Meet Daryl Elon: Creative Director & Videographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daryl Elon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daryl Elon, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
It’s interesting because I never pursued a career in the arts. It pursued me. Like a call I couldn’t ignore. I perceive the world and express myself artistically, innately. The trees. The sound of the wind. The colors on a salamander. The earth. Our galaxy. The universe. Its all one divine artistic production to me. But when I moved to Atlanta for school and started seeing people who looked like me, creating as a means to live. I started to understand that I could do the same thing. And I’ve been on this journey to make a career of creating ever since.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I produce art in many forms, but my favorite and most professionally consistent is video. I’ve always been a fan and student of cinema, documentaries, music videos, even commercials. I get engulfed by a good narrative especially when it’s communicated on film. I think that’s what sets me apart as a videographer. I’m always looking for a story. No matter if the clip is 20 seconds or 20 minutes. My concern is for the experience of the audience. Did they learn what I was trying to teach? Did the story make an impact? I think that’s what makes me most excited about creating video content. Getting to translate the stories in my head into something physical. I’m a storyteller at heart. In high school I was in the School for the Arts for creative writing. So I’ve always known how to craft a good narrative. But doing it through the visual medium of film makes it that much more engaging to me.

Professionally my journey as a videographer is just beginning. But it has been progressing steadily and naturally. I gain clients via social media and word of mouth. And so far my experience creating content for other creatives has been very organic and positive. Most of my challenges and lessons have just been learning how to assert myself as a businesswoman. That part does not come as naturally to me but it’s empowering to learn more about that side of myself.

As an artist, I just want people to understand the journey of life as a perfect balance of teaching and learning. My work is designed to teach, to share all I learn through visual storytelling.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love when my friends visit me in Atlanta! I’m an outdoors girl. I would take them to kayak on the Chattahoochee (they would hate it, I would love it). I’d definitely want to hike at Roswell Mill. Once I got all the sweaty stuff out of the way in the morning, we’d probably head to Inman Park and have some calamari and pizza at Fritti. Then we’d hit the thrift shops in Little Five Points. I think you see some of the most interesting people in Little Five. At night we’d probably get a table at Cafè Intermezzo for dinner and desserts. To end the night we’d buy drinks and I’d influence them (because it won’t be me) to ride the mechanical bull at U Bar on Camp Creek. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My journey as a creative entrepreneur would not have unfolded so beautifully without the support of my home team. Me and a few artists I call family all left our home state of South Carolina and came to Atlanta around the same time. I wouldn’t have been able to survive, much less thrive without having them at some point in my journey. So shout out to @blkgrlfly, a visual artist, @aintshytfree_ a singer and songwriter, and @yunoshilyon an artist and producer. All so good at what they do and so inspiring to me as a artist.

Website: filmsbydarylelon@gmail.com

Instagram: @daryl.elon

Image Credits
All images are screenshots of videos captured and edited by Daryl Elon