Hello!
I'm Rachael Coley, a photographer and small business owner based in Ballarat, Victoria. As a mother, partner, and former corporate professional, I bring a diverse perspective and warm, down-to-earth approach to my photography business.
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3 customer reviews
Melanie
General Photography
It was such a pleasure to work with Rachael. She was clear in what to expect from the project and keen to listen to what I was aiming for and explain how it could be achieved.
Rachael was flexible to meet my timeframe and even though there were some minor delays on the day (on my end) we had a great session together. Rachael giving great advice on how to get the most out of the photos and making me feel very at ease through the whole process. All for a very reasonable price and the finished photos are excellent quality.
I will definitely be working with Rachael again on future projects.
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Reply from Rachael Coley Photography
Thank you so much for the wonderful review Melanie! I'm thrilled to hear you had such a positive experience for your recent photo shoot. So happy I was able to meet your expectations and you felt at ease during our session, this is music to my ears and exactly how I envisioned your experience! Thank you once again for your kind words and taking the time to leave a review. I look forward to working with you again in the not too distant future.
Amber
General Photography
She was very happy and planned everything necessary. Kind and understand of any requirements :) highly recommend
Reply from Rachael Coley Photography
Thank you so much Amber for your kind words and stellar review! I'm delighted to hear that you were happy with my services and that I was able to understand and accommodate your requirements. Planning and paying close attention to details is very important to me! It makes me really happy that you had such a positive experience. I look forward to the opportunity of working with you again in the future!
Gemma
General Photography
Rachael listened to what I wanted and then executed. Rachael captured all the highlights of my event and was easy, flexible and approachable to work with.
What’s the secret to taking a great photograph?
There are a few key tips I follow to take high-quality photographs consistently:
Connect with your subject! I always try to make my subjects feel comfortable and relaxed, and keep it real! I tend to tell some awful jokes on the odd occasion too, which generally gets a few laughs.
Watch the lighting; I pay close attention to both natural light and my studio lighting, once you get the lighting right, everything else falls into place.
I have a very good understanding of my camera, you would hope so by now! I undertand aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and other settings which gives me total creative control to achieve the exact look I want.
Composing is also very important, before I even take a shot, I carefully consider elements like framing, patterns, perspective, and depth of field when composing shots. Photographs with purposeful, artful composition have so much more impact!
Post production and editing, I do all of my own editing & retouching. My editing style is more natural and my aim is to bring out the mood and style in which I aim for. But I'm careful not to overdo it!
The technical details are important, but connecting with people and telling stories are at the heart of my approach. Keeping these core principles in mind helps me produce quality images consistently. Let's discuss how I can put them into action for you!
What questions might you ask a client when starting a new project?
What is the goal of this photo project? Understanding the client's objectives and desired end result is key. This helps guide my approach.
Who is the target audience? Photographing for a company's social media requires a different style than for their annual report!
When do you need the final images delivered?
Knowing project timelines and deadlines allows me to plan shooting schedules and editing workload accordingly.
Do you have examples of styles or photos you like? This provides helpful inspiration and direction to understand the client's aesthetic tastes. I will often put together a Pinterest board and ask my clients to add to this.
Where will the photos be displayed?
Photos for outdoor signage have different technical needs than a website gallery or social media pages.
How many images do you need? Determining the number of required final images impacts the time I budget on location.
Are there any special requests? Asking about shot list details, special poses, or creative concepts allows me to prepare fully.
Taking time upfront to thoroughly understand a client's needs and vision sets every project up for maximum success. Let's have an in-depth discussion to bring your goals to life through quality photography.
What do you love most about your job?
What I love most about photography is the ability to creatively capture meaningful moments and tell visual stories.! There's something magical about preserving memories and emotions in a photograph.
I enjoy connecting with people from all walks of life during photo sessions. Seeing their excitement when they view the final images for the first time is incredibly rewarding. Photography allows me to help people celebrate life's happiest moments and milestones.
The creative process energises me - from scouting the perfect locations to experimenting with lighting and angles on a shoot. I love the challenge of composing a breathtaking scene through my lens. There's an art to capturing personalities and telling stories through visuals.
Being able to pursue my passion as a career is a dream come true. I feel grateful to play a part in helping people remember cherished times. Photography constantly pushes me to grow my skills and perspective. After many years of experience, I still feel like each shoot teaches me something new.
Most of all, I love that photography allows me to create art that makes a difference in people's lives. That's what makes all the hard work worthwhile. Seeing the joy my images bring clients is the best part of this job.
What inspired you to start your own business?
Growing up in New Zealand, instilled in me a deep appreciation for nature. It was impossible not to fall in love with the beautiful natural surroundings. This is where my passion for photography truly began.
After years working in senior sales management roles across various industries and getting burned out, I took a life-changing trip to Cuba in 2016. This experience sparked a new direction - I waved goodbye to the corporate world and started my own photography business.
After honing my skills and developing my style for over two decades, I was ready to make my long-time hobby and passion into a full-time career. I wanted the freedom and flexibility to focus on my photographic art and work directly with clients to bring their visual needs to life.
The encouragement and positive feedback from those who appreciated my photographic point of view inspired me to believe I could turn this into a successful business. I wanted to make my unique perspective and approach available to help more people celebrate life's special moments through images.
Starting my own photography business has allowed me to shape my business strategy and services around my strengths. I'm driven by the opportunity to keep developing as an artist, connect deeply with clients, and continuously refine my craft.
My goal is to produce timeless images clients will treasure. The reward of seeing my photographs make others happy is the greatest inspiration I could ever ask for.
