information

starting rates

for wedding, lifestyle, and editorial photography

All collections include:
– Rachel as your lead photographer
– 6+ hours of coverage
– Options for additional photographers and sessions
– Private online gallery
– Full printing and sharing rights

Local wedding collections begin at $4500.
Average investment is $5500-$8000.
Custom collections and add-ons available.

Destination weddings and elopements available–contact me for a custom quote!

All collections include:
– Rachel as your lead photographer
– 1-2 hours of coverage
– Private online gallery
– Full printing and sharing rights

Local engagement sessions starting at $700

All collections include:
– Rachel as your lead photographer
– 1-2 hours of coverage
– Options for additional hours and extras
– Private online gallery
– Full printing and sharing rights

Local lifestyle collections begin at $500.
Average investment is $550-$900.
Custom collections and add-ons available.

Destination sessions and adventure sessions available–contact me for a custom quote!

Looking for something different? I offer photography for empowerment (boudoir) brands, businesses, magazines, artists, poets, and just about anything/everything if you think we’d be a good fit.

All collections include:
-Rachel as your lead photographer
– Custom session time
– Custom moodboard and brainstorm session
– Private online gallery
– Full printing and sharing rights

Custom quotes only at this time.
Average investment: $500-$1000

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQs

Yes. Yes. Yes. Forever and ever.
I want to make a space for anyone to be fully themselves. Come as you are.
I’d want to do this even if I wasn’t a queer person myself. 
And please know that this goes for anyone who has ever felt like an “outsider” or “unloveable” in any way, sexuality and/or gender (or lack thereof) aside.
I love you. I’m glad you’re here. It would be an honor to work with you and highlight your glory.

I live in Oklahoma City, but am on the go all over the place quite often. I will travel anywhere in the US or world for a good story. If you’re planning a wedding or elopement abroad, get in touch!  I have special rates on my Bucket List locations (see above in the travel section) and have discounted travel fees to Denver, Seattle, and New York City.

Yes, absolutely. Many of my weddings and elopements in the past have been destination weddings. My passport is current, and I am a skilled traveler. If you want me at your wedding and it’s not in Oklahoma, I would be delighted to discuss details. I’ve photographed love stories in California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Missouri, Arizona, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, South Dakota, several spots in Mexico, and a few times in Iceland. Casually (and also importantly), I’d love to be hired for elopements/weddings in France, Joshua Tree/Palm Springs, The Faroe Islands, Maine, Greece, Vermont, Tennessee, Montana, Wyoming, Spain, Ireland, Italy (really anywhere in Europe…), Morocco, Egypt, Guatemala, Belize, Thailand, and….many many other spots, so reach out if you’re dreaming of somewhere dreamy.
At this time I am limiting destination weddings to 6 per year.

This varies a lot, and ultimately it is up to you. I have some set collections based on what’s been popular with couples/clients over the years, but we can totally create something custom for you if none of those feel good. All couples who book wedding/elopement services with me receive unlimited consulting (within office hours, please :) ), vendor recommendations, wardrobe help (if needed/wanted), a custom photo timeline, a hefty highlight reel of wedding images (100+, typically) delivered in about a week, and my personal cell number so you can text me or set up a call with any other questions you may have. Aside from that you and your honey will receive a private online gallery for you to enjoy the hundreds (usually around 80-100 images per hour of coverage) of images from your day and a sharing/print release, typically delivered about 1-2 months post-wedding. Day-after sessions, empowerment/boudoir sessions, bridal sessions, steamy couples’ sessions, honeymoon sessions, full wedding weekend coverage, prints, products, albums, and more are also all available for those who want something more adventurous or different.

My standard sessions include 1ish hour(s) of session time. You’ll receive 60+ images from your session in a private online gallery where you can print, download, share, and invest more in your memories. Options to upgrade session coverage, locations, photo quantity, styling, hair and makeup, and/or destination sessions are available with an additional fee. I occasionally offer seasonal mini sessions (10-20 minute session time and 5-20ish images) that are in the $150-$300 range (announced on instagram and facebook if you want to follow along), and “short” sessions (30 minutes of session time, and 30-40ish images) on Mondays only, for $350.

Not everyone is comfy in front of the camera.  I know I’m not–otherwise this website would probably be filled with many more~*~artistic selfies  ~*~.
I aim to make anyone who steps in front of my camera feel relaxed, like a human with feelings and thoughts and ideas, and confident in their own humanness. I will direct when I see fit, but I want you to show off who you are. We’ll start slow and will ease into it.  (Friendly reminder that I’ve literally seen nearly half a thousand people make out in front of me (among other things), so nothing is weird or strange to me. You know when you’re going to the doctor and are worried about them seeing a part of your body that you’re not super stoked about, but then you realize they see these things multiple times every day? It’s like that.) I’m nonjudgmental, really want to show off who you are, will hype you up, and will do everything in my power so that you actually have an enjoyable and fun time during your wedding or session. I direct and “pose” in ways that feel organic, easy, and/or fun, and I want all this to be an experience for you–not just a thing to check off your list.
I’m NOT the photographer for you if you want only posed, smiling at the camera, eyes at the camera, “perfect” photos. 

PS: Not to brag or anything, but one of the compliments I receive the most is how easy being in front of the camera is from people I direct and photograph. Sessions and weddings days with me are stress-free, light-hearted, easier than you think, and 100% doable!!!! And, chances are…you’ll end up having way more fun than you originally thought.

