Today we’d like to introduce you to Elsie Soto.
Hi Elsie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am a creative person, but for me, photography just aligns with how I see the world. I take mental snapshots of people, places and things that I want to remember, and from the time my father gave me my first camera, I was capturing images of everything. At university, I took a photography course…back in the day when we had to develop our own film in a darkroom, but after that time, with the digital creeping into the creative world, I found that more ideas and inspirations influenced my photography. Today, I still see the world in snapshots, but I tend to fiddle with the imaginative more than I used to. My future goal is to open a studio one day. It is not feasible for me right now; I am working on my goal of retiring from education. But…every now and again, I work with people outside of just taking photos for my own self, and it’s a delight for me because people are one of my greatest inspirations!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s not that the road hasn’t been smooth, but I have to learn something new all the time. Things change so quickly in the digital world that you have to keep up to date on what equipment and software can do, and even stay current with laws affecting creative works.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I take photos of everything. That’s what I do! Some of my most favorite photos are of the inside of my old house taken during Covid. I specialize in taking photos of people, though. I’m really good at making people feel at ease and enjoying the moment because, honestly, being in front of the camera can be very anxiety-inducing. I know this! It’s the reason I stay behind it! As a matter of fact, with the explosion of AI, I believe more and more photographers will be selling not just the image, but also the experience.
I am most proud of my images that are realistic, but fantastical at the same time. I’m very much a creative that likes to hyperbolize reality. I think this is the reason some people have come to me more than once – they want something that is different and artistic.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Big question, but I’m really bad with names. There is one photo, though, that I feel profoundly affected what I search for in an image. “Punk and a Monk” by Roger Stonehouse…the two kids in Asia…that image to me is perfect. I love contrast in images, and by that I mean (for example) something beautiful set against something gritty. I follow a lot of photographers and creatives on social media simply because I feel inspired by them, especially if they are hard working and became successful through fearlessness, which is something I kinda struggle with. I’m working on being a lot more confident in my skill. In fact, for this interview, while searching for photos to include, I told myself, “Damn, girl, you’re a great photographer!” That made me happy. Thank you!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.elsiebsoto.com
- Instagram: @elsie.photobox
