FEEL IT FOREVER

I’m Rachel Wakefield, a seasoned photographer ESTABLISHED in SAnta barbara, California

and with over a decade of expertise, I create elevated imagery with an effortless experience.

photographer

Rachel Wakefield

With over a decade of full-time expertise and the distinction of Vogue recognition, my approach is focusing on honest connection rather than rigid poses. I capture the fun, spontaneous instances that make your love bespoke, creating classic, refined imagery.

My goal is to deliver a perfect blend of luxury and authenticity, fashioning a visual legacy that truly reflects your relationship.

ESTABLISHED IN

SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA

Santa Barbara, this coastal gem, is where I'm privileged to call home.

With our cliffy beaches, lavish gardens, and vibrant downtown, there’s so much to appreciate here. I'm thrilled to share the Spanish charm and warmth of this city with you!

A LITTLE WINDOW INTO MY

PERSONAL LIFE

Married to my high-school sweetheart Clay, and we have two children together, Zoe and Cohen. Not pictured is our newest addition, Poppy, our fluffy labradoodle!

We love spending slow weekends enjoying leisurely strolls through the local farmers markets, visiting the vineyards for wine tasting in Santa Ynez, or gathering with our closest friends for dinner.

Featured

Client’s Reviews

Jewel & Malcolm

Client’s Reviews

Rachel is above and beyond. She's creatively talented and extremely driven and those two qualities are unbeatable. We have used her photography services for every major milestone in our lives and plan on continuing to do so!

Client’s Reviews

Morgan & Nick

I have spent the last hour looking at all of our pictures. I am getting so emotional looking at them because I feel like they take me right back to that beach and that place where I just felt so happy. I don’t feel like they’re posed and fake smiles I just see how you captured us. It’s so surreal getting to see how we look at each other when no one’s watching (I know you were but you didn’t make it feel like that). I will ALWAYS cherish these pictures and I know they’ll always take us back to one of the happiest times of our lives. Thank you for filling this whole experience full of love and joy! I know you do this all the time, but I just wanted to make sure you knew how special this is and how special, sexy, joyful you made us feel. THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES OVER!!!!!!!

Client’s Reviews

Amanda & Conor

Client’s Reviews

We are so happy we picked Rachel to be our wedding photographer! Not only does she do incredible work, she is very friendly, fun and personable. The photos she took along with her assistant were amazing and beyond our expectations. She was very quick to send us our wedding photo gallery, and spent a lot of time helping design our wedding album afterward. I highly recommend Rachel as your wedding photographer, she's the best!!

Client’s Reviews

Leah & Reis

Client’s Reviews

Rachel was the perfect photographer! She captured the hidden moments of our wedding day that mean the world to me now. Rachel is so natural at making her clients feel like life long friends. I loved her intention, her thoughtfulness and the way she made us feel on our big day! I seriously couldn't imagine my wedding being photographed by anyone else!

Client’s Reviews

Tia & Cody

Client’s Reviews

I wish I could give 10 stars on everything!! Rachel was out of this world!! She was so helpful, so welcoming, and friendly. She handles stressful situations very well and is very patient with people. She is so professional and her work is amazing!! I cannot express enough how grateful we are for her, her time, and her talents. Honestly, she feels like a friend to us. We are grateful for the whole experience from beginning to end. Rachel also put together an extensive schedule for the of our wedding for the photography, which as a bride planning her wedding on her own helped big time with coming up with a schedule and timeline for the day as well! Rachel captured every moment we asked her too, nothing was forgotten. Rachel also did our engagement photos, and she did such a great job making us feel comfortable behind the camera :). We are extremely satisfied… we will always refer people to Rachel and happily and proudly brag about her services :) she deserves it and it’s only true, so how could we not!

Client’s Reviews

FAQs

I'm not a natural in front of the camera. Will the photos look good?

I've been doing this for a while now, and have created a relaxed shooting experience. None of my clients are models! I prefer a natural approach over stiff poses, so we’ll be moving around, having fun, and capturing those genuine connections

I love your work, is it all digital or film?

I shoot a mix of digital and film. While digital allows me to never miss a moment, film anchors an honest feeling. I love film because it is untouched. I deliver both within your wedding gallery.

Will you help us decide on outfits?

Yes, everything I do comes with intention. We'll be creating a mood board for your overall aesthetic, location, and outfits.

Do your wedding collections come with an engagement session?

Collections can be tailored to include an engagement session.

How far in advance do we need to book?

The only way to know if I'm available is to reach out here.

How many images are delivered?

The phrase here is quality over quantity. Each image delivered is carefully curated by me, and has something bespoke and special to it. I deliver around 50 images per shooting hour. A portrait shoot is around 100 images and delivered within 4 weeks; a wedding day, around 600+ and delivered within 8 weeks.

Where are you located? Do you travel?

I'm located in Santa Barbara, California. While Santa Barbara is where I live and work, I do travel world-wide and would love to hear about your dreamy location!