Create a ripple effect: where my small drop in the ocean expands outward, helping others lean into life, make waves with their work and shift from a place of confusion to a place of clarity.

I’m Elana. Photographer, educator, marketing strategist and environmental advocate. 

MY LIFE’S PURPOSE IS TO

Understanding the interconnectedness of our actions and their impact has been an unraveling. An unraveling of behaviors, thoughts, and the way we view the world. It started with witnessing the immense amount of plastic pollution in our oceans and the shorelines of Hawai’i – seemingly ‘harmless’ items of convenience leaving an extreme ripple effect in their wake.

Horrified, confused and challenged, I knew change had to start within. This awakening shifted everything for me.
 


It wasn’t long after that I made the commitment to dive deeper, even deeper than plastic pollution
and into the wider conversation of sustainability, and start learning everything I could about the
complexities of taking more informed action as individuals and business owners. 

Our life and business wasn’t always filled with deep purpose. It was rooted in a passion for visual art, storytelling & marketing – YES – but it wasn’t until we encountered the severe state of our oceans when we moved to Hawai’i that our purpose came into clear view.

This is when sustainability became the lens through which we viewed everything.

I realized how this concept of doing things with intention - with the goal of longevity, synergy and legacy - directly correlated with everything we do.

This alignment between life and work, has shaped our business immensely, including the strategies we recommend and help our clients implement.

WHERE PASSION MEETS

sus·tain·a·bil·i·ty

noun

1) the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level.

2) avoidance of the depletion of  natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.



Horrified, confused and challenged, I knew change had to start within. This awakening shifted everything for me. 








It wasn’t long after that I made the commitment to dive deeper, even deeper than plastic pollution and into the wider conversation of sustainability, and start learning everything I could about the complexities of taking more informed action as individuals and business owners. 

I felt a conviction and a responsibility to change the way we live and the way we do business.

Understanding the interconnectedness of our actions and their impact has been an unraveling. An unraveling of behaviors, thoughts, and the way we view the world. 

It started with witnessing the immense amount of plastic pollution in our oceans and the shorelines of Hawai’i – seemingly ‘harmless’ items of convenience leaving an extreme ripple effect in their wake.

I felt a conviction and a responsibility to change the way we live and the way we do business.

DIVE INTO OUR SERVICES

learn MORE about  SUSTAINABILITY

From our recommendations in making even one earth-conscious swap that will make big shifts in your life, to creating an enduring social media plan, to teaching you how to leverage brand photography over a long period of time.

Whatever we’re sharing with you, it’s with a renewable and prosperous approach. 

We work with mindful individuals and ambitious entrepreneurs who genuinely care about their potential and their impact on this world.

If you want to learn, grow, and create a lasting ripple effect beyond your wildest dreams...
 

Let’s unite, and start making waves.

SUSTAINABILITY IS INTEGRATED INTO EVERYTHING WE OFFER

DIVE INTO OUR SERVICES

learn MORE about SUSTAINABILITY

From our recommendations in making even one earth-conscious swap that will make big shifts in your life, to creating an enduring social media plan, to teaching you how to leverage brand photography over a long period of time.

Whatever we’re sharing with you, it’s with a renewable and prosperous approach. 

We work with mindful individuals and ambitious entrepreneurs who genuinely care about their potential and their impact on this world.

If you want to learn, grow, and create a lasting ripple effect beyond your wildest dreams...

 

Let’s unite, and start making waves.

SUSTAINABILITY IS INTEGRATED INTO EVERYTHING WE OFFER

is the not so behind-the-scenes part of ElanaLoo. He is wise, kind, calm, observant. My opposite in more ways than I can count. He is goofy, hilariously so, when he feels at home. He didn’t travel much before we were together but now he loves ‘life on the road’ and his dreams are farther and wider than anyone I know.