I always try and deliver quality over quantity.
For sessions, you can expect 50+ for your standard hour session, and can expect another 50+ per extra hour of coverage.
For weddings, you can expect an average of 500-800 total images, depending on how much coverage you receive (though this often reaches 1000+ in some cases). With that said, I won’t ever cap the number of images I give you if I feel like they all are contributing to your overall story, and tend to only leave out the ones with blatant technical errors, “extras” of a similar shot, unflattering faces/angles, or the like. 

Yes! And I believe your photos deserve to live off the screen. Print your photos. Blow them up big. Decorate your house with them. Make a coffee-table book out of them. Turn them into wallpaper. All clients receive full printing and sharing rights. Your online gallery has a store from which you can order all sorts of additional products (but you are not obligated to order from there, and I’m happy to provide reputable printing places). I kindly ask that if you choose not to print through the labs I work with, that you opt NOT to use Walmart/Walgreens/Target/etc, as I’ve had many issues with them and the colors they print out.

I can, but prefer to keep digital as my primary way of shooting for things that can’t be redone. If you’re interested in adding in some film during your wedding or session, I’m happy to talk about that, though I’d keep things pretty simple. I could bring some disposables, one (or 2) 35mm point and shoot, and/or I have a Holga and some Polaroids and Instax cameras. It’d be more of a fun add-on instead of the main thing. (I am also happy to talk if you’re wanting a more “filmy” look, and can shoot/edit to emulate that look a bit more.)

After 10+ years and 300(?)+ weddings, I’ve never not shown up. One time I photographed a 15 hour wedding day after getting 2 hours of sleep the night before. Another time I photographed an elopement in negative degree temps in snow and ice. Once I flew across the country and photographed a wedding with an eyeball that was scratched to hell. I show up. But on the extremely off chance that I, for some god-forsaken reason am unable to attend your wedding after you’ve hired me, I’ll find a professional as close to my style as possible (I am very well connected), who can shoot your day for me (if not more than one). If it’s possible, I will still do the editing so that your final images are as close to what you see on this website as possible. If I fail to do that, then you will receive a refund of what you have paid me.
If we find ourselves, state-wide, country-wide, or on a global scale to be facing a pandemic or reason why large events need to be postponed/canceled, I will do everything in my power to make things right with you. First, there will be no fees to reschedule your date in my calendar the first time. After one reschedule within one year of your original date, I will require another retainer to book another date, but will still honor old collection pricing. I would love if you asked me which dates are open so we can make sure I’m still available. If I am not available, I would have an associate photographer cover your wedding for me, with me still doing all the final edits and/or would give you a future photo credit to be used. 

I tried it and enjoyed it and it’s too much for me to handle on top of photography as a one-person-show. If you’re wanting something *super* low key and chill, we can chat about what that would look like. But for expert videography or super in-depth projects, I am not your person (at least not yet). 
Here are some videographers I recommend (and enjoy working with):
J+K FilmsKyndal Capps FilmsPulley ProductionsJimmy TranMaiigoReagan Lynn Films, and Alumni Productions.

If you’re having an intimate wedding, you’re probably good without one. However, I HIGHLY recommend booking one if your wedding day has any of the following: multiple venues, a large wedding party, no first look, a “short” day (in terms of light), 100+ guests, or you’re super-interested in lots of candids or just want some extra peace of mind. I am pretty particular with who I allow to be my second photographer. I have a handful of photographers (many of whom have trained under me) whom I rotate out, depending on their schedules. I’m a helluva solo-shooter when it comes down to it, too. If you aren’t sure if you need a second shooter or not, we can totally discuss it. 

Awe, Rachel. ☺️ You are true love. Thank you so much for being a part of our day and making everyone feel comfortable. Your team is wonderful and you're also so dang efficient. Thanks for staying late with us too. That meant a lot. We are LOVING these photos. You got an A+ from my older sister which is a much higher score than I've ever gotten from her. 😂"

Morgan + Nick

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love letters + receipts

press + publications

– junebug weddings best of the best wedding photos, 2x winner –
– junebug weddings best of the best engagement photos, winner, and runner-up –
– junebug weddings’ instagrammers to follow –
– green wedding shoes 

– huffington post –
– brides –

– white magazine, print and digital –
– junebug weddings  –

– wedding chicks  –
– elle decor  –
– elle japan – 
– cover of brides of oklahoma –

– cosmopolitan –
– cosmo uk –
– lookslikefilm – 

– carats + cake-  
– offbeat bride –
– lemonade and lenses– 
– brides of oklahoma, print + digital– 

– photobug community– 
– 405 magazine, print + digital –
– southwest: the magazine, print + digital –
 – framed network –
– beloved magazine, interview, print –
– american express, instagram –
– darling magazine, issue 19, print and digital –
– landing co. –

f e a t u r e s

as seen in:

Rachel Waters is a curious human, poet, and award-winning and internationally published wedding, lifestyle, and editorial photographer based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and available for creative and/or heartfelt projects worldwide.
They are happy you’re here.

Direct email: hello@rachelwaters.co and/or rachelwaters.co@gmail.com
Office hours: Tuesday-Friday from 9a-5p CST.
Sat-Mon by appointment only.

 

© Rachel Waters 2012-2024