We were lucky to catch up with Elliot Kerachsky recently and have shared our conversation below.

Elliot, appreciate you joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I have never been able to make money from just full time photography and videography, at least not yet. I went to school for engineering actually, and worked that for a full time job and have just now quit my job to travel the world and attempt to pursue photo/video full time. I realized I would never be happy at a corporate job, and decided to just push my dreams to the front. From day one it has been scary, and I am yet to make good money doing what I do, but I know that this is just the start. I do wish I realized how much I loved creative work before college, not because I regret going to school, but I may have gone on a different path than engineering. Knowing what I know now, I would say that the most important thing is to be fulfilled by your work, to make every day different in its own special way. That regardless of the money, true happiness comes with doing what makes you feel alive and passionate.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hello everyone. My name is Elliot and I got into photography actually by accident, and then video, drone, and artist work followed. I was 17 years old, and had suffered an injury to my shoulder which took my out of sports, which at the time I loved. I wasn’t sure what I could do with an arm in a sling, and even without the sling I was still limited. So, I picked up my sisters bent up $90 sony cybershot camera and went out to shoot one day, and the rest was history. Soon after, I left my friend group full of not so great people and began going into the city of Philadelphia to explore abandoned buildings and photograph them. Since then I have never stopped shooting, and at 23 now, I now do video as well, with a drone photography and videography portfolio of almost 5 years in over 7 countries. I belive I set myself apart from other creatives because of the experience I create for clients, as I believe every shoot should be different and creative in it’s own way. I never shoot a client the same, and I really try and take time to get to know the person, place, or story I am photographing. Furthermore, I believe photography and videography are an incredible way of expression. A way to outlet emotion, and spread your vision of the world to others. Moreover, there is one main thing that climbs the ladder over all others when it comes to the creative process, and that is to be able to capture the MOMENT. Whether it is fans going crazy at a music festival, a couple getting engaged, street vendors in different countries, beautiful endless landscapes, or even just something subtle like the sun sneaking through an open window, the ability to capture the full emotion and gravity of an experience is something I will always enjoy. I am incredibly grateful to have picked up photography and videography, as without it, I would never had learned so much about travel, people, art, culture, and most importantly the world around me.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The goal driving my mission, is to be a full time creative, and world traveler. This is why I wake up in a different country and am always excited to go out and explore, and capture this amazing world around me. I believe our time is very limited, and I want to adventure out as much as possible before other factors come into play which may hinder that. I want to share my work with the world, and people to really understand how many beautiful places and people there are to witness around the globe. From the United States, it is very apparent many people never leave the country, never less leave their state. I want to change the narrative, to help not only Americans but people around the world understand the value of travel, and how it changes the mind for the better. I want to tell stories from people in struggling communities, to push their problems to the forefront over the garbage that is consumed on a daily basis which usually has no meaning. I want to use photography not only as an artform, but as a movement. As a way to not only protest but to call for action. Sometimes, an article about a problem isn’t enough without the picture. Visual media has a certain gravity with it that writing could never accomplish. To physically see pain is much different than reading about it. There are an infinite amount of visual stories to be told all over the world, and I plan to tell as much as possible.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Doing what I am passionate about. Waking up every day and knowing that I am fulfilled by the work I do. Knowing my work has no physical bounds, that I can traverse any landscape and still do what I love. To not be a cog in the system, another gear in the capitalist chain which continues to grow around the world. To learn from other artists, not only about their artform but about their mental process, and why their art is meaningful to them in different ways than you. But the most rewarding part, is to be able to create something meaningful for someone who may have not been able to do it without you. Giving a family portrait to a family in another country. Editing wedding photos for a newly wed couple. Filming people having the time of their lives at an event. It is these things, and the gratitude and happiness that comes from having these moments engrained not only mentally but now physically that is unbelievably rewarding. There is nothing that feels better than when a client likes your creative vision, and furthermore promotes your work in turn. It is validating, exciting, and a big influence in wanting to continue to create.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliotkerachsky/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-kerachsky/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ekvizz