Rachel’s Helsinki: A city of endless discovery for a lifestyle creator
Some places leave a lasting impression—Helsinki is one of them. For American lifestyle and fashion photographer Rachel Iwanyszyn, the Finnish capital is a city she keeps coming back to, drawn by its unique blend of nature, culture, style, design, and mindful sustainability. She’s been in the city four times, partner Rocco Chierichella’s visited once.
Photographer, stylist, and storyteller Rachel shares how Helsinki continues to spark her creativity—with its costumes, culture, and calm.
Flora, fauna, sauna
Photographer, stylist, and storyteller Rachel Iwanyszyn shares how Helsinki continues to spark her creativity—with its costumes, culture, and calm.
A lifelong love for storytelling
Rachel first picked up a camera as a teenager in Michigan, drawn to capturing portraits of people and animals. Over time, her passion grew into a career that blends photography, fashion, and digital storytelling. From the streets of New York to her travels abroad, she’s always chasing light, emotion, and imagination through the lens.
I think a lot of my followers absolutely love Halloween and love being creative with their outfits and costumes for me even outside of halloween dressing up as characters is such a thrilling and fun experience! Especially characters that I love or look up to. I also love crafting parts for costumes by hand and from scratch, it goes hand in hand with my love for art and creating in general.
-Rachel
island
Suomenlinna
Rachel often handcrafts her costumes and collaborates with others to create photo shoots that combine narrative and style. Her creativity has led to unique collaborations in Helsinki, including projects with iconic sites like Suomenlinna and Svenska Teatern—capturing the city in character, quite literally.
A city that inspires
For someone who thrives in vibrant cities, Helsinki offers a rare blend: creative energy balanced with serenity.
The nature, food, culture, city life, people, thrifting, and sustainability—everything about Helsinki is incredible. If you ever get the chance to visit, 1000% do it! I can’t recommend this city enough.
-Rachel
Whether she’s browsing vintage shops in Kallio, relaxing in a seaside sauna, or skating across a frozen bay, Rachel finds Helsinki endlessly inspiring.
I can’t get over how much this city has to offer. The vintage shopping, saunas, museums, and friendly people make Helsinki a dream destination.
-Rachel
Creativity rooted in values
Rachel’s photography philosophy is grounded in emotion and storytelling. Her goal is not just to take beautiful images—but to move people. For her, photography is about telling stories and evoking emotions, and that’s what drives her every time she picks up the camera. She describes her creative process as an evolving journey, driven by instinct, curiosity, and the challenge of capturing the perfect moment.
This mindset aligns naturally with Helsinki’s own character: a city that lives its values. From eco-conscious infrastructure to the cultural importance of design and nature, Rachel sees Helsinki as a place where purpose and aesthetics go hand in hand.
She’s a big fan of Helsinki’s secondhand scene, according to Rachel, Helsinki has some of the best vintage and thrift stores.
She also finds inspiration in Finnish design and storytelling, especially the way that they incorporate nature and have such a lust for life. The Moomins, for example, is such a beautiful creation that really embodies the Finnish way of life with happiness, art, and self-express expression being very important.
A sustainable lifestyle—lived and shared
As a creator, Rachel feels a strong responsibility to use her platform mindfully. Through her content, she shares tips on how to experience the city in a more sustainable way.
I always carry a reusable water bottle, especially at events like Flow Festival, to cut down on plastic waste.
-Rachel
She’s also a champion of Helsinki’s plant-based culinary scene, which she got to know more deeply while visiting the Culinary Institute of Finland.
Some of my favourite memories with locals would include being at the Culinary Institute in Helsinki and really learning about the food culture there which I absolutely love. I think the food in Helsinki is some of the best food in the world. I also love experiencing the saunas with the locals since it’s such a sacred Finnish ritual. Ice skating was also so enriching, and it truly felt like such an authentic experience.
-Rachel
Nature and city in perfect harmony
Rachel grew up near Detroit, surrounded by both urban grit and natural beauty—a balance she’s rediscovered in Helsinki.
Growing up in Michigan and being so close to Detroit gave me that city nature life since I was born, I’ve always loved enjoying nature, but also the hustle and bustle of city life, and I really love a balance of both and visiting Helsinki is exactly that which I adore! I like to show people both ways of life and how they intertwine and how I can really satisfy different types of lifestyles and that you can truly enjoy both simultaneously.
-Rachel
From mindfulness moments on the frozen sea to peaceful walks in Helsinki central park and coastal trails, she’s found that Helsinki encourages you to slow down—and tune in.
Influencing with intention
Rachel is part of the Helsinki Ambassador Program, a long-term initiative that brings together international creators whose values align with the city. The program highlights five areas of sustainable influence: travel, food, social responsibility, culture, and collaborations.
I emphasise the importance of responsible influencer marketing because it plays a crucial role in shaping consumer perceptions and behaviours, particularly in today’s socially conscious landscape. By highlighting Helsinki’s efforts in sustainability across various sectors—such as food, travel, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), culture, attractions, and collaborations I can showcase how brands can leverage their platforms to promote positive values and initiatives. Stunning visuals can inspire followers to take action, whether it’s trying a sustainable food option, visiting a local attraction, or supporting a community initiative. Images can evoke emotions that drive people to participate in responsible behaviours.
-Rachel
Rachel’s tip for experiencing Helsinki like a local:
Start your morning with a seaside walk, browse vintage shops in Kallio, enjoy lunch at a local plant-based restaurant, and end the day in a traditional Finnish sauna.
Follow Rachel’s Helsinki journey
Find Rachel on Instagram: @jaglever
She’s one of many international creatives helping to tell Helsinki’s story—one image, one costume, and one heartfelt moment at a time.
