Elis Alves Photography Bloomington IN Photographer

Bloomington, IN Documentary Family Photographer

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA PHOTOGRAPHER.

SERVING SERVING INDIANA IN BLOOMINGTON, BEDFORD, MARTINSVILLE, GREENWOOD, AND SURROUNDING AREAS WITH DOCUMENTARY FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

FOR FAMILIES WHO VALUE REAL.

I haven't always been a photographer.

But I have loved documenting families since I picked up a professional camera in 2009.

Growing up I loved looking through my parents' wedding album with my sisters and would look at it every once in a while to fawn over how beautiful my mom looked and how young my grandparents were.One of my fondest memories is visiting my grandparents and pulling out the family photo albums to hear the stories of those we descended from but never met. It was then that I realized the power and value of family photographs.When we lost my dad in 2020, all the pictures I had taken him over the years became infinitely more precious because these were all we had to remember him by.It's in pictures that we carry our family's history. A history we get to pass to our children. And this is what I want to give you.Tangible memories of real moments in albums and prints with a patina of love, fingerprints, and food crumbs because your kids love to pull them out and pour over them and hear the stories 'just one more time'.

Someone wise once said that one day all our children will have is pictures of us.

And if you are like me, it’s so hard sometimes to step in front of the camera and make sure you are in the picture. No matter what your hair looks like, your make up (or lack thereof) or your body - they don’t care about any of that. They will just want to see you.

This is what I’m hoping to give each family I photograph.

I’m here to show you the beauty of your normal, seemingly ordinary life so you can exist in printed photos for your family to pass them on to your children and their children. Memories that will only grow more precious with time.

The kind that would make you run into a burning house for.

REPRESENTED IN BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA BY AIREZ GALLERY

MY LIFE IN A FEW PICTURES

My parents, my husband and I, 4 of my 5 sisters, and 8 of my 10 nephews and nieces. Almost all my family at our wedding. This is one of my favorite photos!

My husband and two girls. The three people I love most in the world!

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The last team I worked with in Rwanda in 2008. There are 5 nations in this photo: Brazil, Burundi, Canada, South Korea and the US.

With my parents in 2015

Shooting one of the images for a personal photography project, now on hold, in my parent's backyard.

My last collective art exhibit with Airez Gallery before I moved to Bloomington.

My Story

I love people, the arts, beauty and cultures. I'm originally from Brazil, married to a wonderful Bloomingtonian man and mom to two girls (5 and under).

For most of my life, I worked for an international non-profit organization training people around the world. I lived in 7 countries in 4 continents and visited 14 others in the span of 11 years. About half of these countries were in the African continent, where I spent most of my time.

This season of my life was amazing and gave me friends all over the globe, a few other languages besides my Brazilian Portuguese and the realization that we are far more alike than we are different. I also acquired the superpower to connect with pretty much anyone really fast (which comes in handy when you're a photographer)!

I really longed to have my own family so by the time I turned 40 and nothing had happened I thought marriage and motherhood were not in my future. But then, I was surprised to meet my wonderful husband, and we were blessed with not only one but two girls!

We've been living in Bloomington, IN ever since.

Solo Art Exhibits

Dec. 2018 - Eu Vejo Flores (I see flowers)- Paco da Liberdade - Curitiba, Brazil

Collective Art Exhibits

Sept. 2016 - Imagem.Meio.Palavra (Image.Medium.Word) - Memorial de Curitiba - Curitiba, Brazil

Oct. 2015 - Realidades Invisiveis (Invisible Realities) - SEMIC Parana - Curitiba, Brazil

March 2014 - Ser Mulher (Being a Woman)- Unicuritiba - Curitiba, Brazil

Nov. 2013 - Na Minha Epoca (When I was young) - OAB Parana - Curitiba, Brazil

Jan. 2013 - Em Versos (Verses) - Estação Mall - Curitiba, Brazil

Publications

"Shooting Yourself" By Haje Jan Kamps 2013 - by Ilex Press Limited. Republished as "Selfies" in 2014 by Simon & Shuster.

WANTED A BLOOMINGTON, IN PHOTOGRAPHER JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE?

DIDN'T THINK SO!

MEMORIES THAT ONLY GROW MORE PRECIOUS WITH TIME.

AN INVESTMENT TO LAST BEYOND

YOUR LIFETIME.

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA PHOTOGRAPHER

DON'T WAIT!

You deserve the best! For this reason it is important we make sure we are a good fit. I give my absolute best to every client so I only take a few sessions each month. As you looked around my website if my work resonated with you, please reach out to discuss a unique session tailored for your family. I would love to hear more about you! [email protected](930) 904-1425

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