How an Autoimmune Disease Pivoted my Business (For the Better)

I’ve always been drawn to entrepreneurship. I love being creative and growing businesses. It started in high school when I began painting and selling decorative wood signs. That evolved into hand-lettering art prints, then eventually type design. I’ve always loved the challenge of building something from nothing—and watching it grow and evolve.

In the summer of 2023, I was making exciting progress on my latest creative endeavor: wedding photography. I had finally begun booking the kind of clients I’d dreamed of, and I felt like my hard work over the past two years was starting to pay off. I’ve always loved this phase of entrepreneurship—the spark of momentum, seeing everything you’ve been building come to life.

But that same summer, my life took an unexpected turn.

I started making weekly hospital visits for a mysterious illness. After two months of appointments, IVs, and more questions than answers, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. The doctors told me it was a chronic condition—one I’d be living with for the rest of my life.

It was devastating. My health rapidly declined until I could no longer walk. I lost a significant amount of weight and developed severe arthritis. For over a month, I was mostly bedridden.

I had to make one of the hardest decisions of my career: canceling on a bride just weeks before her wedding. I never imagined having to let a client down, especially not in such a significant way. It felt like all the effort I had poured into building my photography business was unraveling.

But even in that season of uncertainty, I couldn’t let go of my love for entrepreneurship. I knew wedding photography wasn’t sustainable for me anymore—not with how unpredictable my health had become. So I asked myself: How can I use what I’ve learned to support others in this industry, even if I’m not behind the camera anymore?

That’s when everything clicked.

I realized I could combine my photography experience, design skills, and passion for business to help other photographers grow their own brands. And that’s how Rachel Kick was born.

I started designing beautiful and strategic websites for photographers and creative entrepreneurs. It became the greatest pivot I never expected—because not only did it allow me to keep a creative outlet despite my health challenges, but it also brought together all the things I love in one place.

Today, I’m so grateful to say that my autoimmune condition is in full remission. After completely overhauling my diet and taking a holistic approach to healing, I’ve slowly but surely regained my health. I’m now able to run Rachel Kick full-time—and I absolutely love what I do. (If you’re curious, you can read the full story of my health journey here).

Why a Website Matters More Than Ever

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this journey, it’s that your business needs a strong foundation—and your website is a huge part of that. In fact:

• 57% of users say they won’t engage with a business that has a poorly designed website.
  
• 75% of people judge a brand’s credibility based solely on its website.
  

Before someone ever meets you, your website speaks on your behalf. It tells people whether you’re professional, trustworthy, and worth hiring.

And yet—so many creatives push their websites to the backburner because they’re focused on doing what they do best (as they should!). Whether you’re capturing wedding days or crafting handmade products, building a website can feel overwhelming.

That’s where I come in.

My mission is to create websites and templates that are not only stunning and strategic, but also easy to use. I want to help you build a brand you’re proud of—and book more of the clients you love working with.

Your website shouldn’t hold your business back. It should elevate it.

Let’s build something you can’t wait to share.