Through a journalistic lens, I preserve stories for generations.
I wish I knew more about my great grandmother.
She died when I was in my late teens. My grandmother knows a little bit about her life, but not the whole story. My mother knows even less, and I fall at the bottom of the bloodline basically clueless. Her legacy is quickly vanishing. What did she have to teach me? I know she survived the holocaust, but what does that look like? What resilience did she possess, that I may need along my journey? In talking with friends, I found that other people felt the same curiosity. That’s when I realized I could use my skills as a documentary portrait photographer to help families preserve stories for ensuing generations.
Paul Jackson
A note from Paul’s partner:
“The preparation that Eli did with Paul was phenomenal. By the time they sat down together, Eli’s deep passion for Paul and his story was palpable. Eli has a gift when it comes to listening and draws out what is most interesting in someone’s journey. He’s an artist who has mastered his craft; Beautiful and authentic, a Life Portrait by Eli is the greatest gift you could give yourself or someone you love.”
Rob Berkley [1959-2018]
A note from Rob’s wife:
“Eli, I can never thank you enough. Rob’s Life Portrait is a treasure beyond anything I could have imagined. Whoever would have guessed a year after you conducted this brilliant interview he would be gone? You drew out the best in him with your sophisticated skills and your work is now a major GIFT to all of us who love and miss Rob so very, very much. I love you and am deeply grateful for your prescience to interview him, 10 days before he was diagnosed with cancer.”
Monina von Opel
“Working with Eli has opened my eyes and my heart. I have learned to trust his eye allowing a new and dormant me to emerge through his work.”
A note to Monina from her daughter-in-law:
“I watched Eli’s film last night and stayed up well past midnight poring over all the photographs. I could have listened to you for a hundred more hours... Hearing everything in your voice was just incredible. I’m so glad you did this, THANK YOU!! I will cherish it forever and Olympia [Monina’s granddaughter] will too. xxx”
Kathy Spirtes
“When Eli Dagostino showed up at my house to tell my story, I thought I was purchasing a video and a collection of photos, but I realized quickly that it was going to be a special experience. Eli presented me with a representation of my life as it was at that time. I am excited that this document can be viewed by my daughter and any future descendants and relatives. As a genealogist, I would’ve loved to have had this done of my own parents as well as of all my other ancestors. I have revisited Eli’s work a number of times and always come away with a renewed sense of who I am. In retrospect, I learn things about myself as I watch. It was me at 64. I plan to do a follow up in 5-10 years and capture who I am in that latter stage of my life.”
What’s included in a Life Story has changed over the years. At one time, the stories were created for creative business owners as a multi-media marketing tool. Right now, the offering is structured to preserve the stories of our matriarchs and patriarchs to share with future generations.
In 2020, a Life Story includes:
A comprehensive pre-interview questionnaire which will challenge you to reflect upon past experiences in a new way.
Two video interviews, one depicting your life story (1-2 hours) and another with someone important to you (10-15 minutes).
20 hand-picked photographs taken of you and your environment.
All works will be published on a password-protected website. The link can be shared with family. Printed books of all the content (videos transcribed) can be purchased separately.
Additional options:
Photographs of your photo album pages preserving the slowly fading prints
Two hours of candid photography of your family
Five hard-copy books of your story including your questionnaire answers, the photographs we take and transcriptions of your videos
