Today we’d like to introduce you to Elaine McKellips.
Elaine, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m a lawyer by trade, but I started shooting photography part-time while I was still working in the corporate world. When I first started shooting, I was mainly partnering with brands and couples/families, but I couldn’t shake this longing for more purpose and impact in my work. I’ve been shooting professionally for about 4 years, but in the past couple years, I’ve really shifted my focus to social causes and humanitarian work. That’s where my heart is, and as a result, that’s where I feel like I can give back the most.
My first humanitarian trip was to Cambodia, capturing the story of a nonprofit partnering with and empowering a community of artisan weavers. Since then, I’ve partnered with clients working in Cambodia, Haiti, Kenya, Uganda, France, and Peru.
The more I travel and am exposed to nonprofit and humanitarian work, the more I believe in the power of visual imagery and creative storytelling. Technology and social media advances give organizations and brands the unique opportunity to go deeper in the way they connect their donors and supporters to the people they work with, particularly when it comes to international work. I believe that compelling imagery has the power to educate, to encourage, and to move people to support causes they believe in.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As with any business, it isn’t always a smooth road. With this type of work, you’re exposed to a lot of disheartening things. And the more you travel, the more aware you become of the tiny space you occupy in this world. It’s overwhelming at times to witness some of the hardships people are facing, and to realize how much work there is still to be done. The weight of some of the complex social issues such as extreme poverty or marginalization of women can get heavy and it can be difficult to process and find peace in that mindset, but I think that’s the point – that’s where change happens. We grow the most through things that make us feel uncomfortable or that make us ask more questions. Traveling itself comes with its own challenges – weeks away from family, long flights and layovers, and staying healthy when frequently shifting time zones to name a few.
Photography is also such a saturated market, so I’m constantly thinking through ways to stand out creatively and differentiate myself and my work to ensure that I’m providing unique value to my clients.
Tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I’m a freelance photographer and social media consultant partnering with nonprofits/NGOs and social impact business/brands. My work connects you with people, places, and moments of time from all over the world. My hope is that my images and the words I use to describe them can capture the reality of the struggles people face, but without simplifying the complexity of the issues or invoking empathy through exploitative imagery. I want my images to find that balance between reality and the hope, joy, and empowerment that results from people and organizations fighting for something good.
My work is raw, representing the heart of an organization’s mission by letting the story unfold itself. I think that’s what I’m most proud of, and what’s most important to me and my work – organic, raw, unfiltered storytelling. Because ultimately these aren’t my stories to tell.
When I’m not in the field or shooting, I also do some social media consulting – helping organizations and brands better market themselves and communicate their mission/values.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
In light of COVID-19, I haven’t been traveling and several client trips have been postponed or cancelled, but I hope that once things start to normalize again, I will be back to traveling and partnering with nonprofits and social impact brands all over the world. Until then, I’m focusing on the things I can control – taking on more social media consulting clients, updating my website, preparing to open my print shop, and learning a new skill to be able to provide more value to my future clients (videography). I think it’s so important as an entrepreneur to be able to shift and adapt your business in times like these, so I’m focusing on challenging myself to continue to be creative and grow despite the circumstances.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.elainemckellips.co
- Phone: 918-855-4308
- Email: elainemckellips@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elainemckellips/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elainemckellips.co
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