He loves surfing, photographing wildlife and landscapes and the quiet solitude of nature. He said something once that’s always stuck with me. Looking over our lanai after the sun had dipped below the horizon, he said, ‘this is my favorite part’ … ‘there’s no expectation or anticipation. it just is. and look how beautiful.’ 

sees life through a lens, she has for over a decade. She believes life is art: how we live, how we work, how we play, it’s all in rhythm. She has an affinity for the details, is quick witted with a hell of a memory and is one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. Her dream is to learn to sail and spend at least half a year at sea exploring the world’s oceans.

She appreciates symmetry, fresh food still covered in earth, the sun glimmering on the ripples of the ocean, a sunset dip, a book you just can’t put down. She has taught me that the purpose of our work and the depth of our lives are as important as monetary success and that the world is a wide, vast place full of people and places to encounter.


AARON

ELANA

we’ve grown, learned, bettered our art and navigated the waters of owning a business. We are a team. We wholeheartedly believe you can create a life you love. We live and breathe this. It seems as if we’ve lived many different lives in the decade we’ve been together, constantly moving towards the life we’ve always wanted.

TOGETHER

is the not so behind-the-scenes part of ElanaLoo. He is wise, kind, calm, observant. My opposite in more ways than I can count. He is goofy, hilariously so, when he feels at home. He didn’t travel much before we were together but now he loves ‘life on the road’ and his dreams are farther and wider than anyone I know.

He loves surfing, photographing wildlife and landscapes and the quiet solitude of nature. He said something once that’s always stuck with me. Looking over our lanai after the sun had dipped below the horizon, he said, ‘this is my favorite part’ … ‘there’s no expectation or anticipation.it just is. and look how beautiful.’

sees life through a lens, she has for over a decade. She believes life is art: how we live, how we work, how we play, it’s all in rhythm. She has an affinity for the details, is quick witted with a hell of a memory and is one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. Her dream is to learn to sail and spend at least half a year at sea exploring the world’s oceans.

She appreciates symmetry, fresh food still covered in earth, the sun glimmering on the ripples of the ocean, a sunset dip, a book you just can’t put down. She has taught me that the purpose of our work and the depth of our lives are as important as monetary success and that the world is a wide, vast place full of people and places to encounter. 



a. A eye-opening book
b. Ocean waves on a hot day 
c. A good ‘ol brainstorming sesh
d. Thought provoking conversation 


1. What I love to dive into…
a. Locally grown fruit from the farm stand
b. The beautiful tan, green & black sand beaches 
c. A steaming cup of Kona coffee
d. Exploring the backcountry 
e. Other:

2. Big Island Favorite?

3.  Someday I want to:


a. Braving The Wilderness
b. Sweet Salt Air 
c. Let My People Surfing  
d. Story Driven
e. All Of The Above


4. Book I’d Recommend?

a. Fresh Lobster with lemon
b. Sailing around to explore the islands along the coast 
c. All the delicious microbreweries
d. Blueberry Pie 
e. Summer nights spent with family  



5. Best thing about Maine?




6.  My Advice?


a. Plastic water bottles
b. To-go coffee cups
c. Plastic straws
d. Plastic grocery bags 


7. First single-use item I ditched:

8. Favorite Place I’ve Explored?

a. Hawai’i

b. The Exumas 

c. New Zealand 

d. Egypt
a. Australia
b. Italy
c. Tahiti
d. Norway


9. Where I want to explore next…

10. Tip for Entrepreneurs?

GET THE A'S TO THE Q'S

a little peek into my MIND & SOUL

Rerouted my path and decided to do things with more intention and more soul (Read more about our story here)
Moved to Hawaii and Aaron joined me in business full-time

Started to live bi-coastally & together we launched Dérive Collective

Expanded our services and made brand photography a focus

Opened my eyes to a new way of living and started incorporating sustainable practices into my life and business (Learn more about this shift here)

Rebranded to ElanaLoo, built the new site and ready to make waves

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

Many moons ago to now:
where we’ve lived, how we’ve worked, and why I’ve loved building a beautiful, thoughtful, and vibrant community.

THROUGH
 THE TIDES