Rachael blends documentary intimacy with cinematic craft, and is dedicated to a people-centric production style in both her commercial and narrative work. She brings empathy, integrity, and connection to every interview and every character – resulting in work that feels both visually striking and deeply human.
Rachael Porter is an award-winning Director and Director of Photography with a passion for creating emotionally-grounded, story-driven films
For Rachael, storytelling is more than art — it’s a way to connect, heal, bridge gaps, and move communities forward.
Her 2023 short film Greenhouse, which she directed and co-wrote, premiered at Fujikina and received a Telly Silver Award for writing as well as the “Best Cinematography” award at Georgia Shorts. In 2022-23, she co-directed and served as DP for a docu-style campaign for Banks Academy. The campaign exceeded its fundraising goal by $30,000 and earned a 2024 Public Service ADDY Award.
Most recently, Rachael has directed branded work for Fujifilm North America, and served as Director of Photography for the feature-length documentary Carrying, scheduled for release in Spring 2026.
Rachael’s creative foundation includes training as a musician and visual artist—an influence that shapes her sense of composition and allows her to fully immerse herself in every film’s visuals, music, and script to craft a complex and evocative emotional landscape.
During the summers, she is also an Assistant Program Director at a film camp for teens, where she mentors young filmmakers and teaches the power of visual storytelling.
Xerophile Studios
"Rachael Porter is a cinematographer, director and editor based in Chattanooga, TN, where she’s lived for over 10 years. Here, we discuss the story behind a serendipitous shot at a Sweetwater rodeo, the highs and lows of filmmaking and the importance of pleasure and play."
Press & Media Coverage
CineD
"Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Rachael Porter is a filmmaker by trade with a fledgling flower gardener by hobby. In her six years as a professional filmmaker, she has worked as a director, as well as a director of photography on story-driven films of all kinds[...]"