Rachel Anderson Photography

24/07/2024

Take my hand and let’s run through the flowers in the rain.

RAP teammate Kaleigh shot this adorable summer engagement session right before a threatening storm and it could not be cuter!

18/07/2024

Scroll to see the big baby that was not a fan of Kason’s newborn session.

Oh Lux, you’ll always be the first baby.

16/07/2024

Garden party meet chaos = 🤌

28/06/2024

6.27.24 the half-our-lives anniversary

For some reason I always thought this day would stay in the future. My husband Garrett and I have talked about this day for years. The year we would both be 28 and our relationship would be 14 years old. I know it’s not cool to celebrate the dating anniversary but our beginning is what romance movies are made of.

Garrett and I were 7th graders when we started a friendship over email. One day he asked me on a bike ride and that started years of us meeting halfway between our houses to go on a ride together. We’d bike for hours and laugh. We were (and still are) each other’s best friend.

Texting wasn’t really a thing for us at that age so Garrett wrote me letters.

When I left for college I compiled all the notes, letters, movie passes, cards from flower bouquets, and homecoming proposals into one binder.

Yesterday I surprised Garrett with the binder of our beginning. Notes from 2010. Movie stubs from 2011. Years of Valentine’s cards.

And he surprised me with two matching fire-red Trek bikes to continue our rides.

But the binder of our beginning was full so I got us a new one to document letters to each other on every anniversary going forward. One day we’ll have hundreds of letters we wrote to each other with our dreams, achievements, and history.

Cheers to us and the many miles we’ve shared ❤️


Special thanks to for helping Garrett with his surprise and for providing the bikes we’ll ride for the next 14 years.

24/06/2024

The Callahans 6.22.24

Letting the photos speak for themselves on this one.

16/06/2024

Devan and Joel fell in love in small moments. A laugh after hauling instruments. A shared smile while organizing music. An inside joke shared with the few members of the Iowa band librarians.

If you wrote a book about Joel, there would be two chapters: Band. Devan.

If you wrote a book about Devan, there would be two chapters. Band. Joel.

Each book would start with band because that ultimately would lead you into their chapter about falling in love and then running their band program together.

In their sequel they would write about all of their friends who become more like family. The ones who watched them fall in love at Iowa. The ones who knew them growing up. The ones who found them more recently and share their love of music. Oh and a whole chapter on Molly (Joel’s sister and now Devan’s too).

We all loved the wedding chapter and patiently wait for we know will be many many more installments.

Cheers to the Knipes!

Vendors:
Venue:
Photo & Video:
Dress:
Rings:
Tux: Eschen’s Clothing
DJ:
Photobooth:
Cupcakes:

12/06/2024

The Erhardts - 6.8.24

Some people find the other piece to their puzzle early and just enjoy the ride. Shoutout to Jethro's BBQ for a romantic evening that turned into more.

Vendors:
Venue: Pinter's Event Center
Photo + Video: Rachel Anderson Photography
Rings: Wedding Day Diamonds Riddle's Jewelry
Dress: Vow'd Weddings
Alterations: Custom Sewing by Heather
Florist: The Country Garden Flowers and Gifts Decorah IA
DJ: Ottomatic Karaoke
Cake + Cookies: Pinter's Event Center
Party Bus: hangover express party bus
Hair: Theresa Shepherd

11/06/2024

My New Website Giveaway winner Lynette absolutely crushing her BRANDING headshot session!

Lynette (and her husband Chris) own a luxury album design company . They serve photographers and couples from ALL OVER THE WORLD! Their work is literally featured in magazine!

Photographers go check out how you can add that luxury touch to your offers.

Studio:

10/06/2024

A wedding nestled in the quaint landscape of . Sean and Katie Prior tied the knot under a gorgeous tree. Someone asked me how old I thought the tree was and my honest thought was "older than all of us."

To have your love sealed by a being older than all of us must bestow some wisdom about love and consistency.

