About Me: I'm Rachel Dornquast
Hello! I'm Rachel Dornquast :-) Most of you know me as the photographer and owner of Distinction Studio. You hire me because you love working with me and you love my work. People have raved about having Distinction Studio as their photographer... to see just a bit check out the Praises Page (I feel my clients explain my personality best because they have had first hand experiences).
While I enjoy getting to know my clients I have come to realize many of you want to know more about me :-) So this is why I have chosen to write a "little" blog post about myself. I recently had the honor of attending a conference that inspired me to be more vulnerable. I will be completely honest, this is not easy for me to say because it makes me nervous and makes me worried about what you might think. I am just crazy enough to think you all actually care about what I have to say and I'll be honest... Just because you have read this far doesn't mean you will finish reading everything I have to say. I will continue to tell about myself and you may stop half way though reading or you might stop reading right now. I hope you will read to the end but just incase you don't I hope you at least learn a little more about me :-)
I could give you my whole life story (which I like to think is interesting) but let's be honest... that would take all day and I don't want to write that much! I'm going to start off by saying I'm not the best speller in the world and while I will have proof-read this about 50 times, I'm sure I will still miss something so please just look past any of that :-) I come from a very loving and supportive family. My parents divorced when I was young but I don't look at that as a bad thing anymore... I have come to realize it has helped to shape who I am. When people ask who I am I have a really tough time answering that without rambling on and on about this, that, or the other thing. Long story short, I am Rachel Dornquast. My first priority in life is Jesus Christ and my faith. It directs my decisions and my choices. Having Christ as the center of my life is what makes me who I am. I'm not perfect; I make mistakes and I try to learn from those mistakes. I try to be a strong person who loves and respects all people. I have opinions on different topics but just because you don't think or believe the same thing I do doesn't mean we can't be friends. I want to always continue learning and loving.
Speaking of love; I have the most amazing husband. We love each other so much! I met my husband when we were both in college at Washington State University. I don't really think there is such thing as "love at first sight" but my goodness... if there is that's what we have! Basically from the moment we met, we have been together. It's a really cute story but would take a long time to tell (if you want to hear the story just ask! Of course I'd love to share it! Maybe in another blog post if people really want to hear). Anyway, my husband is Tyler and he deserves so many kudos. He supports my dreams, loves me unconditionally, and continues to forgive me over and over again (thank goodness!).
So I'm guessing by this point about half of the people have stopped reading because really who cares about one girl and one small business in Spokane, Washington. If you haven't stopped reading... wow... thank you... and I'm impressed! I don't want to give me whole life story (even though I'm pretty much an open book... and like I said, I like to think I've got an interesting life)... but I want you to know I value people. I think relationships are one of the most important things in life and I love getting to know the people I photograph. I enjoy learning from them and making memories together. When I started my photography business I had doubts and worries just like anyone... Honestly, I still have doubts and worries. I often think I'm not good enough and there are LOTS of people that are so much better than I am. Well guess what... there are always going to be people who are better than I am and more successful than I am. I've gotten better at knowing and remembering that... but sometimes it's still tough.
I guess when it comes down to it, I just want people to know I absolutely LOVE being a photographer (and I hope that shines through when you work with me). I have this insane passion for what I do; honestly it's a bit annoying... I even find my insane passion for photography a bit annoying because when I am not busy photographing or editing photos I start to get stir crazy... Like I just want to take pictures! I have so much fun doing photographs of people at all different stages of life. That's why I don't only do babies or high school seniors or weddings... I find it so difficult to say I love one thing most because I love photographing each stage of life for different reasons!
As a business owner sometimes its tough... there are parts of having a business I really do not like (Quickbooks is NOT my friend). When I look over the past few years I can't believe how God has blessed my passion and my growing business. I have tried to hide the fact I'm a Christian from my website and business information not because I'm not proud to be a "Jesus Freak"... because I am proud of my love for Jesus. I have tried to keep it on the DL (down-low) because I didn't want people to think I would judge them because they think and/or believe differently than I do. I try not to judge in-fact, Christ calls us to love everyone. I want to be like Christ and that means loving people. I believe I have one of the best jobs! I get to love people though my passion for creating wonderful photographs! I get to love people by being with them as they say "I Do" or being with them at the hospital as a new baby is born! I get to love people when they are celebrating their family or a birthday or various other monumental moments. I get to love people by showing them how beautiful they are in photographs they treasure!
When it comes down to it... I am Rachel Dornquast. I love Christ. I love being a photographer and business owner. I love people and I love the relationships I get to make though having a photography business!
So if you read that whole thing and are still reading my goodness thank you so much! I hope you take what I said and realize it doesn't matter your faith, your life choices, your background or anything else. I will treat you with respect and I will love you just like Christ teaches us to love... Unconditionally!
To my Distinction Studio Family... Thank you for always supporting and loving this local business! I owe it to you! You are what makes what I do so wonderful! I am proud to have each and every person I photograph as a part of the Distinction Studio Family! Let's keep this family growing! Cheers!
Me, my husband, and our pup (Lady Dog Dornquast; who I like to call the Distinction Studio mascot)!
