We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ciana Salisbury . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ciana below.

Ciana , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers

Adventure has always been in my bones, and it’s something that has been evident among my family for generations. My great grandmother’s immediate family immigrated to the United States from Italy in the early 1900’s. My Nonna would go on to live an extraordinary life over the course of 103 years, traveling often and creating a growing collection of photographs from her escapades around the globe, that I would later inherit. This sets the basis of the most fulfilling, full-circle moment I’ve had in my business thus far.

In 2021, I had taken my first trip to Puerto Rico, as I was on assignment for a Caribbean-based tourism company. My job was to explore the island, documenting the natives, their culture, the landscapes, and their world-renowned beaches. Little did I know, this trip would solidify my love for this island, and I would continue to be pulled back every year since. While I was there, I shot hundreds of photographs. I had taken so many, that I had actually become a little overwhelmed as I went through them when I had arrived back in the states. There were a few slightly repetitive photos that I just couldn’t bring myself to get rid of, so they had just sat in my archives for the next two years.

Fast forward to November 2022, my partner and I brought our two closest friends along with us for a getaway in Puerto Rico. I was eager to wander through new parts of the island I hadn’t discovered yet. During this time, my Nonna had gotten very ill, and her health was on a steady decline. I had been looking forward to coming home, only because I wanted to tell her all about this most recent trip before I lost the opportunity to do just that. She loved listening to all my tales, living vicariously through my excursions, just as I had loved listening to hers.

My Nonna passed away in late December. I was heartbroken at her passing, but I had found solace in the fact that she had experienced the epitome of a “well-lived” life. Nothing could prepare me for the treasures I received, which consisted of her decades-worth of travel photos and post card collection. Among her menagerie of photographs, I had found some shots that seemed all too familiar. On the back, there were inscriptions that read, “Puerto Rico, 1937”. Some were labeled more specifically, which confirmed why I had such a strong sense of deja vu. I was enamored with these photographs because I had taken essentially the same photos in the exact same places, from the exact same angles, just 84 years later.

I’m now in the process of creating a side-by-side collage of my photos and my Nonna’s, so that I can showcase them in my home office. This moment validated my purpose in life, and in my business, in a way I had never experienced before. I am a firm believer in that everything happens for a reason, even if it’s beyond our comprehension. There’s a reason I never deleted those photos in my archives, and as it turns out, it was a pretty grand one.

Ciana , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a story teller, but more specifically, I’m an adventure photographer. I specialize in documenting destination elopements, intimate/micro weddings, and adventure sessions. I help my couples craft intentional and emotive experiences that accentuate who they are, and create a cinematic retelling of their stories as they unfold.

Photography became a prominent part of my life when I was around 5 or 6 years old. I had found my father’s old, but operational, polaroid camera. This opened the door to the creative realm for me. As I grew up, I spent my time experimenting with various film cameras, capturing the landscapes and wildlife inhabitants of the natural world. As I grew older, I had ventured into the concept of merging people into these flourishing landscapes. I realized that this was a powerful and emotional medium, and that it was something I wanted to explore further. This gave me the basis of my “why”, and what had eventually turned itself into my business. The core of these experiences revolve around the boundless entity of connection – connection to the Earth, connection to self, and connection to a partner.

I’m here to explore the moments in which the experiences of the individual become an artistic rendition of the soul – the point where humanity meets with the fluidity of fine art.

I collaborate with couples to turn their vision into a tangible and sensory experience. Every love story unravels differently, so I work alongside my clients to custom-build each package based on all of the things that align with their wants and needs. I offer planning assistance throughout every bit of our time together, which includes but is not limited to, choosing locations, obtaining the correct permits, curating timelines, finding different activities to incorporate into their marriage ceremony, providing vendor recommendations, along with so much more. It’s important to me that my couples get to really enjoy not only this season of life, but also all of the excitement that comes with planning such an epic adventure without incurring any of the stress that can come along with this process. I use both digital and film formats to document these romantic adventures, which allows me to give my clients an eclectic gallery of photographs and keepsakes that they get to relive their day through.

If there’s one thing I am most proud of, its the community that’s blossomed from meeting and working with so many wonderful people who come from all walks of life. Having this global network of people who appreciate you as an individual, and who support your artistry is wildly humbling, yet empowering. It’s a treat to watch each of my clients continue to grow as they enter new eras of life. Sharing their stories gifts me with invaluable perspective, and helps me become better – as a person and as a creator.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I’ll preface this by saying that I don’t have a “huge” or “viral” following on social media, but what I have instead is infinitely more valuable – I have a genuine community of people who support my business, encourage each other, and engage with me in meaningful ways. Contrary to popular belief, your success isn’t measured by the weight of your online presence. You will find success if you’re passionate about what you’re doing, and if you can provide exceptional quality in your craft, and in your client experience.

My advice to those who are seeking to build their own social media presence is to show up honestly and wholesomely. Strengthen your reputation and your skillset so that if the world were to wake up tomorrow, and social media ceased to exist, you would still be able to sustain and grow your business through other means.

If you’re a business owner, activist, influencer, or you fulfill a role somewhere in between – it’s become more important than ever to connect with the people who are following you, who want to listen to, or partake in what you have to share. Don’t sell yourself short. People are always looking for ways to add value to their lives, and they’re looking to those who are providing services, products, and support in order to do so. You will quickly see the value you’re adding to the lives of others by showing up as yourself when you feel aligned to, and you’ll discover the value they’re engagement is adding back to yours.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

There’s a book that I’ve recommended to everyone since the first time I read it, it’s called “Love” by the brilliant Leo Buscaglia. This book is undoubtedly a piece of literary art. While it is not considered a classic entrepreneurial read, it sheds a mighty light on how we can benefit in every role of our lives by doing all things with love and gratitude. The words that line the pages have had an enormous impact in all facets of my life, from both a personal and professional standpoint. Buscaglia approaches the subject of love from a deeply introspective avenue, leaving us with seven humbling postulates that remain at the core of his work.

1.) “One cannot give what he does not possess. To give love you must possess love.”

2.) “One cannot teach what he does not understand. To teach love you must comprehend love.”

3.) “One cannot know what he does not study. To study love you must live in love.”

4.) “One cannot appreciate what he does not recognize. To recognize love you must be receptive to love.”

5.) “One cannot have doubt about that which he wishes to trust. To trust love you must be convinced of love.”

6.) “One cannot admit what he does not yield. To yield to love you must be vulnerable to love.”

7.)” One cannot love what he does not dedicate himself to. To dedicate yourself to love you must be forever growing in love.“

This collection of transformative words are thought-provoking, and challenge you to look inward at all the ways love and sincerity influence us. Since reading this, I’ve adopted his philosophies as a foundational block to my business. I honor every part of my work process with genuine intent, and I pour my heart into not only the things I create, but the interactions I’m fortunate to have with so many people. My job requires me to explore the very vulnerable and complex parts of fellow human beings. Because of the perspective I’ve gained through this book, I’m able to reflect and reciprocate the love that resides here. If there’s one book I think all of humanity should read, it’s this one.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wildelements.photography/
• Instagram: @wildelementsphotography
• Facebook: @wildelementsphotography

Image Credits
Wild Elements Photography