There's something there about building a strong base so your story can thrive.

I'm personally in love with the idea of how many unions that tree has witnessed.

Cheers to the Priors and their very strong base from which to build.

The Vendor Team:
Venue:
Photography:
Florist:
Dress:
Live Band: The Strays Cake:
Hair:
MUA: ,

29/05/2024

Herky officially gained another Hawk over the weekend and her name is Madi Montross.

Cheers to Brittney and Madi Montross!

The vendor team:
Venue: Madi's wonderful parents Jeff & Amy’s house

Photography & Videography:

Brittney’s Dress:

My Dress:

Dress Alterations: Sew Beautiful

Suits: Eschen’s Clothing

Bridal Cake: Homemade by Bridget Moroney

Sheet Cakes:

Food: Fat Chef’s Catering

DJ: Juan Rodriguez

Hair: Morgan from

Makeup: Hallee from .makeup.gal.hal

Flowers:

Tent & Portable Bathrooms: Celebrations of Sumner

Tables & Chairs: Rummel Rentals

23/05/2024

Family session the way they should be: fast, freeing, and fun!

20/05/2024

The Grants P.2 The Party!

Cedar Rapids, this is the Vendor team of your dreams!

Venue:
Day of Coordinator:
Photography and Videography
DJ:
Decor:
Hair and Make Up: .mueller
Florals:
Caterer:
Dessert:
Officiant: Lori Dyre
Part Bus:

20/05/2024

Introducing the Grants!

P.1 the morning

A loving couple, beautiful venue, and gorgeous colors calls for a couple posts.

Cedar Rapids, this is the Vendor team of your dreams!

Venue:
Day of Coordinator:
Photography and Videography
DJ:
Decor:
Hair and Make Up: .mueller
Florals:
Caterer:
Dessert:
Officiant: Lori Dyre
Part Bus:

15/05/2024

Anyone need a venue discount???

Located at 2510 55th Street, Vinton IA 52349

13/05/2024

P.2 PARTY LIKE A POTTS 🍾

The Amazing Vendor Team:
Venue
Photo & Video Team
Hair
Make Up
Dress
Alterations: Leas Dreamwork
Suit .warehouse
Catering: Mincer Country Catering
DJ Midnight Crystal
Cake

13/05/2024

“Boy meets girl, boy gets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy meets girl again. Boy gets girl forever.” the love story of the Potts as told by the groom’s twin brother.

A more perfect day you could not ask for!

This romantic comedy concluded at .

We’re all waiting in suspense for their sequel ❤️

The Amazing Vendor Team:
Venue
Photo & Video Team
Hair
Make Up
Dress
Alterations: Leas Dreamwork
Suit .warehouse
Catering: Mincer Country Catering
DJ Midnight Crystal
Cake

19/04/2024

This stunning engagement session was shot by my teammate Kaleigh. This is such a great example of the outfits fitting the vibe of the shoot!

A great session tells a story and the outfits you pick aid in the cohesiveness of your gallery as a whole.

You guys make me want
brenna

18/04/2024

Winners of my New Website Giveaway are here 👇

All sessions are open and available for sign up in my bio! I am planning to reschedule the headshot mini sessions from April 25 so if there’s a date or day of the week that would work best for you, please comment or DM me ❤️

Is an Iowa-based luxury album designer. She selected the BRANDING HEADSHOT MINI. You gotta check out her album designs 😍

And her boyfriend won the Luxe Engagement Session and are going to use it as a couple’s session. Can’t wait to start planning!

also selected the BRANDING HEADSHOT MINI. Alex is a hairstylist is Coralville who specializes in blondes and creative colors. ✂️

15/04/2024

Before and After: website edition
Which site are you more in love with?

The new website is like the grown-up older sister of my old website. The old one had spirit and passion and was throwing s**t against the wall to see what would stick.

The new site is refined, easy to navigate, and in my opinion, GORGEOUS 😍

There’s still time for you to win one of my three free sessions! This Thursday the 18th I’ll announce our winners!

