Elena is an award-winning Lifestyle Family & Newborn photographer based in Seattle, who has also built up a robust education community. This conversation was recorded February 2020 at WPPI.

Moments to listen for:

BALANCE IS A UNICORN - 7:39

"I think balance is a unicorn. I don't think it exists. I used to desperately seek it. I felt like I wanted to be 100% a good mom. 100% a good business person. 100% a good creative, 100% a good friend; and that's not possible. A really good friend of mine told me once, and he's a very talented entrepreneur, he said, Elena, it's not about balance, it's about harmony. you need to just be all in with what you're doing. When you're working, feel good about it and do it well, and love what you're doing. And then when you go to your kids, your cup is full, and you can give it to them and you're gonna then be all in with them and be a great mom and feel good about it. (...) Don't look for balance, just know that if you're happy in all areas, you're going to feel harmony."

GET OUT OF THAT STARVING ARTIST'S MENTALITY - 15:14

"Get out of that starving artist's mentality. We can all be successful. You've gotta let that go."

CREATE BEFORE YOU CONSUME - 28:56

"A rule I have when I'm feeling really disconnected from my work or from life, which you know, happens to us all. When I'm feeling out of alignment, my mantra is create before you consume."