guide! 

  • Printed Photos: Get those beautiful images off your computer and into a lovely frame or a gorgeous photo album! Many photo lab companies offer printing services to the public. For example, did you know you can print directly from your Instagram feed with Parabo Press? The prints are FREE and all you pay for is shipping! 
  • Scented Candles: Don’t get me wrong, I love my essential oil diffuser, but there’s just something so lovely about lighting a candle. It’s a fantastic way to make your home feel more inviting! My two favorite brands at the moment: Howard Soap Co. and Hyggelight. 
  • Clean Beauty & Skincare: Brands like BeautyCounter and Primally Pure are killin’ it in the #clean product game. BeautyCounter is committed to creating clean beauty products that perform great while holding up to unparalleled levels of safety. Primally Pure is best-known for their deodorant and uses certified organic ingredients to make non-toxic skincare products that are truly safe and offer real results.
  • Zero-Waste Products: One of my favorite local spots for finding zero-waste products is Tare Market. I love their selection of washable cotton rounds, metal straws, and plastic-free food storage – all of which make perfect stocking stuffers!
  • Cozy Robe: De Nova Robes are the perfect gift for the hard-working women in your life! Having a comfortable robe made from luxe, soft material to throw on at the end of a long day is something she’ll look forward to all day long – I know I do! Do yourself a favor and order one for yourself too!
  • Swimwear: I know, I know… It’s a little wintery out to be thinking about swimwear, but trust me! If you haven’t seen what the ladies at Wild Isles Swim have been cookin’ up, then you are missing out on something really spectacular.
  • Curated Gift Box: Having trouble deciding on just one thing? Then a curated gift box is the solution for you! Check out Minny & Paul for curated gift sets chock full of amazing Minnesota products. You pick the set and they deliver it right to the recipients’ door! How easy is that?
  • Handmade Gifts: Last, but definitely not least, a handmade gift is always my number one, go-to gift idea. Whether it’s a painting, drawing, knitting project, or even homemade Bailey’s or truffles… there are so many great options! And you don’t have to be a “crafter” to make something amazing. DIY classes at places like LAB Minneapolis will teach you how to easily create a truly unique and personal gift that you’ll be able to make again and again.

Hope you have fun shopping & have a wonderful holiday season! 

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Honest update: it didn`t book.

I spent time and energy building out Brand Mini Sessions — the proposal, the workflow, the launch email, the reel. I was genuinely excited about it. And then I launched it and... quiet.

That kind of quiet has a way of making you question everything. Timing? Offering?

But I`ve been sitting with something lately: a thing not working on the first try isn`t the same as a thing not working. It just means something needs to shift.

So I pivoted.

Instead of one fixed date, I`m opening up a few flexible studio days this summer — just 2 spots each. Same photos, same video clip, same intention. Just built around your schedule instead of mine.

1 hour at NoDo Studios (@nodostudiomn - seriously check them out, they even have a dock on the lake that we can use!) in Chaska. Edited photos + a short video clip. $400, with a discount for the first spot on each month.

Dates are open now starting first week of July — if you`re interested, drop a comment or send me a DM so I know who to reach out to first.

I`m sharing this because I think we don`t talk enough about the in-between parts of building something — the drafts, the pivots, the quiet. This is mine.

#brandphotography #brandminis #minneapolisphotographer #consciousbusiness #smallbusinessowner #brandphotographer #honestbusiness #contentforcreatives

19 1
Open post by rachel.lea.photo with ID 18195817444371058
Honest update: it didn't book. I spent time and energy building out Brand Mini Sessions — the proposal, the workflow, the launch email, the reel. I was genuinely excited about it. And then I launched it and... quiet. That kind of quiet has a way of making you question everything. Timing? Offering? But I've been sitting with something lately: a thing not working on the first try isn't the same as a thing not working. It just means something needs to shift. So I pivoted. Instead of one fixed date, I'm opening up a few flexible studio days this summer — just 2 spots each. Same photos, same video clip, same intention. Just built around your schedule instead of mine. 1 hour at NoDo Studios (@nodostudiomn - seriously check them out, they even have a dock on the lake that we can use!) in Chaska. Edited photos + a short video clip. $400, with a discount for the first spot on each month. Dates are open now starting first week of July — if you're interested, drop a comment or send me a DM so I know who to reach out to first. I'm sharing this because I think we don't talk enough about the in-between parts of building something — the drafts, the pivots, the quiet. This is mine. #brandphotography #brandminis #minneapolisphotographer #consciousbusiness #smallbusinessowner #brandphotographer #honestbusiness #contentforcreatives

Brand mini sessions are officially open — and there are only a few spots. ✦

30-45 minutes in studio. You leave with edited brand photos and a short video clip ready to use. That`s a month of content in under an hour.

