Legacies help us with our goals after we’ve passed because they have the power to inspire action and the give our ideals an chance to live on through others. Given the magical potential of legacies, we wanted to support and foster conversations around legacy building and below you’ll find some of those conversations.

Jessica Vicars

I want to leave a legacy of joy, where people remember me as someone who brought light and laughter to this world. Before starting my business, I thought a lot about where I wanted my career to go next and how I ultimately wanted my career to be a part of my legacy. I realized I wanted to start a business that would inspire joy, build a brand that would make people smile, and be a constant reminder to celebrate the little moments and create those truly special memories with your friends and family. If my legacy is one of joy, fun, and the celebration of life’s little moments, I’ll know I’ve made a lasting impact. Read more>>

Sophia Nicolas

My mission is deeply rooted in my passion for helping people thrive, especially creatives who often face barriers in bringing their visions to life. I’ve always aimed to create inclusive spaces where creativity, collaboration, and growth are prioritized. My journey has been about transforming traditional norms and building environments where people can feel safe to experiment, fail, and ultimately succeed. It’s about making sure everyone has the chance to shine, not just survive. Read more>>

Serafina Valentine

After much thought, I found myself torn between discussing my ambitious goals for my business or sharing my deep passion for helping teen parents. But after reflecting, my answer is simple yet true. The legacy I hope to leave is one where my family and community can look back on me with pride and fondness. I want people to recall feeling uplifted and supported in my presence—both professionally and personally. This core desire guides my every interaction and keeps me motivated to make the right decisions for myself and others. Ultimately, I hope to be remembered as a generous, thoughtful person who stood boldly in her truths. Read more>>

Jake Price

I want to be remembered for giving the gift of time. I hope to make the world more efficient & more informed. To give people information that they can use to make better, less wasteful decisions. Time is the one thing we can never get back – once it’s gone, it’s gone. I hope to create a world in which you spend less time searching for answers and more time doing the things you love to do, whatever that may be. If I can build things that give the world time back, I’d consider that a life well lived. Read more>>

Natalie Grybiene

Legacy is something I think about often. I am not sure we have much control over how people will remember us after we are gone. But I know that I want to live the kind of life that gives my children stories that they are proud to tell. Being a photographer, I hope that I also leave a body of work that people will continue to find resonance with even when I am not here to explain it. Read more>>

Valeria Sarto

I’ve always loved the way photography immortalizes time; the way we look back on not only the great photographers but also those taken by family members, and get a peak into the way of living at that place and time that has now evolved. I want my photographs to do the same thing, to allow people to get a glimpse of the past. Read more>>

Adam W. Barney

The legacy I hope to build is one of empowerment, optimism, and the ability to spark change, particularly for younger generations. I want to be remembered as someone who not only helped people tap into their own energy and potential, but also as someone who encouraged them to make the world a better, more just place—regardless of where they started in life. In my book Make Your Own Glass Half Full: The Path To Empowered Optimism and Autonomy, I share stories of individuals who embraced the power of optimism and autonomy to transform their own lives and the world around them. Read more>>

Yana Ivanova

**Leaving a Legacy: My Journey in Family Photography** My name is Yana Ivanova, and I was born in 1992. I am currently 32 years old. I was born in Siberia, where the gray landscapes and cold weather were part of daily life. In this gray world, I was always drawn to beauty, which I sought in my surroundings. The work of other photographers inspired me, and I dreamed of capturing the beauty I saw in my mind. At seventeen, I was gifted my first camera. I remember how uncomfortable I felt taking it out of my bag and how shy I was about taking photos. Over time, I began to explore photography, although my first attempts were awkward. It took many years before I started doing commercial photography. Read more>>

Brandon Clontz

From a business perspective I would like to leave a legacy of following their dreams while honor their obligations. Growing up I wanted to be a professional sports player. When I got in high school I quickly figured out that was not realistic for me. Once I got in college, in 2002, I decided I wanted to be in a business involving sports. As life happened, getting married and raising children, I put that on hold and sort of forgot about it. Around 2 years ago Gary Vaynerchuk, who I follow on social media, inspired me to attempt this. He reminded me with a post that I am not to old to follow a dream and that it is something that is realistic with a lot of hard work. I am following my dream while at the same time making sure I am still focused on providing for the needs of my family. That means at the moment I am working a full time job while trying to build a business. Read more>>

Jodee Friday

We all spend so much of our precious time at work; and I feel so lucky for my job to not only be something I love to do, but also something aligned with what I hope my legacy will be. Besides my two adorable babies and the legacy my family will have, I hope that my personal story is a beautiful tale of preserving pivotal memories. As a wedding photographer, I am so lucky to be invited in by my couples to capture one of the most intimate moments of their life. As years pass us by, our loved ones age, and memories fade, the images I capture can hopefully transport my couple’s back to a space of love, joy and excitement. That newlywed bliss is enshrined forever, so if a hard time comes, my couple can look back at the images and remember the vows they promised to one another and the people that surrounded them as they committed their lives to each other.  Read more>>