We recently connected with Elena Tibbetts and have shared our conversation below.

Elena, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My mission as a documentarian is to preserve and share the stories of culturally significant historic homes—structures that are often overlooked in favor of larger monuments, but hold incredible architectural and human value. This mission is deeply personal. Growing up in Europe, I was immersed in history. It was in everything, from the bakery on the corner to Royal palaces. That early exposure to living history sparked a fascination in both architecture and storytelling that never left me.
When I moved to Washington, D.C., I long felt like a fish out of water, searching for that old-world feeling I knew so well. I fell into the world of historic homes by accident—I was photographing an old house for a client—when I realized just how many remarkable narratives were at risk of being lost. These buildings are more than wood and stone; they are living records of lives lived, communities built, and moments that shaped our world. And it turned out that D.C. was exactly the place to be.

What makes this mission meaningful to me is the intersection of storytelling, preservation, and education. I believe that when we bring these stories to light—through careful research, visual documentation, and compelling narrative—we give people a new lens through which to see their surroundings. We strengthen community identity, inspire historical curiosity, and sometimes even rally support to protect endangered places.

This work is about more than nostalgia; it’s about honoring the past to inform the present and enrich the future. Every time I uncover a forgotten story or capture the intricate beauty of a timeworn structure, I’m reminded why I do this: I want to show others the magic I find in these places.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Elena Tibbetts, and I’m the creator of DomoNaut, a documentary project that explores the stories, architecture, and cultural significance of historic homes. I’m based in Leesburg, Virginia, and work primarily in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding East Coast region—but I’m actively working toward expanding nationwide. My journey into this field started with real estate photography, which sharpened my eye for architectural detail and composition. Over time, my work naturally evolved into storytelling through film and photography—particularly stories grounded in place, time, and memory.

The moment DomoNaut was born was during a shoot for a client at a historic home. I was struck by the feeling that this house had something to say—something bigger than just bricks and beams. As someone who’s always searched for tangible connections to history, this experience opened a door I haven’t closed since.

Today, I work independently to produce short-form documentaries for my YouTube channel, create visual content for historic house museums, and conduct in-depth research for my ongoing project: a historic architectural guide to Washington, D.C. My work combines archival research, interviews, and cinematography, to give these homes the voice they deserve. My cinematic approach and film education set my work apart visually, but it’s the emotional resonance and clarity that bring people back.

I serve preservationists, history lovers, architects, travelers, and everyday curious people. My films offer an immersive experience for those who can’t visit in person—like taking a private, director-led tour. I’m most proud of the fact that my work has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for historic preservation. That’s exactly why I do this.

Above all, I want people to experience the magic of these places—the soul in the woodwork, the history in the walls—and feel like they’ve uncovered a piece of the past that still matters today.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

In this digital age, I find it most rewarding to be able to hold a piece of artwork I have made. For example, a postcard, or a book. While I do a lot of film work, I also love printing out the architectural shots I take and make them into vintage-looking postcards (and yes, mail them out!) This is also why I decided to put together an architectural guide in a hardcover format – so people can fip thorugh the pages and bookmark the places they want to see!

Have you ever had to pivot?

It was, like with many, during the pandemic. I had started out my career as a real estate photographer, but over the years it had grown to a full marketing film, where we provided floor plan, 3D rendering, website, video, and other services for professionals in the real estate field. But the pandemic took it all away, and I had to reimagine my life into the one I live today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://elenalozina.com/
• Instagram: @the_lelenator
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@domonaut_histories
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Domonaut

Image Credits

Elena Tibbetts, Nadiya Klymenko, Rebecca Dulany