Aspiring Images by Rachel

This Blog Has Moved

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:52:00 +0000

Click here for the NEW BLOG!

I've been working for weeks on a new portfolio website as well as upgrading my blog. To do this, I had to move it to a new blog hosting site. So, to continue following my work and my ADVENTURES, please visit my new portfolio or blog. This links to everything - subscribe via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, RSS ...... All the usual suspects!

Look forward to seeing you there!

Click here for the NEW BLOG!

{PHOTO} Times Square At Cool Dusk

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:30:00 +0000

We hit up Times Square towards the end of a long day of walking and I was hoping to catch it before it got dark. I wanted to try for some different light than what I usually see of the images in Times Square, i.e. night time where the neon can be almost overwhelming. It's so nice to see the walking only areas with the little tables and chairs for everyone to relax. It wasn't too crowded, which was nice, but by this point I was so very exhausted and so very hungry, that we didn't stay long. So, I took a couple quick shots, looked at my exhausted husband, and said "Let's go eat".

I knew better than to push this tired & hungry man beyond his limit - PLUS not much later after this we boarded our flight to London.

{PHOTO} I'll Stand In The Middle Of The Road In NYC

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:20:00 +0000

Just a warning to everyone - I will be sharing a lot of photos of NYC and London over the next coming weeks/months. I was thinking rather than saving a huge batch of photos at a time, I would just post them as I edit them. This means more posts, more often, but then I am not just sitting on these pictures and can share them right when I am excited and stoked (yes, I use the word stoked - and I use it often).

As some background, at the beginning of December hubby and I went to New York City and, unbeknownst to me, this was a detour on our way to London. When we arrived in NYC, we started planning our next day, to which hubby kept adding more and more things to do - in one day! I was getting nervous at how our relaxing vacation was becoming seriously jam packed (little did I know the next day he would tell me we were flying to London.......more about that later). After planning, we went out to grab some food and hubby noted on our way back to the hotel I should try to grab our street view of the Empire State Building all lit up at night. I couldn't get a good angle from the safety of the sidewalk, so I ran into the middle of the road, looking both ways of course, and took several quick shots before running back to avoid getting run over.

To the pro's - I know this is grainy. I know the lights are a bit overblown. I know the framing isn't dead on and despite my best efforts the buildings still look slightly askew, BUT I really like this. I like the feeling. I like the not perfectness, the rush it conveys.

I also like knowing I had to stand in the middle of a street in NYC, with traffic, to try and capture a memory.

{GIVEAWAY} CLOSED: I Am Holding a Giveaway....

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:44:00 +0000

Do you like winning free stuff?!?

I am holding a giveaway to celebrate my birthday month (Yay February!). To enter, visit my Aspiring Images by Rachel Facebook page and on the left-hand side select the tab labeled "Giveaway". You will be asked to enter your name & e-mail This information will only be used in order to contact you if you win There will be multiple drawings - so multiple chances to win!

What do you win, you ask?

A free 8x10 - OF YOUR CHOOSING - from my Etsy store. The giveaway will be open for entry until 02/08/12, 11:59PM EST. The drawings and notifications will occur until 02/29/12.

Good luck to you and thanks for your participation!

Click here for: Aspiring Images by Rachel Facebook page

Are you not a Facebooker? If so, to enter please e-mail me at AspiringImagesbyRachel {@} gmail.com. Title the subject of the email as "February Giveaway" and in the e-mail please give me your first & last name as well as your e-mail address. I will not use this information for anything other than the giveaway drawing & notification if you win.

{PHOTOS} Kennedy Space Center - Shuttle Atlantis' Wheelstop

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0000

After the final shuttle flight, STS-135, NASA's Kennedy Space Center held an event for the employees to personally say goodbye to Atlantis, the final shuttle to be launched, and the program itself. They worked to make it really special by including food, take home memorabilia, and the opportunity to see Atlantis much closer than is normal. After this, the process of decommissioning the shuttle and readying it for display at Kennedy Space Center's Visitor Complex began. You can see pictures of this process here at Florida Today.

If you'd like to see more of my photos of Kennedy Space Center, feel free to visit my portfolio site.

