We were lucky to catch up with Elsay Yoder recently and have shared our conversation below.

Elsay, appreciate you joining us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I believe legacy is something that is created over a long period of time. Something that leaves an impact, a difference, or a lesson. So with that being said, I hope that my legacy will reflect not just the work I did in my life, but who I am in this life on a personal level. How I have treated others, the morals and factors that I held high, and the love that I showed to people. I hope my legacy is something that will inspire people and motivate them to know they truly can make an impact by who they are, and by what they are passionate about. I hope that my passion for storytelling with photography and filmmaking lives on in my legacy, because it is important to me, and I want people to know that you can change lives by bringing to life the ideas in your head. I want people to know that what you do in this life matters, and no matter who you are, you make an impact in someone’s life.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Let me tell you a little about myself. I am a photographer and filmmaker and I was born in Duna, Ethiopia. When I was young my twin brother and I were adopted and moved to Minnesota. My adoptive family has been an incredible blessing to my life and I don’t know where I would be without them. I started getting into photography and filmmaking at just 10 years old. I have always loved taking videos and photos and since then, I have never stopped. From recording my family road trips & vlogs, to founding my school news program and sitting as the executive director, and starting my own photography & filmmaking business… My passion for creating content has never faded. I believe it is something that will live in me forever, and I can’t wait to see how I progress as the years go on. I have such a drive to create and bring stories to life. My mission is to tell your story through your film or photo shoot. I want people to get the best understanding of who you are and what you do. What sets me apart from others is that I give you the creative control and freedom. If you want a certain look, I will fulfill it. To me, your experience with me should be all about making your vision coming to life. It is also my mission to not just connect with you around the work and business, but who you are personally. I care about the people I work with, and I love learning about what drives people to do what they love. Aside from my business, some interesting facts about me also include playing music, juggling, and making coffee.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

To me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is quite literally making your imagination come to life. I mean, when we were all young kids, we always had these big imaginations that were usually fictional and unattainable, but now I am able to create my ideas, and visions into real stories. I am able to make work that makes an impact on people. One of the biggest things that make me feel rewarded in my work is seeing people touched by what I do. When they are able to connect with it, or it impacts them in a profound way. Even to just see a genuine smile on their face tells me that I am making a difference.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think specifically non-creatives can lack to understand that time is a big deal when making a quality product. Many people think that a photo gallery or even a film can be complete in an hour or very short period of time. In reality there are so many different factors that add up to creating something you would be proud of and the client would be happy with. We take our time with our creative process because we care about what we are doing. It is not something that we take for granted. For me, it is a privilege to capture and tell stories of what I love. And furthermore, share it with an audience who cares about what I create. So understanding that quality work, strives from quality time – will better help you to see the passion that creatives put into what they do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yodercaptures.wixsite.com/home
• Instagram: Yoder Captures
• Facebook: Yoder Captures
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/settings?trk=d_flagship3_profile_self_view_public_profile
• Youtube: Yoder Captures