Elliot specializes in portrait and event photography, and he takes most pride in the fact that he excels at making people feel comfortable in front of the camera, resulting in genuine, candid photos; as well as his ability to capture the essence of an event and narrate its story through his lens.

But perhaps his ability should come as no surprise: Elliot’s been immersed in the art of photography his whole life. The son of a photographer and graphic designer, Elliot found his passion for the camera at an early age and was encouraged, not only by his father but by his extended family. “The art of photography is a major part of my family’s heritage, and each member that has taken it up has forged their own style,” Elliot says. Many of his relatives, including aunts, uncles, and cousins, have excelled in various other creative fields too. It was this nurturing environment that fostered his passion, and he began a photography business in high school. 

He pursued photography throughout college, culminating in a bachelor of arts in photography from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Despite a seventeen-year career detour in IT support, he continued to nurture his photography skills. Last fall, he took the bold step of dedicating himself to photography full-time and quickly worked to scale his business.

Elliot’s genuine, self-generated desire to learn, be more creative with clients, and deliver high-quality photos with a visual story that truly reflects the true essence of the moment sets him apart. “Because I have been around photography my entire life, I have generational knowledge of it,” notes Elliot. “But I quickly learned the need to hold an unwavering commitment to remaining teachable: to always be willing to learn and try new things to become better.” 

That mindset has served him well over the years, as the photography industry has witnessed significant changes. With the proliferation of high-quality smartphone cameras, Elliot has willingly taken on the challenge of elevating his game and pushing himself to deliver superior images that smartphones simply cannot create. 

One of the things Elliot has found he enjoys most about his work is that he is exposed to many new people, businesses, and community efforts. “I learn so many new things about the world by being sent to various events and locations to photograph—from how different industries operate to learning about the good works that many nonprofits do,” he says with appreciation. “I get to meet new people all the time.”  

His work, talent for putting people at ease in front of the camera, and ability to create relationships with clients have led to repeat clients, and he finds it extremely fulfilling to capture his clients’ stories as their lives evolve. 

Elliot’s family life story is one deeply rooted in love and shared interests. “I am married to the woman I fell in love with when we were twelve,” he shares, smiling. “Renae and I haven’t been together since then,” he explains, “but we admired each other for years and finally got together in our twenties.”

Today, the couple have a twelve-year-old son, Cole, who brings endless energy and laughter to their lives. They also share their home with their dog, Summer; and cats, Mona, Rudy, and Mama. As a family, Elliot, Renae, and Cole are avid Sci-Fi enthusiasts with a special fondness for Star Trek. In fact, Elliot has a Star Trek tattoo that you’ll probably need to be a die-hard fan to identify. So if you ever want to engage Elliot in an endless conversation, just bring up Star Trek: he’s a true Trekkie with a wealth of knowledge about the series and its universe.

When Elliot isn’t working, this self-proclaimed technologist is continually seeking to expand his knowledge of new technologies. He loves 3D printing and finds joy in creating practical items and home decor with his 3D printers.

While this IT techie and embracer of change uses AI sparingly to enhance photos, he keeps a wary eye on generative imaging: a technology that uses AI to create derivative images. He worries over people using AI to generate whole derivative images instead of working with a creative to create something unique.

“I am a photographer who specializes in portrait and event photography; however, that is not all I do,” he says. Along with 3D printing, Elliot’s skills include graphic design and video. And he extends those skills to his clients, too. 

“I tend to not shy away from many different creative projects, and I will often leverage my network of creative professionals to help my clients achieve their creative goals,” he says.

As Elliot continues to tell stories through the art of photography, he says his definition of success is earning his clients’ trust to provide high-quality work that truly captures their most important days, and becoming one of their primary sources of creative content.