Meet Elle Yeon

We were lucky to catch up with Elle Yeon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Elle, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

Having immigrated from Seoul, Korean to a small town in New Hampshire as a toddler in the eighties, I grew up almost exclusively in rooms that didn’t have anyone that looked like me, but I have overcome being the small, shy, and silent girl who was always hesitant to take up space. Art was one subject that I truly felt confident in, as I had a preternatural ability to take what I saw before me and use different media to create something beautiful. External praise from “the people who don’t look like me” further confirmed to me that yes, I do have value, and my voice is important. And as my awareness of the world beyond my internal landscape grew, I became a champion and advocate for other people who feel small, unseen, and voiceless. The squeaky wheels may get the grease, but I’m much more captivated by the silent wheels whose stories have yet to be told.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I launched my photography business at the end of last year because my fortieth birthday was looming before me and my heart was withering away as a new to staying-at-home mom of three, seemingly repeating the same day over and over. I felt the overwhelming need to start a new chapter. I had started (and failed) businesses in the past, but this time I wanted to birth something with a different core motive, something that builds community, that uplifts women, that brings healing (INFP to the core).

What’s special about the kind of portrait session I offer is that it seeks to care for a fellow human being. I’m not just clicking away and sending them off with pretty pictures. It starts with the discovery call: learning about who they are, their struggles and accomplishments, and who they want to be, enables me to capture them in a way that is authentic to them and also aspirational in who they hope to become. We discuss adjectives that are meaningful to them and want to see reflected when they look back at their portraits, and we explore moods and styling as a way to communicate them.

I’m excited to announce here first that I’m preparing for a campaign that will be launched in October, called Forty Over Forty. It’s especially meaningful to me as I close out my first year of being in my forties. Here’s what it entails: a portrait session in the studio with me, an in-person videotaped interview, a social media and magazine feature, all combined with a celebratory gala at the end. There’s a new appreciation for older women in our culture, after being so heavily focused on youth being the ultimate requirement for beauty. And I would love to contribute to it, as well as to remind fellow seasoned ladies that there is POWER in their lived experiences, not to mention they’re gorgeous just the way they are!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Resilience. There were many heart-breaking lessons I had to learn the hard way, and they taught me a) the value of resilience, and b) that I could be resilient. When I think about my kids, it’s one of the traits I’d like them to embrace the most. So when life knocks them down, they can get back up again. Everything is scary and life-altering the first time (breakups, losing a job, sickness, etc), but over time you start to see them as stepping stones on the path to the person you’re meant to become.

Humility. I will never forget how hard my high school English teacher railed against hubris, in literature as well as real-world events, and I can’t see how even the most successful person couldn’t benefit from a healthy dose of humility. In the end we’ll all return to dust; if you’re not naturally inclined to think bigger-picture, that will put a lot of things into perspective.

Writing. Eternally grateful to my parents for raising me in an English-speaking country because it’s useful on a global scale, and for the teachers I’ve had along the way who have inspired me to communicate in a way that is effective, efficient, and emotive. Read the classics, and find the modern writers who thrill your brain and your heart.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I definitely have a heart for under-served communities and groups, and would love to explore how my skills and talents can be used to enrich each other’s lives. I have dreams of opening a modern, multi-use studio space here in Northern Virginia, to have a physical location for community building and collaboration, but for now if someone has a natural light drenched space that isn’t being used, please reach out to me to discuss potential opportunities!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elleyeonphotography.com
• Instagram: elleyeonphoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555898139435

Image Credits

All taken by me, Elle Yeon Photography