Seeing the world
changes you.
You don’t remain the same once you’ve trekked the rice paddies of northern Philippines or navigated the neighborhoods of City Soleil, Haiti. As documentary photographers, we witness firsthand how people live. We experience the systems of the world that don’t work. We spend time with resilient people who accept what life gave them, and still press through.
My camera has led me across the globe, paving the way to people and their lives. It has allowed me to preserve moments in time – moments that continue to live inside me. People everywhere have invited me into their villages and communities, their places of worship and homes. They have swept dirt floors for me before I entered. We have broken bread together and shared stories through knowing eyes and laughter.
I’ve learned that what matters is connecting with people. When a person shares with me a glimpse of their true self, what comes with that is the hope and trust that I see them – and the world might see them too.
This is the unspoken covenant of photography and storytelling.
I believe Storytelling is unparalleled in its ability to bring people together
With a global perspective and experience in more than 60 countries, my work is marked by a passion to enter in and tell unfiltered human stories through photography, video, speaking and training.
I have documented hundreds of stories from all corners of the world including Cuba, Jordan, Syria, China, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Brazil, Kenya, Zambia, and South Africa.
I have worked extensively with women in Baltimore who have overcome lives of addiction, prostitution and violence. Together, we’ve discovered sharing our stories can be one of our most healing journeys.
I was honored to receive the Governor’s award in Michigan for my work on family violence and have published three books, including My Family with the Global Fund for Children.
Organizations I’ve Worked With
- Bill Moyers Documentary-family violence
- Bridgeway Community Church
- Consuelo Alger Foundation
- International Youth Foundation
- ImagineNations Group
- Lerner Publishing Group
- Points of Light Foundation
- SafePlace – Battle Creek, MI
- The Family Academy – Harlem, NY
- The Financial Times
- The Global Fund for Children
- The Well – Baltimore, MD
- UNICEF
- United Nations
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation
- World Economic Forum
Elaine’s vison and approach to storytelling couldn’t be more relevant and needed for our times. She is a true humanitarian, seeing dignity in whoever is before her. Because of her authentic curiosity and vast exposure to the world, she is a skilled cultural interpreter– creating communities and platforms for people to discover each other.
Elaine is an authentic lover of people. She sees the world through humble, teachable eyes, finding the dignity and resilience of people everywhere. I’ve been deeply impacted watching Elaine connect and draw out the hidden stories inside longing human hearts all over the world. Elaine is gifted to share stories because she love the people who hold them.
