rachael mcintosh photography

Shea + Blake | A Summer Engagement Session at Biltmore

Shea and Blake are tying the knot in Telluride, CO next year but they wanted to do their engagement session in the mountains where they met. These guys spend all of their spare time hiking and being outdoors and I half expected them to show up in base ball caps and hiking gear. As soon as I saw Shea's dress I knew it would look incredible on film and I'm dying over these yellow and green tones. These guys seriously rocked their session, I'm filing these images under what to wear for an engagement session!

Asheville Anniversary Session at Craggy Gardens

Kelly + Scott hired me to take some anniversary portraits at one of their favorite locations in North Carolina before they made the move to the west coast. We ended up shooting their session a little earlier in the day than expected, due to travel plans and some anticipated afternoon thunderstorms. I typically shoot in the late afternoon, when it's a little cooler and hope for some golden hour but it was such a refreshing change to be on top of Craggy in the middle of the day. The weather was perfect, the rhododendrons were starting to bloom and I love how the images turned out, particularly the blues in the bright sunlight.

Fall Wedding at Biltmore Forest Country Club | Asheville, North Carolina

Biltmore Forest Country Club is so charming and quickly becoming one of my favorite places to shoot especially in the fall. I was so excited to work with Sara and her team at Wedding Connections and Flora's beautiful floral designs are always SO captivating!

I started the day as I always do, arriving a little early to scope out the lay of the land and document some details. It's a good way to ease into the hustle bustle of everything and get acquainted with the families. After a little run in with the local turkeys, I found the bride doing her bridesmaids’ hair and makeup, pumped and ready to jump into that dress. We did a little first look which allowed us to get some of the formal portraits out of the way and meant that Jonsie and John could enjoy more of their wedding day and actually attend cocktail hour. I just immediately fell in love with this couple and I had an amazing time documenting their day. They really knew how to have fun and threw an exceptional party! Here's some highlights and vendors below ...

Venue + Catering: Biltmore Forest Country Club | Planner: Wedding Connections | Floral: Flora Asheville | Wedding Cake: Sugar Cloud Bakery| Tent + Rentals: Classic Event Rental | Ceremony Music: The Grit Lickers  | Entertainment: Complete Desire on Fire   | Second Photographer: Bren Dendy | Film Lab: Photovision |

Jekyll Island Family Photography

I had the best Spring break. Bryan had to work and Gabe had plans, so it was just me and the twins; We hit the road for Jekyll Island and I of course took my camera.

They fight a lot but love each other so much, I hope it will be like that forever. 

Spring Wedding at Biltmore Estate | Asheville, NC

This was such a sweet spring wedding at Biltmore estate in the mountains of North Carolina a couple of weeks ago. Check out the little video montage and vendors involved at the bottom of the post but first, some favorite images of the day.

Jenny wore the same shoes she wore the day she first met Jake and I just loved that. We were lucky to get some fabulous spring weather in March as it had literally been snowing the weekend before and of course it's always a treat to have a couple of hours to take photographs around the property before all of the ceremonies started.

Another gorgeous wedding planned by Cortney of Asheville Event Co. and Congratulations Jenny + Jake!!!

Venue, Floral, Cake & Catering: Biltmore Estate | Wedding Planner: Cortney of Asheville Event Co. | Hair + MUA: Lola Salon & Gallery | DJ: Spilt Second Sound | Transportation: Gray Line TrolleyTours | Additional Photography: Bren Dendy |

Fundraiser to Support Preemptive Love Coalition

As a mother, wife, business owner living a beautiful life in these gorgeous mountains it's really easy to ignore the horrible things happening else where in the world. I want to help, but I often don't know what to do? How to get involved? A hundred people were killed a couple of weeks ago in a chemical attack in Syria, and I just found it horrifying! I wanted to do something and so I quickly put together a 'mini mini' Portrait session and invited people to join me and raise some money together for this wonderful organization Preemptive Love Coalition. I loved spending a few minutes with the folks that signed up and I'm so grateful they took time out of their busy weekends to be apart of something bigger with me, and we raised just over $700!!!! Here are just a few of my favorite images that we created.

A Destination Wedding in Charleston, South Carolina

"A good time occurs precisely when we lose track of what time it is." ~ Robert Farrah Capon

I'm pretty pumped when I get the opportunity to combine work and travel and especially to Charleston, one of my favorite cities in the US. Megan found out about me from her Maid-of-Honor who met and became friends with one of my brides on their honeymoon last year. How awesome is that? Take that google! There is still more power in the word of mouth. Anyway enough about that; Lets get to Megan and Andrew's gorgeous wedding details. If you're interested check out the vendor list at the bottom but in the meantime here's some highlights. Megan is an amazing artist and so of course designed all of her own paper goods and invitation suite. Most of their guests were coming from a far and so they rented entire houses down town for the guys and girls to get ready in. We hit The Battery for portraits and travelled in a cool vintage bus over to the Ceremony at The Francis Marion hotel. The party continued at the infamous Edmunds Oast (where I didn't try the beer obviously but the fried chicken was the best to be had). The bag-piper was a dear friend and played during the ceremony as well as the final sparkler-lit exit! The biggest hit however at the reception aside from the DJ was the Donut wall.

