She Left This World Wrapped in Love & Light

A tribute to Dr. Rachel — and the power of soulful brand photography.

Dr. Rachel left this world in 2019 to go to ...

"the most beautiful place [she'd] ever seen"

This is what Rachel said of her latest meditations before she passed away in 2019.

Indeed, Rachel left behind a lasting legacy of love, laughter, and the solution to our excruciating human journey of life. In 2016, my team and I had the honor of traveling to Oregon for a 4-day Business Branding Photojournalism shoot with Dr. Rachel. What a glorious trip that was! First in Portland, where she lived, we spent 2 days shooting many locations documenting. Then, we spent 2 days shooting on the spectacular Oregon coast. Dr. Rachel was a joy-filled, intelligent naturopath who served many in her holistic medical practice. She would speak of vitality from the inside-out.

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At the charming Beehive General Store in Nehalem, OR, we created a series of intimate vignettes to capture Dr. Rachel’s exuberance and love for helping others.

The colorful front porch serves as a perfect portrait spot.

With the help of the store clerk and a few simple props, we staged scenes that brought her workshop and retreat experience to life—no live class needed.

The goal? To visually convey how engaging, joyful, and heartfelt her sessions truly are.

Rachel could instantly access her lush imagination, effortlessly embodying the energy she brings to her work with women.

Through the lens, we captured the essence of what it feels like to be in her circle—whether in a lively retreat setting or a one-on-one breakthrough session.

All of it was shot in one delightful village shop… yet the story it tells spans far beyond.

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Captivating, wise, and real, Dr. Rachel embodied living a happy, brilliant, fulfilled life.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLgFwXXnbaI

This short video clip is from Dr. Rachel's Soul Story Film that captures the essence of her message beautifully, in film.

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Dr. Rachel was one of my favorite clients—and it was an honor to know her. She embodied the feminine fairy spirit I often aspired to unleash in myself. Her fun, expressive way of being was nothing short of intoxicating.

Her smile could brighten the darkest day. Her curiosity for life was contagious. And those shaman eyes—intense and knowing—had a way of drawing out even my most hidden, “anywhere but there” memories, gently bringing them into the light she so effortlessly radiated.

Dr. Rachel transformed me with her love of life and profound wisdom.

She left a potent legacy of pure love for the thousands she touched with her exuberance, her passion, and her open heart.

One moment she was giggling, the next she was in tears.

You always knew something profound was unfolding. That was the magic of this Light Warrioress. She often shared visions or insights so beautiful, so deeply moving, her heart could hardly contain the joy.

I received a Christmas card that year after the shoot in September.

And in that card is a poem she wrote. I want to share this poem so it stays alive as a legacy to Rachel's love of life. I've never known anyone like Dr. Rachel Eppinga. Unleashed, uncontained, but smart, wise, and a brilliant doctor -- a doctor of life, of love and healing as a way to connect with Great Spirit.

May you too be touched by Dr. Rachel's message and have a most loving Christmas and impactful 2022 for those who also need your help and guidance. Because it's true.

Remember Who You Are

by Dr. Rachel Eppinga

"Thank you for being.

I will not die an unlived life.

I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. 

I choose to inhabit my days fully.

To allow my living to open me,

to make me less afraid, more accessible.

To loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a touch, a promise. 

I choose to risk my significance,

to LIVE so that what came to me as seed,

goes on to the next as blossom and

that which came to me as blossom,

goes on as fruit.

May you remember the gift of your body and this life.

The gift that YOU are. 

LOVE heals. Period.

XO, Dr. Rachel"

May Dr. Rachel be flying with the Angels, and dancing with the Fairies, and may she be honored in the most deeply held corners of our hearts where her message is needed now more than ever.

I love you Rachel. Your impact on me and my life still resonates through my own meditations practices and in my life adventures. Thank you my dear friend. I honor you. May you rest in PEACE, JOY, and SO MUCH LOVE. 

I invite you watch Dr. Rachel's Soul Story Film and be inspired and moved to having a JOY-filled life! 

Dr. Rachel in her essence! She loved this shot ;-)

Flying with the gulls on her Manzanita Beach, known for its scenic views of Neahkahnie Mountain and the Pacific Ocean. RIP, Rachel. I love you.

Why Photography Matters

Photography isn’t just about pretty pictures. It’s about preserving presence. Capturing essence. Honoring the fleeting brilliance of who someone is in a single moment.

Whether it’s a tribute like this, a visual brand story, or a legacy film that lets people feel your energy even years later—images have the power to outlive us. To speak when we no longer can.

That’s why I’m bringing photography back into the center of my brand work.

Not just to show your business, but to capture your aliveness, your values, and the soul of your message.

Because a brand with heart needs more than a logo. It needs a story you can see and feel. xo, Lee