Meet Rachel Linkwald | Photography and Gallery Design

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Linkwald and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
When I started out, I knew so little about the art of my industry. I was like many, I thought I could own a camera and call myself a photographer: schedule cheap sessions, take a ton of pictures, do some minor editing, and send the client an overwhelming amount of images.

As I became more skilled, I found myself drowning in clients, because I was so cheap. One would think this was a good thing…
BUT:
1. I wanted to start to take the images further artistically, but couldn’t because I had too many on my hands.
2. I couldn’t provide the customer service I wanted to deliver.
3. I had no time for myself or my family.

People warn you that if you raise your prices (to a sustainable wage…), you will lose clients.
IT’S TRUE!
But what it meant was that the people who hired me did so because they loved my art! Not because I was the cheapest!
And that meant…
I could focus on quality over quantity. I could then treat those that did hire me like royalty, deliver custom services, invest more in the art I create for them, and still have space for myself and my family at the end of the day.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m lucky to have been inspired by so many that came before me, who taught that really compelling pieces are about both insight and calculation. People love to say, “you must have a nice camera,” and it cracks me up, because that’s like telling a chef they must have a nice oven! The tool is only as good as how you use it.
A huge turning point for me was realizing that, while shooting, I had a vision for the ultimate piece that the client would hang in their living room. I could see in my mind exactly how I would paint it later in photoshop. And I would adjust my settings and methods while shooting to give myself what I would later need in the editing room.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The beauty and culture of Atlanta are phenomenal. We are the city in the woods. Go hiking, and it feels so remote, so vast, so powerful: the rivers, the trees, the wildlife. And we have a top-notch arts scene, both performance and visual. Few people know how many professional theatre companies call our city home. Full disclosure: I also used to work as a professional actor! Atlanta is art- both natural and creative.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to my parents who told me I could be whatever I wanted! Shoutout to my husband who taught me to think not only as an artist, but as a business that needs to actually succeed if I want to continue to make art!

Website: www.shaynaimage.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachel_shayna_image

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-linkwald-shaynaimage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShaynaImageGA

Facebook: www.facebook.com/shaynaimage

Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/shayna-image-atlanta

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH6ML17WQEfNhyrIjUYBqEA

Image Credits
All images credit Shayna Image (Personal note: AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, I LOVE THAT YOU ASK THIS QUESTION)