Go to my pinned post to enter!

11/04/2024

I wanted to share this with you sooner but…

Rachel Anderson Photography got a face lift!

Ha! More like buried the old business and built a new one! 🎉🍾

Things have changed and here are just a few:
📷 Completely new website/brand
📷 New edit style
📷 Bo***ir and Commercial shoots!
📷 Full photo and video team!
📷 Luxury Wedding Albums

Things I want to do but my time can’t keep up with my brain:
🤔 Start a referral program to give you all gifts when you send me your cool friends and family
🤔 Build the team! I’m looking for at least a 2nd shooter and maybe more!
🤔 Start working with small businesses to get you monthly content you need for socials

OKAY ONTO THE FREE SESSIONS!
Three winners will be selected on Thursday, April 18th. Each winner will get a chance to choose one of the three available sessions.
-Luxe Engagement Session
-BRANDING HEADSHOT MINI
-Blooming Spring Mini

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Share this post to your Instagram story
2. Join my broadcast channel on IG
That’s it!

Thank you all for being here and always being so kind to me! Building this business with your help has been one of my greatest joys in life. I know it’s only just the beginning ❤️

31/03/2024

"When they smile, we all smile." -me

The officiant came up to me after the ceremony and said "Aren't they just beautiful."

Of course I agreed with him!

There are some people in this world that make the rest of us brighten just by being in their presence.

Cheers to the Bohns!

Venue:
Video: Us!
Hair+MUA: .wedding
Catering:
DJ: Putting on the Ritz

24/03/2024

Yesterday was the beautiful kickstart to our wedding season. Congratulations for the Platts!

The amazing vendors!
Venue: .creek.events Price Creek Event Center
Hair:
DJ: Prazyhim
Florals:
Rings: Siebke Hoyt
Ceremony Harpist: Gretchen Brumwell
Couple: and Dakota

29/02/2024

A cozy evening filled with laugher and love...

isn't that what we all want?

You can create your own magical evening with these amazing wedding vendors!
Host:
Venue:
Wedding Planner:
Florist:
Decor:
MUA:
Hair:
Dress:
Cake:
Models:

14/02/2024

Just thinking of all the people opening something 🌶️ today/this month

Happy Valentine’s Day to all my lovers out there

08/02/2024

The Iowa State Capitol might be the most gorgeous space I've ever been in and to shoot a private engagement session there felt like a dream!

We've known Seth and Lauren for years and when Seth proposed our reaction was "Dude, it's about time!" They raise two dogs together so his tie is a tribute to their boys.

Seth worked in the capitol for awhile and got us special permission to run around.

The place was empty! So empty that the lights were automatically turning off and wouldn't come back on. Honestly, that made it more fun!

This is only part 1 of this session because I didn't have enough space! Stay tuned.

and I got to shoot this one together! I bet you can't guess whose photos are whose?!

08/02/2024

A lil’ January photo dump.

Garrett and I ended last week in the Iowa State Capital capturing a stunning engagement session for some of our friends. We were in awe the whole time. The capital is literally beautiful!

I’ve been working on a granny square sweater while we watch WWII shows. Yeah, it’s an odd combo

Truffle is sprinkled through out. She loves laying on my projects so I might need to make her a blanket of her own 🤷‍♀️

My sweet client and friend snapped a photo of me capturing her perfect baby Chloe. Growing with you guys is my absolute favorite thing about photography!

The Wisconsin Beer and Cheese fest was absolutely wild! Let me tell you, I was “clogged up” for a few weeks after

Man I could only share 10 photos! I’ll just have to do this more often 😚

29/01/2024

A cake smash session is a must if you have littles. They aren’t just for your youngest, Macoy had help from his older brothers and his dogs too.

I’ll bring my washable backdrop and then watch them go to town! It’s one of the most joyful sessions to capture because EVERYONE has fun!

Send this post to a family with a little one who could use some cake in their life 🎂