Meet Elias Haas | Photographer

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

Hi Elias, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Honestly, I never thought I’d start my own business. Photography was one of those things I just fell in love with doing. I started second shooting first with Jacqie Q Photography and instantly knew I wanted to be a wedding photographer. So the thought process behind starting my own business? There really wasn’t one. It was just “I want to do this” wake up call.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I enjoy edgy photos: a little moody flair, some contrast, and faded greens. That’s my art concept. It’s how I edit, how I produce my work, it’s what I show my clients at the end of the day because that’s the main reason they hired me. Sure, they grow to love me as a person later but the very beginning? It’s all about the photography. My clients can find me on WeddingWire, The Knot, Google, and Facebook. It doesn’t matter where they come from, they come for my art.

I got to where I am today professionally through a lot of hard work and dedication. It definitely was NOT easy. I suffer from severe depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. I had the cards stacked against me from the beginning and it took starting medication and getting to the roots of my problems through therapy for me to get here today. The lessons I’ve learned along the way: ask for help whenever you need it, go at your own pace, try not to hyperfixate, and most of all don’t burn yourself out and lose your love for what you do.

What do I want the world to know about my brand? I think, the most important thing for me, is that they recognize that this is my passion. The money is great don’t get me wrong, but I do this because I love it. It ignites my soul on fire. Seeing a couple in love, helping someone find confidence within themselves, or just capturing those precious family moments makes my heart sing in a way that nothing else has ever come close to.

My personal story can be a hard one to hear, but it’s a part of my photography journey and I wouldn’t change my past for anything. Well maybe some things, but mistakes, trauma, growth… it’s all apart of the journey. When my clients hire me, they’re getting all of me. I’m an open book and will answer anything anyone throws my way!

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?
So I just recently moved to the northeast and don’t know the area very well, but if I had to pick a place… it’d be Salem, MA. I live just outside Boston so Salem is a skip away and I’ve only been three times but it is magical! And I mean that in every sense of the word. There are cool mystical shops on every corner. There are beautiful museums to check out and the murals on some of the walls are breathtaking. I’d definitely take my best friend to Salem to enjoy the scenery!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Jacqie McKenzie of Jacqie Q Photography. My friend, my mentor, and my not-related-by-blood sister. Genuinely from the depths of my soul do I owe her my thanks. She got me started in August of 2016 by inviting me to second shoot a wedding with her. I was sooo nervous and it was three hours away from where I lived so I didn’t know exactly what I was getting into. I’ve long forgotten the couple’s names but it is still fresh in my mind how Jacqie handled the day, the poses, the groupings, everything! It’s because of her that I fell in love with capturing the authenticity of love between people.

Website: moonwavesphotography.com

Instagram: moonwavesphotography

Facebook: moonwavesphotography

Image Credits
Photo of me: Jaciqe Q Photography Other photos: Moon Waves Photography