Ryan Evans: From Dragon Designer to Elixir - Building a Creative Legacy
Step into the world of Elixir Creative Media Studio through the eyes of its founder, Ryan Evans. This personal narrative takes you from late-night photography sessions to building a creative empire spanning four dynamic companies. Discover how a passion for capturing moments transformed into a mission to make dreams come true through photography, philanthropy, content creation, and collectibles. Whether you're an aspiring creative, a fellow entrepreneur, or simply curious about the person behind the lens, this authentic journey shows how sometimes the most magical transformations begin with a simple camera and a big dream.
THE FACES OF ELIXIR: TEAM SPOTLIGHTS & INTERVIEWSELIXIR STUDIO
1/31/20253 min read
Hey there! I'm Ryan, the Founder of Elixir Creative Media Studio, and I want to share the story of how a teenage photographer's dream evolved into a creative empire. Grab a coffee (or if you're like me, reading this late at night, maybe some hot chocolate), and let me take you on this journey.
The Early Days: Where It All Began Back in 2016, fresh out of secondary school, I launched what would eventually become Elixir - though it started as Dragon Design Photography. The name actually came from my first venture, Dragon Designer, from my early design days in 2012-2013. (I still have those original designs tucked away somewhere, like a creative time capsule!)
The Evolution: As my vision grew, so did our identity. We transformed from Dragon Designer Photography into MDT Productions - a name inspired by my gaming roots. For those curious, MDT came from my Discord server "Misterdragon's Tavern" (yes, I'm a proud gaming nerd!). But the real magic happened in 2023 when we became Elixir Creative Media Studio, arguably our best transformation yet.
The Passion Behind the Lens Photography has always been my first love. Growing up, I was that kid who always had a camera in hand, constantly seeking the perfect shot. A turning point came in 2017 when I was working at a call center and met an incredible wedding photographer who became my mentor. This encounter sparked something in me: a hunger to learn everything about creative media. I dove into videography, graphic design, business support, and even book writing. I'm still learning today and am currently enjoying "The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett" (seriously, check it out!).
The Elixir Empire Today What started as a simple photography business has blossomed into four distinct companies:
Elixir Studio: Our flagship for photography, videography, merchandise, book publishing, and business support
Team Elixir: Our content creation powerhouse
Elixir Philanthropy: Our way of giving back through worldwide charity initiatives
Elixir CAC (Cards and Collectables): Our newest venture into trading cards and collectables
The Personal Touch: Here's something most people don't expect: I'm actually a secondary school cover teacher when I'm not running these four companies! It's this love for connecting with people that defines our approach at Elixir. Whether I'm photographing a wedding or supporting a business, I dive deep into their stories. Why? Because knowing how a couple fell in love or understanding a founder's vision makes every project more meaningful.
Memorable Moments: Speaking of weddings (my absolute favorite!), let me tell you about one unforgettable moment. Picture this: we'd just finished shooting a beautiful barn wedding, cameras packed away, when suddenly the groom pulls out a guitar and starts serenading his bride. You've never seen photographers sprint so fast to get their gear! (Lesson learned: never pack up early!)
Looking Forward To My goals? They're ambitious. I'm aiming for 1,000 social media followers this year, but more importantly, I want to keep making dreams come true through our work. My ultimate dream is to be a creative director for a theater show, orchestrating photographers and videographers to capture pure magic
The Night Owl's Creative Process Fun fact: I'm writing this at nearly 11 PM - typical night owl behavior! When creativity runs dry, you'll find me scrolling through TikTok for inspiration. My creative superpower? It's definitely my ability to connect with people through conversation. And my motto? "The lens captures time you never want to miss."
Personal Life: The irony isn't lost on me that someone who once never wanted to get married now specializes in wedding photography. But after capturing countless first looks and loving moments, here I am engaged with three amazing kids and planning my own wedding!
The best advice I ever received still guides me today: carry your camera everywhere because life's beauty doesn't wait for you to be ready.
What's Next? I built Elixir from the ground up with one vision: creating a space where passion meets purpose and dreams become reality. Where will we be in a few years? Keep following our journey to find out!
Want to be part of our story? Join our discord or follow us on social media. After all, every great story is better shared!