Local StoriesOctober 14, 2025

An Inspired Chat with Elli Hagan

Local Stories

We recently had the chance to connect with Elli Hagan and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Elli, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Something that brings me joy outside of work is going on walks! I am so extremely jammed packed so if I have the chance to slow down, enjoy the fresh air, and take in the little things around me, I jump at it. Whether it’s listening to music, talking with a friend, or just having quiet time to myself, walking always leaves me feeling refreshed and much more at peace with myself.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Well hello everyone! My name is Elli, and I am a photographer with the biggest passion for capturing moments that feel genuine and timeless. What makes my work special personally to me is the way I focus on connection—I want people to look back at their photos and remember not just how it looked, but how it felt. I started my photography journey out of a love for storytelling with sports, and it’s been so rewarding to build a brand that reflects both my creativity and authenticity. Right now, I’m excited to continue growing my brand and creating projects that bring joy to others through photographs.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
The people who taught me the most about work are definitely my parents and my brothers. Growing up, my parents always pushed us to be the best we could be, but also taught us how to handle failure with grace and how to build from it. Failure does not define you, but what you do with it, does. They showed me that discipline and consistency matter, but so do perseverance and heart. You have to work for what you want. I truly believe that the lessons I learned from my family—about not giving up, supporting each other, and striving for excellence—are what shaped my work ethic and brought me to where I am today. I couldn’t have done this without them.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say a kind word to my younger self, it would be: Don’t give up. Keep going, because everything you’re working toward will pay off in time. You are so much smarter and more creative than you realize, and you should never let anyone convince you otherwise. Even if your mind works differently than most, that’s a beautiful gift—it’s needed, it’s valuable, and it will take you far. Plus you are really funny, don’t let people take your voice away!

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes! The version of me you see publicly really is me. I always try to show up as my true self and let my personality and values shine through. Of course, I don’t share every single detail of my life, but what I do share is always real and meaningful to me. I think it’s important to be genuine because people will always figure out who you are, so why not always be yourself? So what you see of me is truly what you get!

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I had only 10 years left to live, I think I’d stop worrying so much about what other people think. I like to say I don’t care, but the truth is, I do—I hate letting people down and I hold myself to a very high standard, which I often fall short of. With that time, I’d focus on the things that truly matter: Traveling to see the world I am blessed to walk on, reaching out to people I care about, and making sure I tell the people I love how much they mean to me, even more than I do now. I never leave without an I love you! I’d try to live more freely, take more chances, and fully embrace experiences instead of overthinking or holding back.

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