Family-owned northwest Las Vegas portrait studio, open since 2002, known for styled senior sessions, family portraits and a 40 Over 40 campaign.
From the English classroom to a portrait studio
Before photography became her living, Jody Rael taught high school English and journalism in Las Vegas. She took photography classes at the College of Southern Nevada with photographer David Hardy, opened her studio in 2002 and joined the Professional Photographers of America the following year. She is still the lead photographer on nearly every session.
The business is family-owned, with a private studio off West Craig Road in northwest Las Vegas. Her sisters, Mindy Brunkhardt and Shelly Labrier, handle operations, video, editing and social media; Karen Nelson, a friend since 1990, designs and edits; and her husband, Mike Rael, installs framed pieces.
Sessions on offer
- High school senior portraits, with yearbook ad design
- Family, couples, and children and teen portraits
- Headshots and business portraits
- 40 Over 40, for women and men marking a milestone birthday, a retirement or another turning point, with hair and makeup and a filmed interview included
- Event photography and destination sessions
How a session works
Every client starts with a free consultation to plan the details. On the day of the shoot, the team provides hair, makeup and styling. Afterward, clients come back to the studio to review their images and choose albums, wall art, announcements or other finished pieces.
Seniors are the specialty. A May 2026 Fashion Week Daily roundup of senior portrait studios singled out her flagship packages, which include unlimited outfits, several hair and makeup changes, more than one photographer and destination travel. Jody is also a founding member of OneCollective, a group that runs styled destination photo events, and its 2025 Iceland edition was her tenth.
Two sister brands handle other work: Vegas Headshots for business portraits, and JitterBug Portraits for school and sports photos. For high schoolers who love modeling and photography, the studio also runs the SEEN Team, a year-long creative program.
Visit or contact Jody Rael Photography
8585 W. Craig Road, Las Vegas, NV 89129
725-237-5260
Business website
Researched September 26, 2026. Source 1; Source 2; Source 3; Source 4; Source 5. This is an independent directory listing, not a claim that the owner has joined or installed a badge. For a correction or removal, contact Cody. Listings are free and badges are optional.
Is this your business?
Claim a seat free: call (725) 202-7691 or text Cody at (725) 502-3114. Something wrong, or rather not be listed? Email cody@702alliance.com and it's fixed or taken down.