Rachael S. is a nature enthusiast who loves travelling with her husband by motorcycle. She is also a member of our Shutterfly Gallery Guru team, dedicated to supporting your photo book and storytelling creativity.

In this interview, Rachael tells us how she was designated family historian, how road trips and family photos are her favorite subjects, and also imparts some great advice to us fellow storytellers - getting creative is easier with a little help from fellow artists (like us, on  Shutterfly Gallery).
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Tell us about yourself
I grew up in southern Utah, surrounded by national parks so I was pretty much destined to love nature. My husband and I travel as often as we are able, usually by motorcycle so we can immerse ourselves in our surroundings. Between the two of us, we take a lot of photographs! I love to tell the stories behind our photos, so I was thrilled to discover digital scrapbooking. I’m definitely an amateur, but I feel pretty strongly about the importance of preserving memories.

What got you interested in making photo books?
I love to take pictures, but never felt I was doing them justice by sticking them in an album. Photo books are the perfect answer; they draw people in and share the photos in a captivating and meaningful format. They make unbeatable gifts, too.

What are your favorite images to capture and why?
I’m either photographing my scenic vacations, or my adorable nieces and nephews. I am sort of the family historian…since the kids keep their mamas pretty busy, I’m the only one who has time to tell their stories!

Who inspires you?
Katie Pertiet and Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle). I have no idea where they get all their ideas and energy, but I love it!

What kind of stories do you like to tell in your photo books?
The photobooks I keep are usually about our road trips. However, I also love to create family scrapbooks and give them to family members for birthdays or other special occasions.

What advice would you give your fellow photo book storytellers?
The Gallery is an awesome place for inspiration! Whenever I’m working on a project and feel like I need some fresh ideas, I can always find something creative and inspiring in the Gallery. I also love the support of the Shutterfly community; it feels like family! If anyone has questions about my projects or how to get started, I’m more than happy to help.

What’s your next photo book project?
I’m working on a book about our trip to Havasupai…seriously one of the most beautiful places on earth!

What are some of your favorite Gallery photo books and why?
I absolutely love “ Coles Book” by denasimoneaux; it is so creative and artistic, and tells such a sweet story. I also love the book “New York City” by teeleedee. She is a digital scrapbooker whose work I am familiar with via the DesignerDigitals.com gallery. She is always inspiring, and this book is no exception. It is beautifully designed and portrays her story beautifully.