Today we’d like to introduce you to Raquel Davidowitz.
Hi Raquel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Outside of my personal passion for photography, my introduction to professional photography and techniques was taking a beginner’s photography class at ACC. I always enjoyed photography and for the first time in a long time, I suddenly found myself with the necessary but rare combination of extra time and determination to take an evening class that met after my day job. I jumped at the opportunity, it had been years since I was chasing my dreams and I was so excited to do something that I loved and cared about.
At 30 years old, I learned how to use a DSLR camera for the first time and found myself wanting to recreate many of the iconic images that had populated the pages of magazines that had inspired me so much over the years! There was a particular interview that I had always loved with Katy Perry from Vogue magazine that almost instantly popped into my head. I reached out to several close friends who had always supported my dreams and they took their free time away from their families, school, and work to let me practice photographing them whilst using the Vogue photoshoot as inspiration.
Afterward, my friends posted our work on social media, and those photos led to my first paid photoshoot! I remember thinking, “wow, people want to pay me???” Ever since, it’s been a dream come true! I never thought I could be making a living doing something that I love and I’m just so incredibly grateful to be where I am today.
Taking a leap of faith in your 30’s and quitting your day job to start a new career is scary but I’m so glad that I did it.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Some of the obstacles in having a successful career as a photographer were my own self-doubts. I started off inspired by the work of talented photographers but eventually, I’d find myself comparing myself to a lot of what I saw on social media which fueled my self-doubt. When I first started out, it seemed like too much of a leap to go from just starting out to producing images that would make people say “wow”. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned photographer, that self-doubt will always be there for many of us.
Fortunately, I have a lot of family behind me that has always believed in me and friends that are photographers in the wedding industry who are indefinitely supportive. Also, going from working a full-time job and going to school part-time to trying to get my foot in the door within the wedding industry was a painfully slow crawl. I think that it has probably taken me a much longer time to establish myself than most and the only reason I’m still here is that I genuinely love what I do. I’m still learning and I don’t think that’ll ever end, which is one of the things I love about photography, I couldn’t imagine having not started Raquel Davidowitz Photography as an escape from my desk job. Photography is what infuses my dreams and creativity.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Since 2017, couples throughout Central Texas have come to me for my uniquely photojournalistic approach to wedding and family photography. I have a passion for capturing life’s biggest moments in beautiful, art-worthy images. I believe my couples deserve a blend of photography as unique as their love for one another. Above all, my goal is to give couples the kind of photos that hold a multitude of emotions, an enviable style, and deeply felt stories. A love like this requires an inspired mix. An expert blending of natural and editorial. A style that goes beyond traditional wedding poses with magazine-worthy photography that feels both effortless and inviting. As the lead photographer of Raquel Davidowitz Photography, it’s my commitment to visual storytelling and authenticity that has enabled me to be trusted by couples throughout the Hill Country. Through an unmatched and relationship-driven experience, I promise that the most important moments of your life will become art-worthy.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I wish I had invested in education when I first started Raquel Davidowitz Photography. I put in a lot of time trying to teach myself the business side with the technical side on such little allowed time that it ended up dragging the learning process much longer than it needed to. Once I decided what courses to invest in, things began to fall into place much more swiftly.
Pricing:
- Photography Collection $3500
- Family & Portrait Sessions $350
Contact Info:
- Email: raqueldphoto@gmail.com
- Website: www.raqueldphoto.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/raqueld_photo
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/raqueldphoto
Image Credits
Raquel Davidowitz Photography
