We recently connected with Jelena and have shared our conversation below.

Jelena, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I think with a lot of things in life – we don’t always feel like we have a choice. For me, I had always known that I wanted to do something that no one has done before but I didn’t know the specifics of what or how exactly. I spent most of my 20’s living in angst with immense achievement pressure but, through a series of what I call “signs” with confetti that I began to connect the dots with my curiosity. #1 – I got glitter bombed at a party and it was everywhere for days. It’s nostalgic. #2 – I went to see Ok Go at the Bowery and there was confetti everywhere. I put it in the pockets of my leather jacket where weeks later I found it and it changed my mood to happiness. It’s emotive. After realizing that confetti is the worldwide symbol of celebration, I started asking people: what do you celebrate? After a 3-month photography challenge where I interviewed and photographed 50 people in confetti, my Dad was diagnosed with cancer. I was either watching people celebrate their life or watching my father fight for his life. I call it my year of Cancer & Confetti. After my Dad died, I realized that our pain and pleasure is always intertwined so we have to celebrate it all. The ethos of The Confetti Project was formed and it was that moment that I made the decision to dedicate my life to this work and remind people that being alive is the celebration. Simultaneously, I processed my own grief with confetti and turned my pain into beauty, meaning, and purpose.

Jelena, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a confetti photographer that has grown The Confetti Project over the past 10 years, transforming people with playful confetti experiences that reignite their spark and joy for life. I’m a first generation Serbian American artist, experiential designer, and content creator also known as “confetti girl.” What started as a creative project in my apartment as I grieved the loss of my Dad turned into a wellness brand that aims to bring play back into adulthood. I teach people how to embrace the messiness of being human by using confetti as a tool for self-love, self-expression, and learning how to hold space for more complicated emotions. I’ve developed a unique way of giving people the space to reconnect to their inner as they reconnect to their inner joy amidst the chaos. I’m most proud of being a human-centered brand that celebrates people’s stories and deeply cares in providing a safe space for playful expression. At the helm of what I do is create a world — from private photoshoots to facilitating group workshops known as “Celebration Labs” — no one experience is ever the same. From the first moment someone throws confetti, they’re letting go of something they’re carrying. I want people to know that The Confetti Project is a world where you can reconnect to yourself, kind of like a homecoming.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

You’re CONSTANTLY pivoting in business and in life. There’s actually a saying that talks about how inter-related your business and personal development are as they expand at the same rate. I think the biggest pivot I’ve made is expanding my offerings from just confetti photoshoots to more. When the pandemic began, I had to stop what I was doing, which gave me a lot of time to really think about the depth of my work beyond what the press deemed to be “cute, fun photos for Instagram.” I thought about the community it organically garnered, the compound grief we were all feeling, and the loneliness epidemic we were all in so I decided to create a group workshop experience that brought people together and was a form of community care simultaneously happening with self-care. I facilitated for the first time and, from that moment on, began to experiment with these immersive workshop that I named “Celebration Labs.” Now, they’re at the core of my business — for corporate team-building to private group experiences celebrating milestones within a friend group. I’ve created a meaningful, interactive way to warm up subjects before their photos that allows for them to connect with others first.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

The biggest regret I have within my decade of experience is not asking for help sooner. Because of my limiting beliefs and need for external validation, I constantly felt like I had to prove myself and “become successful” so people would support and love what I do. This is where the business and personal development correlation really hits hard for me. I started a business feeling insecure so anytime my business did well, I was on a high and anytime it didn’t do well, I was on a low, doubting if I should continue at least half a dozen times. The resources I wish I knew earlier were to understand that there are constant ebbs and flows in business and that it’s okay. Additionally, asking for help is one of the most valuable tools you can have. People don’t know what you need or what your goals if you don’t say it out loud or ask! Business is about relationships — from clients to fans, partners, suppliers, peers. It’s all about how you work with others and position yourself. Now, I say when I need help and survey my social media community with specific questions. People love to feel like they’re part of it. Most of us love to help others. I’ve gotten so much further through the support of people that believe in me and what I do. Now, I’m working on receiving:)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theconfettiproject.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_confetti_project/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jelena-aleksich/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theconfettiproject
• Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theconfettiproject