Meet Rachel Long | Creative Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Long and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Truthfully, it started with a leap. I had just landed two contracts that, at the time, felt “big” enough to cover a few months of expenses and offer the kind of soft landing I needed to leave a cushy tech job that, while stable, felt misaligned. I knew I wanted more freedom in my days, more creativity in my hands, and more meaning in the work I was doing.

That early momentum gave me the confidence to walk away, but once those contracts wrapped up, I was faced with the much messier reality of self-employment, learning how to actually run a business, build systems, find clients consistently, and wear more hats than I even knew existed. It was (and still is) a chaotic all encompassing education.

At its heart, my decision to start a business came from a few places. First, I craved schedule freedom. I love being able to choose how my days flow, even if that means I’m working all the time, at least I get to do it on my terms. Second, I’ve always been a jack of many trades, and traditional 9–5 roles never made space for that. I wanted a career that let me stretch across disciplines, explore different industries, and keep evolving.

But maybe the deepest reason was this: I genuinely love seeing other people shine. Through photography and creative direction, I get to help talented humans show up honestly, confidently, and beautifully in their work. Being part of that transformation, even in a small way, fires me up.

The business itself has never felt like a straight line to me, it’s more like a collection of instincts, opportunities, and gut-checks that slowly started forming a path. I’m still taking it step by step, learning, and still chasing the creative freedom that started it all.

What should our readers know about your business?
Saros Creative started from a mix of intuition, opportunity, and a need for creative freedom. At first, it was just me offering photography services. Over time, it’s grown into a multidisciplinary studio that helps artists, entrepreneurs, and organizations tell their stories through visuals, creative direction, and strategy.

What makes Saros different is that it’s rooted in collaboration. Whether I’m photographing someone, managing a creative project, or consulting on visual identity, I aim to create a space where people feel seen and supported. My work is never about making something trendy or perfect. It’s about helping people show up with clarity and confidence.

The name “Saros” is inspired by a celestial cycle involving solar and lunar eclipses. That idea of alignment and timing really speaks to the kind of work I do, helping people bring their creative vision into form with intention.

Getting to where I am now has definitely come with challenges. I left a stable job to pursue self-employment, which meant figuring things out as I went. I had to learn how to manage projects, set boundaries, communicate my value, and stay grounded during uncertain times. I still make mistakes, but I’ve learned to be more adaptable and to trust my instincts.

What I’m most proud of is the impact my work has on the people I work with. When someone tells me they feel confident after a shoot or finally see their brand coming together in a way that feels true to them, that’s the best kind of success.

Right now, I’m excited to continue expanding Saros. I’m stepping into more consulting and creative production roles and hope to build a small team in the near future. The goal is to create work that feels aligned, intentional, and creatively fulfilling, for me and the people I collaborate with.

If there’s one thing I want people to know, it’s that creative work doesn’t have to be chaotic or complicated. It can be thoughtful, strategic, and still full of soul.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a best friend was visiting me in London, Ontario, our week would be full of soft starts, creative flow, and lots of good food and walking.

We’d start each morning with a walk at Westminster Ponds, it’s my dog, Loretta-Lynn’s favourite place, and honestly mine too. It’s the best way to get grounded before the day gets going. After that, we’d make coffee at home, catch up on life, probably send each other some weird memes, and ease into whatever the day had in store.

We’d definitely make our way to Back to the Fuchsia and The Sentimentalist, they have such amazing vintage finds, the kind of places where you can lose track of time in the best way. Markets would be part of the routine too, the Western Fair Market on the weekend, and maybe Mike’s Meat Market or Covent Garden Market during the week to grab fresh ingredients for cozy meals at home. If we were feeling a little extra, we’d top it off with ice cream from Merla Mae’s.

Afternoons would be for wandering, maybe through Woodfield, or down in Wortley Village, or just hopping between little parks around the south end.

If we felt like going out for breakfast, it’d be Del Mar or Family Circle, both feel like time capsules in the best way. Obviously, we’d be flipping through the cheesy Coffee News, checking if our horoscopes were weirdly accurate and laughing at the joke of the week. And of course, we’d go thrifting and hit up Forest City Surplus, because finding something weird and wonderful there is basically tradition at this point.

There wouldn’t be a strict plan, we’d go with the flow, see what the day wants from us. We’d spend a lot of time outside, walking, talking, cooking, and just hanging out. And of course, there’d be some creative time too, photography, painting, or whatever crafting we felt at Pamela Scharbach’s studio at the Creative Factory in the east end of the city. That space always helps me drop in creatively, and it would be a beautiful way to share that energy with someone I care about.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Someone who deserves far more credit than she ever asks for is my friend and mentor, Pamela Scharbach. I’ve had the absolute joy of collaborating with her across several creative projects, and every time, I am in awe of her prolific work ethic not just in how much she creates, but in the depth and integrity of it. She approaches her art and life with an open heart, a down to earth spirit, and a rare generosity that lifts up everyone around her. Pamela has taught me so much about grace, grit, and staying true to yourself, even when the path is winding. I’m endlessly grateful to know her.

Website: https://www.saroscreative.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saroscreative/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-long/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089017500108

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarosCreative

Image Credits
Adam Knapper & Avan Patel for the black and white portrait!

The rest are by me or cell phone self timer 🙂