oh hey,

I’m kelly rae

A young woman with long blonde hair smiling and holding a camera on a countryside dirt path with green trees and open field in the background.

I’m the colorful human behind Kelly Rae Photography and I specialize in bold, personality-packed portraits for high school seniors throughout Northwest Arkansas.

But more importantly? I create a place where you can relax, laugh, be a little ridiculous and feel completely comfortable being yourself.

A family of five, including a man, a woman, two children, and a dog, standing on a grassy field with trees showing fall foliage, sharing a kiss.

fun facts about me

  • 10 year Partner to Zak, Mother of 2; Layton & Lilly + dog momma to Remi

  • I have Level 1 Autism with ADHD & OCD; I’m a huge Mental Health Advocate

  • Progressive Activist & believe in Human Rights ALWAYS!

  • Banner Artist at Krafty Kel Creative Co. & also love baking with Sourdough

  • Lover of being outside when it’s less than 80 degrees out

  • I’m an October Libra so of course I loooove all things Halloween

  • Obsessed with 7Brew (Fruit Roll-Up Energy w/ cream please!)

  • I enjoy journaling and love reading tarot cards

  • Still learning, growing & figuring this whole life thing out

A family of five walking along a dirt path in a lush green park with trees and a hill in the background. The sky is overcast.

More than ten years of good chaos.

I’ve spent more than a decade photographing people and learning one very important thing:

The best photographs don’t happen when someone performs perfectly. They happen when someone feels safe enough to be themselves.

Originally taking root in Northwest Arkansas back in 2014, I became a photographer straight out of high school. I attended NWACC for about a year and a half (changing my major 3 times) before deciding that photography was my passion and I wasn’t putting my camera down anytime soon.

In 2017, I moved back to Memphis where I spent years building my photography business and where I also created my first high school modeling team.

In October of 2024, My family and I decided to make the move to NWA for better opportunities and let me just say, this place is not the same! So much growth in just 10 years being gone, I’ve literally had to relearn my way around.

I’ve photographed all the genres: seniors, families, children, maternity, births, weddings, you name it! But my heart kept leading me back to High School Seniors and College Graduates!