We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Alyssa Eve (R.A.E. Photos) and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
My biggest inspiration comes from people. The beauty that humankind can display in the most minute interactions has impacted me every day of my life and fuels a lot of my photography. The kindness of teachers, mentors, friends, strangers, family, have all played a role in my vast growth and development over time. It has even quite literally saved my life and changed my life. This joy and kindness is what I hope to share in every interaction I have with clients. I hope they leave with joy no matter what may be going on in their world. When they come to meet with me for a photography session, I hope to make them feel like the most important and beautiful person in the world. I want clients to see what I see when I look through the lens, the pure magic that a smile can bring.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been in the creative space since before I could remember. Since childhood, I have been singing, dancing, involved in theater, and played musical instruments. Later in childhood, I became enamored with anything artsy, from crafts and scrapbooking, to painting on my clothes. Eventually, in middle school, I picked up a camera and started exploring the world of photography. For many years, I was so hard on myself, feeling constant comparison to other photographers and never understanding why I couldn’t grasp the art form like them. It wasn’t for many years that I understood the beauty of creating your own unique way of capturing moments through a camera lens. I fell in love with concert photography, but still loved shooting natural light. I never got over the golden hour kick that most photographers have passed. However, I have never stopped creating art in many other avenues as well. This has pushed me to have a fresh perspective in my work as a photographer because I experience the creative world in so many different ways. I value capturing the raw emotions of a moment in such a way that looking at the art captured in a photo can transport you to the exact moment in time it was taken with the same energy felt in the room itself. This came from starting as a concert photographer and eventually translated into all of my work as a natural light photographer. I don’t want to be like every other photographer striving for a uniform, one color instagram feed. The goal of R.A.E. Photos is to capture creative dreams as vibrantly as they existed in reality. Over the past few years, I along with my business, has gone through a lot of change, movement, and growth. From moving to Washington D.C. for graduate school, to building my business from the ground up in a place I had no connections, to moving back home and having to re-start from scratch, to where I am now, it has been a time of evolution. However, I wouldn’t change it for the world because I have learned so much about myself as a photographer, creative, and person. My art has grown, and my passion for creating beautiful moments has skyrocketed. Out of the box moments of creativity captured for eternity is what I live for. If you have creative visions, no matter how crazy the concept may be, reach out and let’s dream together!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As a Dallas-Fort Worth native, I have many fond memories of the vibrant life created by the city growing up! For anyone coming to town, I recommend planning to experience a wide variety of amazing cuisines, seeing some beautiful architecture, and engaging in the stunning night life Dallas has to offer. Some personal favorite restaurant recommendations include Crush Craft Thai Eats (Thai Cuisine), Yenat Guada (Ethiopian Cuisine), Ten Ramen (Ramen Bar), Blue Sushi (Japanese Cuisine), Rodeo Goat (Burgers and American Cuisine), and Bbbop Seoul Kitchen (Korean Cuisine). For Coffee, stop by Magnolias Sous Le Pont or Wild Detectives (Coffee and Bar). And what is a Dallas trip without visiting Bishop Arts on the weekend for the creative street vendors and amazing local shops. If you want some larger, more well-know activities, stop by Klyde Warren Park and go the the DMA for free, or book some tickets to the Perot Museum. Of course, to end your trip, you should hire your favorite local photographer (R.A.E. Photos) and book a fun shoot to remember all the good times!


Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Shoutout is dedicated to my amazing family and boyfriend for their constant support of every one of my passions. Without them, I wouldn’t have the drive to push toward the stars.

Website: rachelalyssaeve.com

Instagram: @r.a.e.photos

Facebook: R.A.E. Photos

Image Credits
R.A.E. Photos

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.