Meet Ely Hemnes | Founder & CEO, The Unfound Door

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ely Hemnes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ely, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Risk taking: How do you think about risk, and what role has taking risks played in your life and career?

People often think entrepreneurs are comfortable with risk. The truth is, I don’t love unnecessary risk. I love opportunity.

For me, risk has never been about jumping without looking. It’s about gathering as much information as possible, understanding what could go wrong, and then having the confidence to move forward anyway. At some point, there isn’t another spreadsheet, another conversation, or another month of planning that’s going to make the decision easier. You simply have to trust yourself.

Every major chapter of my career has required that kind of leap.

Starting The Unfound Door meant walking away from the security of a paycheck because I believed there was a better way to serve clients. Hiring my first employee meant trusting that I could build enough work to support someone else’s livelihood. Investing in new equipment, opening a studio, expanding into video production, building a leadership team, and stepping back from being involved in every single project have all felt risky at the time.

But I’ve learned that growth almost always feels uncomfortable before it feels rewarding.

I’ve also learned that risk isn’t only about the big moments. Sometimes the biggest risk is saying no. Saying no to projects that don’t align with your values. Saying no to clients who aren’t the right fit. Saying no to growth that looks impressive on paper but would compromise the culture you’re trying to build.

As a woman leading a creative production company in industries like architecture, engineering, and construction, there have certainly been moments where I’ve questioned whether I belonged in the room. Early on, I sometimes felt I had to prove myself before people would listen. Over time, I realized that confidence doesn’t come from pretending to know everything. It comes from consistently showing up, solving problems, delivering on your promises, and earning trust.

Perhaps the biggest lesson risk has taught me is that failure isn’t the opposite of success. It’s often part of it. Some of my best business decisions came directly after ideas that didn’t work. Those experiences forced me to adapt, refine our vision, and become a better leader.

Today, I don’t ask myself, “Is this risky?” I ask, “Does this move us closer to the company we’re trying to build?” If the answer is yes, and we’ve done our homework, I’m willing to take the chance.

Because in my experience, the greatest risk isn’t failing. It’s never giving yourself the opportunity to build something meaningful in the first place.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Where We Were, Where We Are, and Where We’re Headed

When I founded The Unfound Door in 2016, I wasn’t trying to build another photography company. I wasn’t even setting out to become an entrepreneur. I simply believed there was a better way.

Early in my career, I had the privilege of working alongside organizations doing extraordinary work. Architects designing spaces that would shape communities for generations. Engineers solving incredibly complex challenges. Contractors building the infrastructure we rely on every day. Yet I noticed that the way these stories were documented rarely reflected the significance of the work itself.

Photography and videography were often treated as the last box to check instead of an investment that could continue creating value for years.

At the same time, I watched marketing teams constantly ask for “more content.” But what they often needed wasn’t more content. They needed a strategy. They needed visual assets that could recruit employees, strengthen their brand, support business development, win proposals, communicate with clients, and continue telling their story long after a project was complete.

That realization became the foundation of The Unfound Door.

Like many founders, the early years meant wearing every hat imaginable. I was the photographer, videographer, editor, business development strategist, accountant, project manager, IT department, HR manager, and yes, even the person cleaning the office before clients arrived. I wasn’t just building a company. I was learning how to build one while actively running it.

There were plenty of moments where I questioned whether I was making the right decisions. Every entrepreneur experiences seasons where growth feels slower than expected or where the next step requires more faith than certainty. But every challenge reinforced something I still believe today: meaningful businesses aren’t built overnight. They’re built one relationship, one decision, and one promise kept at a time.

Where We Are

Today, The Unfound Door has grown into a strategic visual production company serving organizations across the country. We specialize in photography, videography, aerial media, and visual storytelling for the architecture, engineering, construction, commercial real estate, and hospitality industries.

While our work has expanded, our purpose has remained remarkably consistent.

We don’t simply show up with cameras. We take the time to understand our clients’ business goals before we ever discuss a shot list. Every photograph, interview, aerial capture, and cinematic sequence is created with intention.

I often tell clients that we don’t simply create content. We help organizations build strategic visual asset libraries. Those libraries become the foundation for websites, recruiting campaigns, proposals, social media, award submissions, investor presentations, speaking engagements, and countless other initiatives. When approached strategically, a single day of production can create value for years.

That’s what sets us apart.

We’re not interested in creating content simply for content’s sake. Organizations today are surrounded by imagery and media, but without a thoughtful strategy, much of it is forgotten almost as quickly as it’s created. We believe photography and videography should be treated as long-term business assets, not one-time marketing expenses.

As the business has grown, I’ve learned that the skills that help you start a company aren’t always the skills that help you grow one.

Learning to delegate, build systems, trust a team, and create a healthy culture proved to be far more difficult than learning photography or videography. It required me to redefine my own value. I had to stop measuring my contribution by how many projects I personally completed and start measuring it by the opportunities I created for others, the experience we provide our clients, and the long-term health of the company.

One of the things I’m most proud of isn’t a particular project. It’s the reputation we’ve built.

We’ve intentionally chosen clients who see us as partners rather than vendors. We’ve invested in long-term relationships instead of chasing every opportunity. Today, we have the privilege of documenting hospitals that improve healthcare, schools where future generations learn, infrastructure that connects communities, commercial developments that strengthen local economies, and hospitality spaces where people gather and create memories. Knowing our work helps preserve those stories while helping our clients communicate their impact is incredibly rewarding.

Where We’re Headed

Looking ahead, I believe our industry is entering one of the most significant periods of change we’ve ever experienced.

