My name is Rachel Hanson and I started Rachel Hanson Photography in June 2011. I got my first DSLR camera in 2010 when I was I was a Junior in High School. I waitressed for a small restaurant until I had saved enough money for one. It was a Nikon and it was a perfect starter camera. I took pictures at the 2010 Special Olympics USA Games and I was in love. I knew this was something I wanted to do as a career. I researched photography schools in Missouri because I didn't want to go too far from home. The University of Central Missouri was the only public college in the state where you could major in photography. My mom and I took a visit there and I was in love. I didn't even apply to any other schools because it was where I wanted to go.
I began classes in the Fall of 2011, meanwhile I still took clients back home. The professors taught me lots of skills. I learned how to shoot in raw which is something I had never done before. It made a world of difference in my photos. I saw my photography begin to grow even more. Junior year, they make you go through a mid-program review. The students go in front of the professors and they review your portfolio and critique you on it. That was the most nerve wrecking thing. I passed thankfully. I worked my tail off to get that done so I wouldn't be in the lab the week of like most students. Senior year, I started gaining more clients. Nature was my specialty so I spent a lot of time outside, trying to perfect my final portfolio. In May, I went in front of my professors with my printed out final portfolio. I passed and could graduate! To see my final work made me feel very accomplished. I thought my work my freshman year was good but it was terrible compared to my senior year.
I graduated in May and got married two weeks later to Derrick. Rachel Antal Photography then changed to Rachel Hanson Photography. The business is almost at 5 years and I am so happy with the quality of work that I can present to the clients. My client base is growing in the Warrensburg area but I still take clients in Schuyler County. I'm pretty much willing to travel anywhere, including Hawaii if anyone needs a wedding photographer there ;). I am strictly an on location photographer. I don't have a studio, but I think that is one of the things that makes Rachel Hanson Photography unique. I travel to the client. I am so excited to book even more shoots this year and hope my clients will tell others good things about my business and keep coming back to let Rachel Hanson Photography capture their memories.