{PHOTOS} Under the Sea at the New England Aquarium

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:00:00 +0000

In July, my husband and I had the opportunity to visit Boston, Massachusetts. We were attending a wedding nearby in Maine so it was a great time for me to (finally!) visit Boston. You know how most people have that one place they have always wanted to visit? For me, the one place in the USA I had dreamt of visiting since I was a kid was Boston. I don't know if it was the history, having family in Massachusetts, or the wonderful images of old buildings and city life I had always looked at but something about it really sparked my interest.

The good news is - Boston did not disappoint. I fell in love and it was very difficult convincing me to leave.

We were lucky and got to meet up with my cousin and her two sons one of the days we were there. I couldn't remember having visited an aquarium before, so we hit up the New England Aquarium to spend some quality time together. I had a lot of fun getting pictures. I hope you enjoy them as well!

I have picked my personal favorites, but if you'd like to see them all, head on over to my NEW portfolio website (yup - a NEW one) where you can also see all of the pictures without watermarking. The intention is this will contain my entire portfolio. I will keep my Etsy account as well, but this provides a much more visually appealing way to see my current and past photos. It's still a work in progress - so if you spy any dead-ends or anything seems wonky, feel free to let me know (aspiringimagesbyrachel@gmail.com). Plus, keep checking back as I will be continually adding new photos (or oldies but goodies).

{PORTRAIT} Rain, Rain, Go Away - Arnold Portrait Session

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:50:00 +0000

When I left my house to meet up with the Arnold family, the sky was blue and there were SOME clouds in the sky to the East but nothing to worry about. Then, as I turned West and got closer to the shooting location, it looked like this one black rain cloud had decided it would hang out over our shooting location and dump rain. At one point, while I was sitting at the park (where I had arrived early to get set up), it just poured and I couldn't even see through my windshield. I debated about calling the Arnold's and cancelling because who would want pictures in the rain for their Christmas card portraits? I understand rain can make for creative pictures - but not when it's for Christmas card portraits!

I decided to wait it out (and I kept forcing the weather application on my phone to update to ease my concern) and this one black rain cloud FINALLY passed. It was a little gray afterward but there was blue behind it and I thought "I can work with this but will THEY be ok with it?" The ground was wet and this meant wet knees, humid/sticky air (it's Florida) and wet doggies (oh yeah, I didn't mention we also had two dogs, right?).

Luckily, Barbara and Ryan were cool, calm, and collected and the pictures came out fantastically! Not one complaint about the humidity or the wetness and everyone really pulled together to make this a fun session. Once they had a chance to get over the initial excitement of being at the park, Bailey and Emma posed like princesses and never once hesitated to give hugs or kisses. What a great pair!

Now, enough blabbering and enjoy the pictures!

2011 Limited Edition Holiday Mini Session

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:00:00 +0000

Christmas is right around the corner and if you were thinking of getting a portrait done of your family (including your fur babies!) for your Christmas cards, now is the time!

The 2011 Limited Edition Holiday Mini Session fee is $50.

The mini session fee is $50 and covers the following:

- Up to one hour of session time

- Post-session custom image preparation with attention to each image.

- Minimum of 10 images presented to you in a private online gallery.

- Download capability for the images in the private online gallery.

E-mail me at AspiringImagesbyRachel@gmail.com to reserve your session.

Once you reserve your session, you will be sent a Holiday Portrait Mini Session agreement. Please note that these are on a first come, first serve basis and the mini-sessions are for one single family unit, up to 6 people (don't forget your pets!).

I will not be available for the weekend of Thanksgiving (unless you live in the Jacksonville area!) or 12/02-12/03.

In the event of rain, the sessions will be rescheduled.

*Mini sessions are not intended for Newborns, Maternity, or Seniors.

Media: Photo Featured as CD Cover for Christian Tamburr

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:00:00 +0000

I am very excited to share that Christian Tamburr chose to feature one of my images as the cover for his next CD release, "Places", on sale beginning 11/04/11. He is an incredibly talented jazz musician and I cannot wait to hear the album!

What an honor.

The original photo is available here.

Media: "Plane Takeoff in Sunset" Ft. On DailyWorth.Com

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 03:01:00 +0000

Exciting News! Check out this article from Daily Worth featuring my "Plane Takeoff in Sunset" photo.

The article gives advice on getting the best price for airfares this holiday season. If you're not already a fan, check out their website for an excellent community that teaches about finances and money management for women.