Artificial intelligence, automation, and rapidly evolving technology are changing how content is created and consumed. Rather than seeing that as something to fear, I see it as an opportunity. As content becomes easier to create, strategy becomes even more valuable. Authenticity becomes more important. Human connection becomes the differentiator.

That’s where I believe The Unfound Door has always belonged.

Over the next decade, our vision is to continue growing thoughtfully throughout the country, serving organizations that are shaping the places where we live, work, and connect. Whether we’re documenting a hospital in Colorado, a mixed-use development in Texas, infrastructure in the Midwest, or a hospitality project on either coast, our purpose remains the same. We want to become the trusted strategic visual partner for organizations that understand the value of investing in authentic storytelling.

Growth, for us, has never been about becoming the biggest company. It’s about becoming the most trusted. It’s about building a team of exceptional people who care deeply about our clients, embrace new technology without losing sight of the human experience, and continue raising the standard for what strategic photography and videography can accomplish.

If there’s one thing I hope people remember about me and about The Unfound Door, it’s this:

We’ve never been interested in creating work simply because it looks beautiful.

Beautiful imagery matters, but beauty alone doesn’t build trust.

People do.

Stories do.

Relationships do.

Nearly ten years after starting this company, I still believe what I believed on day one: every organization has meaningful stories worth telling. Our job is to uncover those stories, document them with intention, and create strategic visual assets that continue opening doors long after the production day ends.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If one of my best friends came to visit Colorado for a week, I’d skip the tourist checklist and show them the places that have become part of my life here.

The first stop would be Huck Coffee on Larimer Square. Our studio is just around the corner, and Larimer Square is one of my favorite places in Denver. It’s historic, beautiful, incredibly walkable, and one of those rare places that still feels like a neighborhood tucked into the heart of a major city. We’d grab coffee, wander through the shops, admire the historic buildings, and enjoy one of my favorite little pockets of Denver.

If they’d never been to Colorado before, we’d make the short walk over to Union Station. It’s one of those places that perfectly captures Denver’s personality, where historic architecture meets the energy of a growing city. From there, we’d explore RiNo, LoHi, and eventually Old Town Arvada. I love seeing how each neighborhood has its own personality through its architecture, local businesses, and the people who bring it to life.

Lunch would absolutely be at Arty’s inside New Image Brewing in Old Town Arvada. Their burgers are worth the drive, and it’s one of those places I recommend every chance I get. Afterward, we’d stroll through Old Town, pop into the local shops, and probably spend more time there than we originally planned.

One of my favorite Colorado drives isn’t on an interstate at all. We’d head up the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway toward Nederland instead of taking the fastest route. Colorado is at its best when you’re willing to slow down. We’d wander through the little mountain town, stop at New Moon Café for a sandwich and coffee, and enjoy one of those places that reminds you life doesn’t always have to move so fast.

At some point during the week, we’d pack an overnight bag and head to Buena Vista. We’d spend the day hiking, soak in the hot springs afterward, and finish the evening with a whiskey sour at Deerhammer Distillery. There’s something about Buena Vista that feels like the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. It’s one of those places I never get tired of visiting.

When it comes to dinner, I’d skip the chains every time. If we’re craving Korean barbecue and hot pot, we’re heading to Seoul BBQ & Hot Pot in Aurora. If I want to introduce someone to Ethiopian food, Queen of Sheba on East Colfax is always on the list. For a fun evening with incredible food and cocktails, Senior Bear is one of my favorites. And if we’re feeling nostalgic and want a true Denver classic, we’d grab a table at Bull & Bush Brewery. It’s one of those places that has stood the test of time for a reason.

And honestly, if they’re my best friend, we’d probably have a tattoo appointment on the calendar too, or at least pop into one of Colorado’s incredible tattoo shops. We have so many talented artists here, and I love that tattoos become lasting reminders of adventures, milestones, and the people you experience life with.

Knowing me, there would also be plenty of spontaneous stops along the way. I’d point out interesting architecture, pull over for an incredible view, or take a different road just to see what’s there. After spending my career documenting the built environment, I can’t help but notice the stories hidden in the places around us.

What I love most about Colorado is the balance. You can spend the morning exploring a historic city neighborhood, the afternoon hiking in the mountains, and the evening sharing an incredible meal with friends. The best memories aren’t made by checking destinations off a list. They’re made through conversations, unexpected detours, and discovering places you’ll want to come back to. That’s why I love calling Colorado home.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There isn’t just one person I can point to because this journey has truly been shaped by a community of people who believed in me, challenged me, and supported me along the way.

First and foremost, my husband, Jonathan. Building a business isn’t a nine-to-five job. It’s early mornings, late nights, uncertainty, and countless conversations around the dinner table. He’s been my sounding board, my biggest encourager, and often the person reminding me to celebrate the wins instead of immediately moving on to the next challenge.

I’d also like to recognize my team at The Unfound Door. While my name may be attached to this interview, the work we’re known for is the result of incredibly talented people who care deeply about our clients and about each other. They continually push our work to be better and make me a better leader.

Professionally, I’m grateful for the clients who took a chance on a small, woman-owned business years ago. Many of them are still with us today. That trust allowed us to grow into the company we are now, and I never take that for granted.

Finally, I owe a great deal to the mentors and peers I’ve met through organizations like SMPS and within the AEC community. They’ve been generous with their advice, candid with their feedback, and willing to open doors that I didn’t even know existed. It’s reminded me that success isn’t about getting ahead on your own. It’s about helping create opportunities for the people who come after you.

Website: https://www.theunfounddoor.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theunfounddoor/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theunfounddoor/

Image Credits
Photo Credit: The Unfound Door