Gabbi Rae shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Gabbi Rae, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
All of the time. It comes down to the daily tasks for me. Like, not rushing my morning coffee ritual or slowly applying my skincare. I’ve started to pause and ask myself, why I’m frantically applying my moisturizer like the world is ending when I HAVE enough time to treat myself with care for a few minutes before heading out the door? It seems really silly once we start to realize how stressful we make little moments for absolutely no reason. Yes, sometimes we are in an actual rush, but I’ve realized most of the time it’s a self-created sense of urgency. At no fault of our own, it’s usually a result of the conditions we have been used to in prior living / work spaces. Or even just the frantic energy of social media. Anxiety, fear, it creeps into everything when our guard is down. It can be challenging to battle, but starting in the small moments really changed my life.
These moments can actually be nurturing & romantic. Slowing down in these seemingly small ways has completely transformed my life on a larger scale with how I spend my energy in my business, creativity, and wellness. It’s helped me realize what I WANT to carve out more time for. I have learned what rituals & routines I need to make additional space for so they can thrive. They have become non-negotiable weekly or daily moments after feeling the results of prioritizing that time for myself.
I have learned to appreciate being present and creating my life to be slower— even when the stillness can feel uncomfortable in a fast-paced society. It’s not easy to resist the rat race. But, now that I’ve gotten a taste of how slower & more intentional living makes me feel… I can’t look back. It’s helped my creativity thrive because I am well-rested and taken care of. It’s helped my business thrive because my marketing is intentional and attracts thoughtful clients & projects that feel aligned. It’s COMPLETELY altered my health and mental wellness because I have given myself permission to rest, reset, and move at a pace that makes me feel in flow. I just started giving myself a permission slip to slow things down a few notches.
Once you see it transform your life, you can’t unsee it. The energy we harness and project affects everything to our health, business, and peace. It either blocks or unlocks the portal of abundance, joy, & support from the universe.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Gabbi, owner & creator of Gabbi Rae Photography. My art is for the colorful queens and risk-taking artists/brands. I specialize in photography (& now videography, more on that later) rooted in vibrant colors, vintage & grunge inspiration, and storytelling. Many of my clients are independent artists here in Nashville! I am always available for travel though, as I have clients in NYC, LA, Atlanta, and beyond. I have packages designed for all types of single / album release plans including all of the photos & video needs for a thriving release cycle with intentional world building. I also shoot live events, weddings, branding visuals, and products! If you visit my website or Instagram even just briefly, you can get an understanding of my style right away.
This year I’m especially focused on world-building with my clients. Whether we’re shooting album art, your wedding day, or a new product you’re offering— it deserves to have an entire world behind it. I’m really interested in helping my clients achieve their goals with their art. Whether it growing their community, getting on that posting schedule, or mapping out that marketing plan, I want to give you the fuel you need to do it.
Now getting into video, I am in the midst of launching my video packages! This has been highly requested offering from my artist clients especially. I am thrilled to have a look-book ready for short-form & longer form high quality content. Whether it’s 4k, iPhone, or even vintage camcorder, I got you. Let’s make that photo/video feed cohesive so people see your visuals and KNOW it’s you. World building baby!
Fun fact, I say “look-book” because all of my packages are presented like little look-books or mini magazines. I love making everything a special experience for my clients. Investing in visual art to represent your music, business, product, etc. is a BIG deal!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that wanted to follow the rules & do what I thought I *should* be doing rather than following my flow & gut-instinct…. has been released from my being. Goodbye! She does not serve my higher purpose at the end of the day. She was just coming from a place of fear of things not working out.
I have always been able to feel when something wasn’t aligned, but in the past have not always had the trust in myself to take the leap onto the path I REALLY wanted instead of playing it safe. Of course this voice can creep in still, but I have officially banned her from the driver’s seat of my life!
Rule following only gets you so far as a creative! Create your own path instead. I guarantee everyone you look up to artistically for their innovation & success did NOT follow the rules!
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
A very physical defining wound for me was a major surgery I had in 2022. The chronic pain it left me with really shook up my core belief system. I went through periods of depression and ultimately found myself in a very dark, limited-belief type of mentality. I questioned everything and had an entire year of re-programming my life. Everything I said earlier all about slower, more intentional living has healed me in ways I can’t even put into words. Once I started doing things differently and giving myself permission to care for my body, mind, and creative dreams… my life opened up. It felt like radical positivity at first and now it just feels normal.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My cats, my art, and the people I love.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
BORN to do baby!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gabbiraephotos.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbiraephotos?igsh=NmdocGE1cWhrYzQ0&utm_source=qr