These are for the brands and entrepreneurs who`ve been putting off updating content because a full shoot feels like too much. This isn`t too much.

$350 · 3-4 spots · June 5th at NoDo Studios in Chaska
Link in bio to book.

And the first two bookings can use EARLYBIRD at checkout to get $50 off!

Thanks to @sydneebickett for the great portraits during her mini sessions!
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#mnbusiness #rachelleabranding #mnbrandingphotographer #twincitiesbrandingphotography #environmentalportraits

25 3
Open post by rachel.lea.photo with ID 17864453676685923
Brand mini sessions are officially open — and there are only a few spots. ✦ 30-45 minutes in studio. You leave with edited brand photos and a short video clip ready to use. That's a month of content in under an hour. These are for the brands and entrepreneurs who've been putting off updating content because a full shoot feels like too much. This isn't too much. $350 · 3-4 spots · June 5th at NoDo Studios in Chaska Link in bio to book. And the first two bookings can use EARLYBIRD at checkout to get $50 off! Thanks to @sydneebickett for the great portraits during her mini sessions! * * * * * #mnbusiness #rachelleabranding #mnbrandingphotographer #twincitiesbrandingphotography #environmentalportraits

Nobody told you what to do with the mug. So you just... held it.

And now you`re stiff and the photo looks like a stock image and you`re wondering why brand shoots feel awkward.

Here`s the fix:

→ Hold it close, not out
→ Gentle hands, like it`s actually more delicate
→ Look at it. Look away. Pretend to sip. Move.
→ Stop performing the mug and just use it

Props work when they give you something natural to do — not when they become the whole focus.

I walk every client through this on shoot day, which is one of the reasons brand minis work so well even if you`ve never felt comfortable in front of a camera.

June 5th · Limited spots · 30 min studio session · photos + video
Link in bio to book — first two spots are $299 with code EARLYBIRD.

#brandphotography #brandshoot #brandphotographertips #minneapolisphotographer #brandminis #smallbusinesscontent #contentforcreatives

5 1
Open post by rachel.lea.photo with ID 18099858953013437
Nobody told you what to do with the mug. So you just... held it. And now you're stiff and the photo looks like a stock image and you're wondering why brand shoots feel awkward. Here's the fix: → Hold it close, not out → Gentle hands, like it's actually more delicate → Look at it. Look away. Pretend to sip. Move. → Stop performing the mug and just use it Props work when they give you something natural to do — not when they become the whole focus. I walk every client through this on shoot day, which is one of the reasons brand minis work so well even if you've never felt comfortable in front of a camera. June 5th · Limited spots · 30 min studio session · photos + video Link in bio to book — first two spots are $299 with code EARLYBIRD. #brandphotography #brandshoot #brandphotographertips #minneapolisphotographer #brandminis #smallbusinesscontent #contentforcreatives

CAPTION
Talking on camera feels unnatural — until it doesn’t. This is the advice I’m giving every client before we film 🎬

#elevateyourbrand #videocontent #brandvideographer #sustainablebusiness #photographytips

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Open post by rachel.lea.photo with ID 18125853451607807
CAPTION Talking on camera feels unnatural — until it doesn’t. This is the advice I’m giving every client before we film 🎬 #elevateyourbrand #videocontent #brandvideographer #sustainablebusiness #photographytips

Some of the best decisions I’ve made in this business were about what to stop doing. Slower shoots. Less overly processed images. Fewer — but better — clients. This is what that looks like in practice. 📸
#brandphotographer #minneapolisphotographer #sustainablebusiness

24 3
Open post by rachel.lea.photo with ID 18526978171076784
Some of the best decisions I’ve made in this business were about what to stop doing. Slower shoots. Less overly processed images. Fewer — but better — clients. This is what that looks like in practice. 📸 #brandphotographer #minneapolisphotographer #sustainablebusiness
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love is love. Black lives matter.
immigrants make America great.
climate change is real.
women's rights are human rights.
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