Elvis Lin
is a California-based photographer and filmmaker. At 12, he began making YouTube videos with friends on a hand-me-down iPhone 4, teaching himself how to edit through free apps and trial and error. With no real budget, he leaned into a DIY approach, figuring things out through experimentation and late nights watching creators like Casey Neistat and Sam Kolder, whose adventurous and hands-on style pushed him to try bigger ideas with limited tools.

By 14, he was using Photoshop and taking on creative projects around school, offering to film and edit videos for clubs and events. At 16, he bought his first DSLR and began diving deeper into photography and more advanced editing, continuing to build his skills by making the most of what he had and learning as he went.