Rachel Opdahl Photography

05/08/2026

Oh my. Give up on these creepy AI versions of yourself! This is so bad! For fun, I used a real photo to try and generate an AI video and this is the result. 😂🤣🙅‍♀️🤢 Not me at all. Do us all a favor this Mother's Day and treat yourself to a Real Photoshoot and ask for some real video footage too! No more fakies! Lol

04/28/2026

No AI. Real people. Inspired by the series by , this scene blends fantasy, romance, and visual wonder. .june97 steps into the role of , High Lady and heroine. She is embraced by *mate* lover and High Lord of the night: Rhysand, .

In A Court of Thorns and Roses, Feyre Archeron and Rhysand share a quiet, intimate moment under the night sky, where vulnerability and trust replace the walls they once kept. The line “to the stars who listen and the dreams that are answered” captures their bond, a promise that even in darkness, hope and longing can find their way to something real.

Stay tuned for a behind the scenes look at my "before and after" vision, as I brake it down and explain how this look was almost entirely achieved in camera.

Gear: R5 + Canon 24-105mm 2.8 lens + lighting.

04/26/2026

You can also follow on Instagram to see more. Thank you!!

04/19/2026

http://members.summerana.com/a/2148261027/pub9eFho Click the link here to enter! 👆👆🔥🤯 (4 Guaranteed winners!) Giveaway ends May 1st. Pssst. Did you see a MacBook is a prize??

02/02/2026

Published!! Got cover too! Thank you Summerana Magazine and Garett Raymond and Emily L'Nae!

Hey everyone! ♥️📖
We're excited to announce the release of the newest issue of the Summerana magazine!

This month's edition contains inspiring images and helpful articles that will help you take your photography to the next level.

Here is what you will find in the latest issue:


* Cover Photographer - Rachel Opdahl Photography
* Turning love stories into a sustainable business
* Sugar & Light: A visual love letter to sweet food
* How to deal with photography industry bullies
* Building brand loyalty through emotional storytelling
* How to get fantastic portfolio on a tight budget
* The science of attraction in photography
* Love in focus: How to create and sell Valentine’s Day Photography Mini Sessions
* The art of photographing touch hands, gestures,negative space, and implied intimacy

Whether you're a professional photographer or starting out, this issue has something for everyone.

You can purchase the magazine as a printed edition or a downloadable PDF.

Summerana members can access the PDF version for free in the member's library.

Print: https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/3248290
Membership: https://members.summerana.com/products/summerana-magazine/categories/2159331666/posts/2194479137

Thank you to all our contributors and your support; we hope you enjoy this month's issue of the Summerana magazine!

* Rachel Opdahl Photography
* Chelley Photography
* MamaZita Photography
* Carlee Holyoak Photography
* Taylor Raths Photography
* Janessa Taber Portrait Studios
* Lori Lesh Photography
* Moments by Misty

02/01/2026

01/25/2026

"They will sing of him as clever.
As brave.
As a human who dared to wound immortals.

But I remember the truth.

He came to my sister with a borrowed smile and a tongue sweet with promises, and she, foolish in her hope, believed him. He learned her secrets in the quiet hours. He took her trust into his hands. And when he was finished, he ended her, leaving deceit where devotion once lay.

So I showed him what betrayal earns.

I severed his finger, that treacherous thing that reached for what was never his.
I plucked his eye, and set it upon my hand, so it would watch. Always watching.
And I bound his soul inside it, awake and unending, so time itself would become his punishment.

Let the world remember him as legend if it wishes.
I remember him screaming.

Mercy is for those who deserve it.
And I have never forgotten a debt."

See any parallels with Rhysand? Amarantha's story has been so fun to document. There is not much out there visually depicting it, other than AI renderings. She had to be documented, in Real Life. So, that's what we did.

The stunning Emily L'Nae plays Amarantha here, as she wears Jurians fingerbone around her necklace and his eye in her ring. Love it.
The talented Garett Raymond plays Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court. Otherwise known as "Amarantha's W***e". He plays the part, only to save his people from her.

Book: A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas. (It's steamy! Read at your own risk. I personally love how Audible lets you skip ahead 30 seconds)

BTS: Canon R5 with 24-105 mm lens. This was a 3 light set-up with 1 overhead and 1 on each side of the models, Profoto.

01/08/2026

“Lord of Night” From my ACOTAR series. NO AI

If you know Sarah J. Maas, you know him. Garett Raymond embodies Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court. He is violet-eyed, dark-haired, sharp-jawed, and wrapped in shadow and quiet power. His presence is controlled, unreadable, and intentionally intimidating.

Rhysand is a ruler who allows the world to see arrogance first: the lazy smile, the sharp tongue, the air of merciless confidence. It’s deliberate. Charm and provocation are his armor, meant to mislead and protect. Monsters are rarely challenged.

His power is vast but restrained. He rules through choice, loyalty, and trust—not fear. Like Velaris, his court is hidden, luminous, and fiercely protected, thriving beyond what outsiders are meant to see.

Marked by deep trauma yet untouched by cruelty, Rhysand is patient, calculating, and willing to be misunderstood if it means safeguarding those he loves.

He is not a shining hero.
He is a ruler shaped by pain, sharpened by love, and bound to the night ...
and the night, willingly, belongs to him.

What do you think? Did we get it right?

Gear: Canon R5 + Canon 24-105mm 2.8 lens.
Lighting: 2 Profoto b10x's with 1x4 strip boxes, flanking each side of model. 1 Silver reflector from below/front of him.
Background is 1 Baby Dream backdrops "Dream easy panel" in tuxedo black. A hand-held smoke machine adds smoke. I also painted in the "galaxy" in photoshop, helping to illustrate his power over Night.

01/06/2026

Opdahl's 2025! Taking your own family photo is challenging, but doable. I didn't have anyone to see and correct my own posing, lol. But, it works! Love this family of mine.

12/31/2025

Fourth Reveal (4 of 5)

This portrait, titled "Good Boy", earned a Silver Award from the Icon International Photography Awards. Born from a deep passion for storytelling, it embodies so many of the elements I set out to bring to life in this session, without any use of AI. This means everything you see is real and caught in camera.

Inspired by "A Court of Thorns and Roses" ( ) by Sarah J Maas, this image blends fantasy, romance, and immersive world-building. Garett Raymond bears a striking resemblance to Rhysand, High Lord of the Night, captured here in his enslavement by Amarantha, portrayed with sultry dominance by Emily L’Nae.

This session was months in the making and required the careful coordination of five people, each of whom traveled hours—by plane or car—to my studio in Tillamook, Oregon. I was deeply honored by their dedication and generosity, even as we worked well into the early morning hours (eek!). All three models—including Taylor, who portrayed Feyre in another scene—brought extraordinary professionalism, talent, and heart to the project.

This image is more than a portrait; it is a testament to collaboration, trust, and a shared love of fantasy—brought vividly to life.

Gear: Canon R5 with Canon 24-105mm 2.8 lens. Lights: 1-Profoto b10x directly above with 4 foot diffused umbrella and 2 Profoto b10x's flanking each side.
Background: 2 DreamEasy Silicone edged panels from Baby Dream backdrops, set side-by side.

Something this image needs: Another light source popping in a little light from behind camera, to fill in some shadows. Next time! I learned a lot from this shoot and have some ideas on how to improve this type of scene next time. That being said, the portrait still scored very high and I am super happy with that!