Why should our clients choose you?
There are a few key reasons clients can trust me to deliver exceptional photography services:
Experience - With over 20 years working in the corporate world honing my skills and now 5 years running my photography business, I have robust expertise capturing portraits, events, and telling visual stories through the lens. That seasoned knowledge ensures high-quality results!
Artistic Eye - Photography is both an art and a science. My natural creative perspective produces beautiful, unique images tailored to each client.
Personable Approach - I combine professionalism with a friendly, down-to-earth demeanour that puts people at ease in front of the camera. This brings out their true personality.
Storytelling - My images go beyond documentation to evoke emotion and meaning. I focus on visual narratives that connect deeply with audiences.
Customer Service - My number one priority is exceeding client expectations. I deliver reliable service with clear communication every step. This is where my sales background has helped immensely!
Passion - Photography isn't just my career, it's my calling. When you love what you do, it shows through in the work. My enthusiasm translates to exceptional images.
For these reasons and more, I aim to build lasting relationships and help every client tell their story through impactful photography. Let's connect to discuss how I can meet your unique needs!
Can you provide your services online or remotely? If so, please add details.
Yes, the flexibility of providing my services both online and in-person is a key advantage I offer clients.
For remote online sessions, I utilise video conferencing to consult with clients one-on-one to understand their vision and needs for the project. This allows me to provide personalised guidance no matter where my clients are located.
Depending on the project, I photograph subjects on-location and I give real-time feedback to clients through the camera so they get comfortable presenting themselves genuinely.
For the editing process, I stay connected through online proofing galleries. Clients can review images remotely, provide edits, and give approval on final selections. Email and chat keep us aligned throughout the project lifecycle.
My remote capabilities allow me to collaborate with clients anywhere while maintaining the highest quality. And I always enjoy travelling for in-person shoots! I offer the best of both worlds - online accessibility combined with dedicated on-site service.
The flexibility I provide helps remove barriers and I strive to ensure I am accessible. Let's chat more about how I can bring value through customised service to suit your needs.
What changes have you made to keep your customers safe from Covid-19?
Keeping clients safe has been my number one priority during the pandemic. I have implemented several new protocols and practices:
Enhanced disinfecting - All equipment, props, and high touch surfaces are thoroughly sanitised before and after sessions.
Social distancing - I follow recommended guidelines for physical distancing during shoots.
Outdoor sessions - I recommend conducting most sessions outdoors with ample space when possible.
Touchless options - Contactless payment, online proofing, and remote planning limit direct contact.
Masks - Face masks are worn by myself if required.
Health screening - I ask screening questions and reschedule anyone displaying symptoms.
Limited travel - I've cut down on non-essential travel to limit exposure risks.
While COVID-19 has required adaptation, my commitment to safely creating beautiful images has not wavered. I'm happy to discuss additional measures to make clients feel comfortable moving forward with photography sessions.
Event Photography
As an experienced event photographer, I'm ready to capture your next corporate function, gala, or special occasion!
With over 20 years of experience in corporate event planning and marketing, I bring a natural eye for authentically telling the story of conferences, milestones, and stakeholder gatherings.
I cover a wide range of events including; Corporate functions, seminars, and media events,
gala dinners and private celebrations, local forums and community workshops, art exhibition openings, private parties, family gatherings,special milestones, bespoke weddings and elopements.
My down-to-earth approach puts attendees at ease so I can document real moments as they unfold. With a passion for storytelling, I convey the essence and achievements of each event through my photography.
Whether I’m capturing candid interactions, awards ceremonies, or speakers in action - my images beautifully showcase your event while keeping people comfortable and engaged.
To learn more about my event photography services, please visit my website, Facebook or Instagram profiles.
Portrait Photography
As a portrait photographer, I specialise in capturing the essence of people through my lens. With over 20 years of experience honing my skills in the corporate world, I bring a professional yet easygoing approach to portrait sessions.
My portrait photography services include; Headshots for professional profiles, personal portraits, family portraits, couples and engagement photos, personal branding photography, kindergarten portraits.
My warm, down-to-earth personality puts clients at ease so I can focus on capturing their personalities! I work with people of all ages and backgrounds to produce beautiful, natural portraits they will treasure.
Whether I’m photographing executives, families, couples or kids, my passion is telling the story of my subjects through thought provoking & beautiful imagery. I run sessions outdoors, in client’s homes or at specific locations. My candid, creative style produces portraits that reflect the essence of each client.
To learn more about my portrait photography services, please visit my website, Facebook or Instagram. I look forward to creating timeless portraits for you that you'll cherish for years to come!
Lifestyle Photography
As a lifestyle photographer, I capture authentic, meaningful moments of everyday life. With over 20 years refining my skills in the corporate sphere, I bring a professional yet easygoing approach to lifestyle sessions.
My lifestyle photography encompasses candid shots of:
Website content, e-commerce, modelling and fashion, families and children, pregnancy and newborns, engagements and couples, special events and milestones.
My warm personality and natural style puts clients at ease so I can document real-life moments as they unfold. I work closely with my subjects to produce beautiful, organic images that tell the story of their relationships, passions, and memories.
Whether I’m capturing a couple laughing together in the kitchen, a mother holding her newborn, or a child playing in the backyard, my focus is conveying the subject's essence through my lens. My passion is producing lifestyle photos families will treasure for generations.
To learn more about my lifestyle photography services, please visit my website, Facebook or Instagram. I look forward to capturing authentic moments for you and your family to cherish.
