Jelisa was born in Ogden, Utah in 1969. She developed a strong interest in photography at an early age at a time when children didn’t have much access to a camera. Anticipating her first YWCA summer camp, Jelisa asked for a camera and film for her 7th birthday. Excitedly, she took a lot of semi -blurry photos of her new friends and activities at camp. She was keen to share her experiences with her friends and family and to begin making photo albums like her grandfather. Jelisa learned early about the high cost and patience required to actually get the pictures developed. One roll a week seemed an eternity to wait for the Kodak prints.