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How I Turned a Passion for Preserving the Past into a Thriving Purpose-Driven Business

How I Turned a Passion for Preserving the Past into a Thriving Purpose-Driven Business

Posted on July 7, 2025 By rehan.rafique No Comments on How I Turned a Passion for Preserving the Past into a Thriving Purpose-Driven Business

How I Turned a Passion for Preserving the Past into a Thriving Purpose-Driven Business

Rachel Arbuckle of 2000 Paces Photo Organizing photo by Kristin Bradford

The Moment Everything Shifted

It was 2014, and wildfires tore through San Diego County. I had minutes to evacuate. I remember standing in the middle of my home, heart racing, trying to decide what to grab. Without thinking, I reached for the photos. But, they were everywhere—scattered in drawers, stacked in boxes, tucked in old albums. I couldn’t grab them all. And I was out of time.

Thankfully, my house was spared, but that moment stuck with me. If I had trouble protecting my family’s memories in a crisis, how many others would, too? That single thought became the seed for something much bigger. That insight became the foundation for what is now 2000 Paces Photo Organizing: a business built not just from experience, but from purpose.

From Career to Calling

I didn’t start this business with a pitch deck or a long-term plan. I started with a feeling of purpose, a belief that this work mattered. I had no investors or a specific plan.

I’m a U.S. Navy veteran and former corporate professional. Like many other women, I reached a turning point: I wanted to build something that actually helped people, particularly during times that caused anxiety and fear. I wasn’t trying to create something that I was just good at – I wanted my work to matter.

Building a Business from the Ground Up

That belief grew into what is now 2000 Paces Photo Organizing — a nationally recognized, veteran- and woman-owned business rooted in care, purpose, and the simple truth that behind every image is a story worth saving.

From a one-woman operation to a team of passionate professionals, we can now help families, individuals, and institutions sort through decades of photos and videos, transforming boxes of chaos into clean, searchable, story-rich archives. Sometimes that means digitizing dusty boxes of photo prints. Other times, we’re creating elegant photo books or digital libraries that capture a family’s entire history.

We’ve also partnered with schools, nonprofits, and historical institutions—like Chadwick School in California and Green Vale School in New York — to preserve decades of community history.

Preserving What Matters Most

Photos aren’t just paper or pixels; they are time capsules. They are proof that we lived. That we loved. That we belonged. When we help someone organize their collection, we’re not just tidying up. We’re helping them preserve identity and reconnect with themselves, their history, and their people.

We’ve helped families uncover long-forgotten milestones, bringing order to the chaos left after a loss, and creating meaningful legacies for future generations. We have seen people brought to tears when they find a long-lost picture of a parent, and witnessed shoulders relaxing when an overwhelming project finally feels doable.

Whether preserving a century-old wedding album, converting decades of home movies, or building a searchable digital library for everyday moments, our mission is clear: to make memories easier to access, enjoy, and pass down. This work is emotional, healing, and deeply personal. That’s exactly why it works.

Figuring It Out Along the Way

Building this business hasn’t been easy. When I started, there was no roadmap for a premium photo organizing service. No playbook for how to price services like ours. No template for how to scale it. So, I figured it out as I went along — trial by fire (sometimes literally).

This challenge, however, gave me clarity: success would come not just from what we do, but how we do it. With compassion, innovation, and deep respect for the stories with which we are entrusted.

Leading with Heart and Vision

Over time, I’ve learned that passion is powerful, but pairing it with process and purpose is what creates sustainability. It’s what continues to guide our decisions as we expand our offerings—from professional training and templates to white-glove consulting for other photos organizers.

As women entrepreneurs, we often lead with heart. However, we are also incredibly capable of building structured, scalable, and impactful companies. 2000 Paces is living proof. As we look to the future, we remain committed to helping others not only preserve the past but do so with confidence, clarity, and care.

A Legacy in the Making

What started with a box of scattered photos and a moment of panic has grown into something far more powerful: a way to turn memory into meaning. This is more than a business: it’s a living legacy that extends beyond my own. Helping others preserve their legacy is the best kind of success I could hope to achieve.

Photo credit: Riley Golden

Rachel Arbuckle is the Founder and CEO of 2000 Paces Photo Organizing, where she leads a passionate team dedicated to helping clients transform disorganized photo collections into meaningful, accessible archives. With a thoughtful, personalized approach, Rachel has built a business rooted in empathy, expertise, and a deep respect for preserving family legacies.

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