Thanks for inviting us along Megan + Andrew we had such a great time! 

Wedding Planner: Kat Leitner of | Hair & MUA: Design Rogers and Charlie Mack Salon | Floral Design: Branch Design Studio | Ceremony: The Francis Marion Hotel | Transportation: Lowcountry Valet| Reception, Catering and Cake: Edmunds Oast | Donut Wall: Joey Bag O'Donuts | Reception Music: Nice Entertainment | Second Photographer: Emily Baucom | Film Lab: Photovision |

Charleston, South Carolina

I could spend days photographing the beautiful streets of Charleston South Carolina. Iron gates, cobbled stones, quaint window boxes and the doorways filled with as much character as the people that live there. Here's some of my favorite images not taken at Megan and Andrew's wedding a couple of weeks ago :)

Lucy + Graylyn | A wedding at The Biltmore Forest Country Club, Asheville, NC

I hadn't met Lucy and Graylyn until the day of their wedding. I don't know if it was hearing the English accents or just their warm presence but they immediately felt like long lost friends. They met and fell in love while attending St. Andrews college in the UK. They recited their vows at Graylyn's parents home infront of the fireplace and an intimate group of family from both sides of the Atlantic. The following day; A big bash at the Country Club! It was such a cold February weekend (not that anyone noticed) Lucy and Graylyn barely left each others side, grinning the entire time. After the long distances and time apart it seemed to make the celebration and commitment even more special.

Venue: Biltmore Forest Country Club | Floral Design: Blossoms at Biltmore Park | Hair: Amanda Hughes & Makeup: Wendy Balance of Blush Asheville | Cake: The Peninsula Grill, Charleston | Reception Music: The Dickens | Film Lab: Photovision |

Wildflower filled Fete in Asheville, North Carolina

Sarah and Eric's wedding at The fields of Blackberry cove is on Borrowed and Blue today! Such a fun couple and a beautiful day planned by Weddings by Wendy with Catering by Corey and flowers from Flying Cloud Farm.

See more images here.

Kristen + Stephen | Biltmore Country Club Wedding, Asheville NC

A couple of favorite's from Kristen + Stephen's gorgeous Biltmore Country Club wedding in Asheville, North Carolina.

Planner: Party Envy Weddings | Venue, Cake & Catering: Biltmore Forest Country Club | Floral: An English Flower Cottage | Hair & MUA: Lola Salon and Gallery | Film Scans: Photovision |

Fall Farm To Table Wedding Featured in Southern Bride Magazine

This styled shoot was just featured in the Winter/Spring edition of Southern Bride and so I thought it was about time I shared some of my favorite images here as well. Group of wicked talented wedding vendors listed below ...

Wedding planner: Weddings by Wendy | Venue: The Farm | Floral Design: Flora of Asheville | Catering: Colorful Palate | Cake & Dessert: 50 Fifty the Art of Dessert | Bar Service: Cordial & Craft | Rentals: East West Vintage Rentals | Hair & MUA: Lola Salon | Invitation Suite: Cotton Blossom Press | Wedding Gown: Wildflower Bridal | Jewelry: Spicer Greene Jewlers | Models: Gage Modeling Agency | Menswear: Stargazers | Wedding Favors: Asheville Bee Charmer | Film Scans: Photovision 

2016 | North Carolina Wedding Photographer

Putting these images together sort of feels like making a mixed tape for a friend! I'm not sure which order to put them in, or how many to include, I just want you to love them as much as I enjoyed taking them all. 2016 was lovely! We laughed, wore leis, threw snow balls, had babies, enjoyed fire-works, exchanged vows, chose to dance when it rained and toasted to the good times ahead!

I've said it before (and know I'll say it again) but it is an absolute privilege to be invited into these precious moments of my clients lives. Thank you for making me one of the girls, welcoming me in like family, hiking up mountains and making sure I'm well-fed/watered during those long summer weddings! I danced with you guys, cried during speeches and will be forever grateful for the experiences we've shared!

{Big THANK YOU to Bren, Abby, Olivia, Courtney, Lindsey and Steph for all of your mad shooting and film-rolling skills - I love you girls and couldn't have made it through without you. xoxox}