Rangefinder Magazine 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography

TLDR: Holy freaking crap, you guys. I WON! Rachelle Welling Photography has been selected as one of the 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography in 2022 by Rangefinder Magazine. Here’s how it all went down…

On September 25, 2022, I received an email from the editor-in-chief of Rangefinder Magazine, inviting me to enter their prestigious photography competition. I completely freaked out. To even be nominated by this magazine for an award would be enough for most photographers.

To be considered for the award, someone has to nominate you. The competition also requires that you have been shooting weddings full-time for 5 years or less.

A little bit about the magazine, it’s the GOAT when it comes to the wedding photography industry. Rangefinder Magazine is the official publication of Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI). If you’re a wedding photographer, being nominated for this award is the equivalent of being nominated for an Oscar.

I spent hours upon hours carefully choosing the 30 images I needed to enter the competition. I’m not kidding when I say it probably took me 18 hours total to finalize my submission. I knew I only had one chance (cue lyrics to Lose Yourself by Eminem) to shoot my shot and that my submission needed to be intentional. A huge thank you to my husband, friends, and peers who helped me narrow down my selection. With the exception of my husband, I told them it was for a wedding photography competition, but couldn’t say which one! If word gets out that you were nominated or won the Rangefinder award before they officially announce, your nomination or award is revoked!

Cue the longest month of my life waiting to hear back. I tried my best not to think about it but that was easier said than done. After submitting the images, I felt both pride and imposter syndrome. I had reviewed the work of previous winners and was completely humbled by their level of talent. I kept trying to tell myself it was an honor to even be nominated.

On the evening of November 7th, my husband Ryan and I were winding down and mentally prepping for the bath and bedtime of our two little boys. I scanned my phone and audibly gasped when I saw the email notification. I quickly opened it and Ryan hovered over my shoulder to read with anticipation. He began celebrating but I wasn’t 100% certain yet that the email was the congratulatory kind. I had to re-read it at least 3 times to convince my brain I had actually won. When it all clicked, I began screaming and jumping all over our kitchen and living room. Our son Leo was momentarily concerned about what was going on. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been that excited!

After the excitement wore off, the lingering feeling was gratitude. Immense gratitude for every single one of my wedding couples. Without you, this award would not be possible. You’re the real MVP and the reason behind why I do this. It’s the greatest honor to be chosen by you to capture your wedding day memories. To be able to honor your legacy and know that your wedding day photos will be cherished for generations completely humbles me.

Below are the 30 images I submitted to the judges. You can also view some of them here on the Rangefinder website.

I am so unbelievably honored and humbled to join the likes of Maddie Mae, Henry Tieu, and Jai Long, as a Rangefinder 30 Rising Stars Alumni. I can proudly say I am one of only two Michigan photographers to ever be named a Rangefinder Rising Star of Wedding Photography. The other being the incredibly talented Jennifer Boris.

Sending a big congratulations to the 29 other winners of the 2022 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography. Head to that blog post to check out their amazing work!