Meet Rachel Graham | Owner – RDGPhotography

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

Hi Rachel, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Accessibility! The first live theatre show I ever photographed was in college. I was spotlight operator for the show as a Freshman, and saw when the professional photographer came to take photos. The cast was anxious and excited, then they only ever got to see a handful of photos that were used to print for promotional material. The actors never get to see the show, and the designers and production team only had access to a few photos to remember the show by and use for their portfolios. So, with permission, I took my DLSR into the booth and photographed the scenes I was not operating a spotlight in, and gave them to anyone who wanted them. The college was impressed, and hired me to shoot their next student production. Since that first shoot, I have kept my foundation the same. The theatre/production pays for the photo shoot, and everyone involved has full access to all of the photos for no charge. Post them online, give them to friends, keep them for your own use, use in portfolios, whatever! As long as they are in the hands of the people who helped create the production, I am a happy camper. I do not advertise or reach out to new clients, they all come to me because they have in one way or another come across my work or know someone I have photographed who has been happy with my work.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I love how I have really found my niche in the photography community. I specialize in live theatre photography, preferring to capture shows during a dress rehearsal. The actors are doing what they do best, and nothing is staged with stagnant scenes waiting for me to capture the moment. I am IN the moment with them, balancing the scenery, lighting, actors, and costumes to get just the right image for everyone involved in the production. How did I get started? I have always been the person with a camera around capturing the moment. I have a BA in Acting, and always had a camera during rehearsal and backstage making memories for myself and anyone else who wanted to be involved. As I started acting professionally, my contacts with theatres expanded and I began to see that many theatres really didn’t have access to high quality images to promote or archive their productions. So, I would step in during dress rehearsals and capture scenes I was not in. Then, one at a time and all at once, I began charging to photograph productions. At first it was for theatres where I had been an actor, then has expanded to photographing over 20 theatres across the state.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh man, I am the worst person to ask for this kind of information. I am very laid back, and seldom ‘go out’ for any type of shenanigans. I am so fulfilled by the interactions I get as a photographer and actor, that I really don’t have much life beyond that. Recently when a friend visited, I took her to Fairmont Cemetery to take some interesting portraits of her. Something a little different to do, with a gift I could give to her in the form of images. I also always have kittens in my home, so people are always welcome to come over and play with foster kittens, and get their share of hugs in!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Jenni Leigh. She is a fellow kitten foster who is a wealth of compassion and knowledge. I feel that I can approach her with any issue or question and am not judged or looked down on. I can rely on her for emotional support as well as advice as an equal. We learn from each other and draw from each others’ experiences in an awesome way. Makes what is sometimes a really hard pasttime (kitten fostering), a safer space.

Website: www.rdg-photo.com

Instagram: Weeble_and_Friends (kitten foster), rdgphoto_colorado (I only post funny ‘fail’ frames I capture)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rdgphotoCO

Image Credits
Littleton Town Hall Arts Center, Vintage Theatre, Rocky Mountain Reperatory Theatre Company, Performance Now Theatre Company, Denver University Department of Theatre, Candlelight Dinner Playhouse.