Christa Ellis shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Christa, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
Yes! I would absolutely hire me.
Not because I have it all figured out, but because I show up with intention, integrity, and a fierce commitment to delivering more than what’s expected. I blend creative vision with logistical follow-through, the kind of person who can dream big and execute down to the last detail.
I care deeply. About the people, the process, the end result. I ask the right questions, listen between the lines, and lead with heart, whether I’m designing a brand activation for 500 guests or helping a couple capture the energy of their wedding night.
Would it be easier to hire someone with a more traditional path? Maybe. But if you want someone who’s lived the pivot, held the pressure, and still shows up with passion and polish, that’s me.
I don’t just do the job. I own it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey! I’m Christa Ellis, founder of Lumen Events, a Kansas City-based creative studio specializing in immersive photo and video experiences for modern weddings, galas, and branded events.
We’re not your average photo booth company, and I say that with love. We aim to seamlessly blend style, storytelling, and strategy into every experience we produce, whether it’s a Studio Booth for a luxury wedding or an AI-powered activation at a corporate conference. Our work lives at the intersection of aesthetics and impact: beautiful enough to frame, intentional enough to remember, and shareable enough to drive brand buzz.
What makes Lumen different? We care just as much about how an experience feels as how it looks. For couples, that means capturing the moments you didn’t plan — the candid laughter, the dance floor chaos, the whispered toasts — with elegance and ease. For our corporate clients, it means high-design installations that actually do something: boost engagement, delight attendees, and turn passive guests into brand superfans.
Right now, we’re expanding deeper into the corporate world through Lumen Activations (https://www.instagram.com/lumenactivations), our dedicated division for conferences, nonprofit galas, and large-scale brand experiences. From custom-built mosaics to interactive sponsorship opportunities, we’re helping organizations transform events into unforgettable storytelling moments.
Lumen means light. And that’s our mission: to spotlight the people, the stories, and the sparks that make an event unforgettable.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that’s most shaped how I see myself is, without question, the one I have with my son, Kaden.
Becoming his mom changed everything, not just how I move through the world, but how I see myself within it. Kaden made me softer and stronger all at once. He taught me that love is active, not passive. That presence matters more than perfection. And that there’s no blueprint for being a “good mom,” just a daily commitment to showing up with heart, humility, and intention.
In many ways, Lumen Events grew up alongside him. I launched this business not just to create beautiful experiences, but to build a life that could hold space for both ambition and motherhood, where Kaden could see firsthand what it looks like to lead with vision and live with purpose.
He’s curious, creative, and full of opinions (which I adore). Watching him explore the world has reminded me to do the same, to keep asking questions, keep evolving, and keep creating a life and business that reflect not just what I do, but who I am.
And that’s the gift of being his mom: I see myself more clearly because I get to see myself through his eyes.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely. Last August, I lost my full-time job, the one that had been providing steady income while I built Lumen Events on nights and weekends. It was one of those moments that feels like a free fall: sudden, disorienting, and deeply personal.
At the same time, I was caring for my teenage son, Kaden, and helping support my elderly parents. There wasn’t a safety net. Just a lot of love, a lot of pressure, and one very big decision: do I put the business on pause and look for another job? Or do I bet on myself and go all in?
I chose the second.
Taking Lumen full-time wasn’t a glossy, Instagrammable leap of faith. It was a gritty, emotional, middle-of-the-night decision. And it’s been hard. Financially, things have gotten really tough, no sugarcoating that. But what’s kept me going is the quiet clarity I feel when I’m doing this work. Creating experiences that matter. Showing up for clients with heart. Building something that feels deeply aligned, even when the road is rocky.
Some days I still wonder if I made the right call. But then I remember why I started: for my son, for our future, and for the belief that creativity, connection, and care can be a career, not just a calling.
And that’s enough to keep going.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
One of the voices I’ve come to rely on most, especially since taking Lumen full-time, is Candice Coppola (https://www.instagram.com/candice.coppola), founder of WeddingPro Insiders. I joined her mastermind last November, right after I lost my job and decided to pour everything I had into the business. That timing wasn’t accidental. I knew I needed structure, strategy, and support from someone who’d been there, and Candice has been all of that and more.
She’s a mentor in the truest sense: generous with her wisdom, honest about the hard parts, and relentless in her belief that creative entrepreneurs deserve both purpose and profit. Her approach helped me quiet the noise, clarify my offers, and lead with intention, not fear.
But beyond the business strategy, Candice has simply been there. Through pivots, growing pains, and the emotional weight of this new chapter, she’s reminded me that building something meaningful doesn’t mean doing it alone. And I’m so grateful I don’t have to.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had 10 years left, I’d stop waiting for the “right time.”
I’d stop saying yes to things that don’t align, the projects that drain me, the expectations that box me in, the pressure to prove something I already know to be true.
I’d stop overthinking and start feeling more, letting instinct and joy have a louder voice than fear and perfectionism. I’d stop trying to “balance it all” and start choosing what matters most: being present for my son, creating meaningful work, and making memories that feel like home.
I’d stop measuring success by how full my calendar is, and start measuring it by how full I feel.
Because if I only had 10 years left, I wouldn’t spend them hustling for approval or playing small. I’d spend them building legacy, loving loudly, and leaving something behind that made people feel seen, celebrated, and cared for, whether at a wedding, a gala, or just across the dinner table.
And honestly? That’s the lens I’m learning to live through now. No matter how many years are left.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lumeneventsk.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lumeneventskansascity/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christaeellis/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lumeneventskansascity
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LumenEventsKansasCity
Image Credits
BG Studios Photography
