Rachel Mooney is a fine art photographer based in Titirangi, West Auckland. Originally from Kohimarama, she was drawn west as a young adult by the lush bush and wild coastline — and has called it home ever since. A long-time contributor to The Upstairs Gallery, Rachel is part of the collective of artists who have helped shape its story.

Her work captures the beauty and mystery of the natural world and beyond — from native trees and florals to abstract forms, nightscapes, and the female figure. For Rachel, photography is about freezing fleeting moments of wonder — preserving something that will never exist in quite the same way again.

Her images have been described as “mysterious, rich, and engaging,” and have been exhibited and collected both locally and internationally. A career highlight was being the only photographer featured in Westies, the book by Sir Bob Harvey profiling renowned West Auckland creatives.

Rachel’s work is rooted in a desire to help people slow down and see the magic that surrounds them — the quiet energy in everyday beauty that so often goes unnoticed.