all photos Copyright © 2010 Rachael Spiegel Photography

photo by Andrea Jacobson

Rachael Spiegel has run after circus elephants, waded through waist high floodwaters and documented a family with eight adopted special needs children.

Rachael graduated from Syracuse University, where

she won the Bertram J. Davis Scholar award for the outstanding undergraduate student majoring in photojournalism. After interning at newspapers in Baltimore, Houston and Syracuse Rachael worked

as a photojournalist at The Journal Tribune in Biddeford, Maine and The Gazette in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Rachael's journalism background brings a unique perspective to bar and bat mitzvah photography. Having photographed professional athletes and breaking news Rachael has the know how and

stamina to keep up with the dancing during a

raucous hora.

Rachael grew up in Baltimore and lives in

Gaithersburg with her husband Ryan and dog Ollie.