Walking The Courtyard - Loews Portofino Bay, Orlando FL

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:20:00 +0000

I have been doing a lot of clean up of my photos and trying to see what needs to stay/go and came across this wonderful photo - already watermarked and ready to go! I have no idea how I never shared this before as it really appeals to me. Something about the wonderful golden background, with the patterns up high, contrasting against the shadows in the foreground and the darkness of the gentleman walking up this hallway is enchanting for me.

This was taken at the Loews Portofino Bay hotel in Orlando, FL. They had this lovely interior hallway leading to their restrooms and multiple conference rooms. I loved how they took the time to decorate it like an outdoor Italian courtyard, even though it was entirely inside!

Diamond Island, Maine - Shadows On The Dock

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 03:34:00 +0000

Recently, hubby and I were honored to be guests at a dream destination wedding in Maine. It was intimate and beautiful - full of everything you see in wedding magazines and the joy of seeing your closest friends getting married and meeting everyone close in their lives. The location provided for a beautiful backdrop. Even the dock while waiting for the ferry made for lovely eye candy! Here's one of my favorite shots from the wedding.

This is the view from Great Diamond Island looking out to Portland, Maine at approximately 11PM.

{Photo} Hollywood Beach - AM/PM

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 21:30:00 +0000

Yup, I disappeared for awhile.

I had to do some thinking, analyze some priorities, relax a bit, started a new job, and now I am back. I promise, I won't do it again.

As my peace offering, I wanted to share my day and night images of Hollywood Beach, Florida. I tried for a sunrise shot as well but the hotel room was so cold it not only fogged my lens for almost 10 minutes but my internal sensor went haywire. I took some shots but later, upon inspection on my computer (and it not being 6AM with me delirious), they were just too hazy to be any good.

On the left is the inter coastal waterway and on the right is the Atlantic Ocean.

Aspiring Images by Rachel: Interviewed By FEST

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 23:33:00 +0000

Hi All!

I wanted to take the time to share an interview of me posted on the Florida Etsy Street Team (FEST) blog! Hop on over & check it out to get a chance to learn a little bit more about me, my creative process, inspirations, and more.

I would love to hear what you think of it!

Florida Etsy Street Team Blog - Interview

Much appreciated,

{PHOTO} A Guy's Gotta Eat

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Tue, 24 May 2011 23:24:00 +0000

I can't even imagine how cold it gets in winter and have a job where you are required to stand outside. We came in from the December cold of New York City to grab some warm dinner & I looked up to see this gentleman, still in full winter gear (minus the gloves), ordering dinner. I couldn't resist snapping a photo but I also made sure to make the camera disappear really quickly.

No need having a police officer get mad at me, right? That's not the souvenir postcard I would want to send home.

"Wish You Were Here - in jail - with me and my confiscated camera."

{PHOTO} The Thirsty Fish Bar aka "The Y Fish Bar"

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Thu, 19 May 2011 23:00:00 +0000

I must need a vacation because, lately, I seem to have hotels on the brain. I posted a photo of Disney's Contemporary Resort earlier this week and today I share an outdoor photo of Loews Portofino Bay Hotel's "The Thirsty Fish Bar" (both hotels are located in Orlando, Florida). I've shared one photo from this hotel previously showing their beautiful lagoon and the Italian boats. It was a wonderful hotel and I can't way to try it again.

I personally love the golden tones in this shot and the shadows across the sidewalk at the bottom. Too bad the light on the sign was so bright it blocked out the word "thirsty". Instead it looks like it's "The Y Fish Bar".

You know, that is a good question. Y Fish? Personally, I prefer veggie-ta-bulls meself. Yes, I was that kid who ate all her veggies. My mom struck gold in that area. You're welcome, mom.

{PHOTO} Contemporary Resort - Magical Shops of Fantasia

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Tue, 17 May 2011 22:30:00 +0000

In all my trips to Disney, I have never truly explored the Contemporary Resort.

We’ve eaten breakfast there once many moons ago and I’ve ridden through the resort on the monorail countless times, but this evening we decided to have dinner there. I had no idea how many underground floors there were! There is a whole world hidden inside this resort and it’s on many different lower floors for exploration. It was really cool AND I learned the true entrance to the hotel is actually a floor below this one where all the shops are.

Summer is coming and I am just not a fan of being at Disney during the summer and standing in line for an hour (or more!) melting into a puddle of sunblock and Mickey Mouse shaped ice cream. BUT I was invited on a weekend, all expenses paid, trip to Disney. So, am I going to say no because of the above complaints? No way - time to break out the sunblock and ice cream!

