Meet Rachel
A life built around art, story, and the beauty of being present
Meet the Founder of Halinowska
My love for imagery began in Poland, sneaking my mother’s analog camera when I was just four years old. My childhood smelled like soups simmering on the stove and looked like castles on rainy afternoons while Anne of Green Gables played softly in the background. When I moved to the United States, photography became a way of holding onto memory, a way of finding beauty in the unfamiliar and keeping pieces of home close. I started this business after college with a baby on my hip, a camera in hand, and a quiet promise to myself that I would never write another resume again. By the grace of God, I have kept that promise.
My daughter is the heartbeat behind it all, my little CEO and the reason I see the world the way I do. She has taught me to slow down, to notice light, and to love deeply. My Polish roots have shaped everything about my work and my heart. I love the kind of hospitality where you show up expecting tea and cake but leave with soup, bread, and a full meal. That is what I hope you feel here: cared for, seen, and full. Halinowska, named after my middle name and the babcia I never met, is my way of blending art with generosity, faith, and story.
And truly, I thank the Lord that you are here. That you found this little corner of the internet, took the time to read these words, and care even a little about this work. It means more to me than you know.
/ my heart
my heart, my people, my world
/ inspired by
Film photographs & black-and-white movies
Eastern European culture
My daughter & the way she sees the world
Rom-coms from the 90s and early '00s
A warm cup of tea (especially when the light hits the steam)
The storytelling in Lord of the Rings — Fun fact, I have a LOTR tattoo
/ my values
( 1 ) Wholehearted Devotion.
When I show up to a wedding day, I give my whole heart to it. From the smallest details to the moments no one else sees, I want every couple to feel cared for in ways they didn’t even know to hope for. My work is built on diligence, faith, and the quiet kind of effort that lingers long after the day is done.
( 2 ) A Little Messy, Always Human
Before I take a single photograph, I listen. I want to understand what matters to you, the people, the chaos, the quiet, all of it. My approach isn’t about chasing perfect moments, but about holding space for the real ones. Every story I document begins with care and ends with memory, honoring life exactly as it unfolds, unpolished, human, and true.
( 3 ) Treat Everyone Like Family.
I enter each story as a friend first and a photographer second.I believe trust creates room for honesty, and honesty is what makes a photograph timeless. My hope is that by the time your gallery arrives, it feels less like a collection of images and more like home.
