Where I have been / a request for help
I've had a lot of people message me both on here, and Instagram why I don't really post any more, or why I don't still work Fashion Week. The sad news is that the Pandemic changed how freelancers are able to attend NYFW a lot, making it pretty hard for me to work backstage anymore. And also, the last 4+ years have been some of the hardest of my life.
Covid happened. My job basically ceased to exist. My chronic asthma got worse than ever, and I had to go to the ER multiple times. My Dad died. And I broke my ankle not once, but twice between 2021-2023. Because of this, I haven't been able to work much (as a photographer, or anything else). I will be honest: it's been really rough. Probably one of the lowest points of my life. Everything I love either ceased to exist, or changed to the point that it was unrecognizable.
Because of this, I am asking for help. I hate asking for help, but I'm running out of options. I'm in danger of losing my home--the apartment I have lived in for the last 16 years. I've been fighting my landlord in housing court this entire year, and am now in the position where if I don't pay off my back rent by the end of the year, I'll be kicked out. I'm terrified of having to leave. And the prospect of having to move back in with my conservative family in a red state is, as of this last week, more terrifying than ever.
I've had this setup for most of the past year, but still am not even at half of my goal.
My GofundMe.
I know a lot of us are struggling right now. So I appreciate ANY help at all, even if it's just a share or reblog. I've felt pretty hopeless for the last year, and now on top of that I'm terrified. I wish we lived in a better world, where I could still do my dream job and photograph beautiful women in fabulous clothes and still make rent and pay my bills. But unfortunately, that is no longer my reality. For now, I need help just to stay housed and safe.
Thank you so much for reading this, and for years of support.
XOXO,
Rachel
Ps. While I might not be here as much anymore, I do still use Instagram occasionally. I plan on eventually turning it into an archive of my photography work, so if you want to follow me there as well, my Instagram account name is the same.