The good news is that being a Disney pro means knowing all the insider tips/tricks and also realizing that since we live close enough if we don't see/do something we can come back next time with our passes.

I am super *stoked* about getting more Disney shots. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions of what you'd like to see a picture of at Disney? Doesn't matter the park - our passes let us go anywhere we please!

{PHOTO} The Dried Roses Trio

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Thu, 12 May 2011 01:24:00 +0000

I've had these flowers sitting on our dining room table since Valentine's Day. They dried in their vase while the petals were repeatedly knocked off and I just kept telling myself "You need to take pictures of these flowers - and soon - or there will be nothing but stems left". So, on a wonderfully sunny day I set the vase on the floor of our front doorway, to maximize using the light coming through the side panes around the door, & proceeded to lay on the tile floor to try my best to photograph the flowers with the right angle of light and the perfect grouping of flowers. As I twisted and turned the vase, I returned to this trio of flowers almost perfectly lined up with the purples framing the yellow/pink rose.

While doing this, all I kept thinking was: If a neighbor decides to come to my front door, they probably will panic & think I am passed out by the door. Luckily, no one visited the house but I did come away from this session with a lovely knot on my head from when I hit the door stop while trying to angle myself for the "perfect shot".

Doorstop -1 / Rachel - 0

{NEW} It's Here! It's Here! New Blog!

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Wed, 11 May 2011 03:01:00 +0000

So VERY excited after several days of tweaking and moving and reconsidering and hemming and hawwing and asking everyone to look and then changing it again. . . . .

I have redesigned the blog!

** Fireworks Boom In The Distance - Cannons Blow - A Parade Begins**

I also finalized my new logo, which you will now see appearing on my Blog Head/Facebook/Twitter, and all my other areas I am posting my photography.

I am so excited about this that I will be offering a sale on my prints later this week. Stay tuned for the coupon code - it will be posted exclusively on my Facebook page.

(Haven't "Liked" it already? Head on over now!)

P.S. If you're wandering around and find something looking wonky, please let me know and I will fix it.
I thought I got everything, but you never know, do ya?

05/08/11: BLOG UNDER CONSTRUCTION

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Mon, 09 May 2011 00:22:00 +0000

I am redesigning the blog this week and you may encounter issues while visiting (i.e. weird formatting, posts missing, etc).

Please bear with me while I complete these updates.

I'm super stoked to show everyone the final product!

{PHOTO} NYC: Walking Amongst the Shadows

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Tue, 03 May 2011 01:01:00 +0000

When I look at this picture, I always think of the childhood sing-song "step on a crack, break your mother's back". I think it's because of the line breaks on the sidewalk from both the tree shadows as well as the hand rails. If that saying is true, then it looks like this guy hit the triple jack pot.

Poor mom. She's probably in traction now because her son didn't mind the cracks.

{PHOTO} Orlando: The Boats On The Water

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:04:00 +0000

This past Christmas, my family stayed at the beautiful Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Studios Orlando. It had a great Italian theme, which included this water view with gondolas and boats (permanently anchored).This was looking away from the main hotel, so this was the view from most rooms there.

In the distance, you can even see a little bit of the park.

{PHOTO} NYC: Need Your Shoes Shined?

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0000

It's not as sharp as I would prefer but I was busy taking pictures of something else and then had to hurry on. As I walked I spied this scene and just put the camera at my waist and fired off three shots hoping it would capture it without cutting off his head.

I just loved the pants rolled up, thinking it was quite the story. Who knows what kind of job this man has but here, getting his shoes shined, he's gotta roll up those pants and wait.

{PHOTO} Disney's Grand Floridian Resort at Twilight

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 01:25:00 +0000

Walt Disney World's Grand Floridian Resort, as viewed from the dock at the Polynesian Resort. I'm not sure which is more my favorite, the smokey gray/blue against the golden lights or the silhouette effect of the lamp.

What do you think?

{PHOTO} Inspired: Had I The Heavens' Embroidered Cloths

noreply@blogger.com (Aspiring Images By Rachel) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 21:30:00 +0000

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,

Enwrought with golden and silver light,

The blue and the dim and the dark cloths

Of night and light and the half-light,

I would spread the cloths under your feet:

But I, being poor, have only my dreams;

I have spread my dreams under your feet;

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

- William Butler Yeats