Hidden Gems: Meet Corey Reese of The Living Mirror

Today we’d like to introduce you to Corey Reese.

Hi Corey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey has been anything but traditional. Growing up, I dreamed of playing professional football and earned a full athletic scholarship to college. Although the NFL was not ultimately where my path led, that experience taught me discipline, resilience, and how to keep moving when life takes you in a different direction than expected.

After graduating with a degree in Computer Information Systems, I began working in corporate IT. Around that same time, I decided to explore modeling. That opportunity took me from the corporate world to national campaigns, television appearances, magazines, and even billboards in Times Square.

While working in front of the camera, I became increasingly interested in what was happening behind it. I understood how important it was for people to feel comfortable, confident, and properly directed during a shoot, so I began creating images from the perspective of someone who had experienced both sides of the lens. At first, I jokingly called myself a “model with a camera,” but that curiosity eventually became a serious career.

In 2008, I took the leap and left corporate America to become a full-time photographer and filmmaker. Over the years, I have built Corey Reese Photography into a business focused on branding, advertising, commercial imagery, and helping people present themselves at the highest level. What began with a camera grew into more than 17 years of working with entrepreneurs, executives, organizations, and brands.

Education became another major part of my journey. I started sharing what I had learned because I remembered how difficult it was to find practical information when I was beginning. That grew into photography courses that have now reached more than 56,000 students in over 180 countries. Teaching showed me that my work could have an impact far beyond the clients standing in front of my camera.

My interest in education and technology eventually led me into immersive media. I founded Immersive Exposure to explore a new way of learning photography, one where students could step inside real photo sessions and observe how professionals light, pose, direct, and make creative decisions. The goal was to make the learning experience feel less like watching from the outside and more like standing beside the photographer.

More recently, I created The Living Mirror, a deeply personal project that helps families preserve the stories, voices, memories, and wisdom of the people they love. The idea grew from filming members of my own family and realizing how many meaningful stories we had never taken the time to ask about. Those conversations created laughter, tears, and moments our family will be able to revisit for generations.

Today, I consider myself a photographer, filmmaker, educator, and technology founder, but storytelling connects everything I do. Whether I am helping a business communicate its value, teaching someone across the world, building an immersive learning experience, or helping a family preserve its history, my goal is to create work that remains meaningful long after the moment has passed.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. One of the first major challenges was leaving the stability of corporate America to become a full-time photographer. I had a degree, a reliable career, and a predictable paycheck, but I also knew I would regret not giving myself the opportunity to build something of my own. That decision required a lot of faith, discipline, and a willingness to start over in an industry where nothing was guaranteed.

Building a creative business came with its own set of challenges. Talent alone was never enough. I had to learn marketing, pricing, sales, customer service, contracts, and how to consistently bring in new business. There were seasons when work was strong and others when I had to adjust quickly. Over time, I learned that entrepreneurship is less about avoiding problems and more about becoming better at solving them.

Expanding into education and technology created an entirely different set of obstacles. Photography was familiar, but developing immersive platforms meant working with software, hardware, developers, and technology that was constantly changing. There were delays, technical setbacks, unexpected costs, and moments when ideas did not perform the way I expected. I also learned that being early can be both an advantage and a challenge. You may see where the world is going before the audience is ready to go there with you.

I have also had to make difficult business decisions, including closing projects or spaces that were not producing the results I needed. Those moments can feel personal when you have invested your time, money, and identity into something. However, I have learned that holding on to the wrong direction can be more damaging than having the courage to pivot.

The biggest lesson has been to stay connected to the purpose without becoming overly attached to one method. The camera, the classroom, immersive technology, and The Living Mirror may look like different paths, but they are all connected by storytelling and impact. Every challenge has forced me to become more patient, resourceful, and willing to evolve.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Living Mirror?
The name of my business is The Living Mirror.

The Living Mirror helps families preserve the stories, voices, wisdom, memories, and personalities of the people they love. We create immersive filmed interviews that allow individuals to share their life experiences in their own words, while their families still have the opportunity to ask the questions that matter most.

The idea came from filming members of my own family. I realized there were so many stories, experiences, and pieces of family history that we had never taken the time to ask about. During those conversations, we laughed, cried, learned things we had never known, and became even more connected. That experience made me understand that preserving someone’s story is not only about what a family will have one day. It can also bring people closer together right now.

What makes The Living Mirror different is the feeling of presence. This is not simply a documentary or a collection of short video clips. We film each person in an immersive format that makes the viewing experience feel much more like sitting in the room with them. Families can listen to their stories, hear their voice, experience their expressions, and revisit those conversations for generations.

We specialize in helping families document parents, grandparents, elders, and other loved ones whose stories deserve to be preserved. We also work with organizations that serve families and older adults, including senior living communities, churches, funeral homes, and legacy-focused professionals.

What I am most proud of is the emotional impact. The technology is important, but the real value is in the conversations it creates. Families often discover stories they never knew, gain a deeper understanding of the people they love, and walk away with something that becomes more valuable over time.

I want readers to understand that The Living Mirror is not about waiting until someone is gone to appreciate their story. It is about recognizing the value of their life, voice, and wisdom while they are still here, and creating an experience that can be shared today and preserved for future generations.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice is to start before you feel completely ready. Most of the confidence, clarity, and skill you need will come through doing the work, making mistakes, and learning how to adjust.

I also wish I had understood earlier that being talented at your craft and building a successful business are two different skills. You have to learn how to communicate your value, market yourself, manage money, serve people well, and create systems that allow the business to grow beyond your individual effort.

Consistency has mattered more in my career than any single opportunity. There will be seasons when things move quickly and others when it feels like nothing is working. You cannot allow every slow period, rejection, or setback to make you question the entire vision. Sometimes you need to stay the course, and other times you need to be honest enough to change direction.

I would also encourage people not to become so attached to the original version of an idea that they miss what it could become. Many of the opportunities in my career came from being willing to evolve, whether that meant moving from modeling into photography, from photography into education, or from traditional video into immersive storytelling.

Finally, build something that means more to you than money alone. Revenue is important because a business has to survive, but purpose is what keeps you committed during the difficult seasons. The clearer you are about who you want to help and why the work matters, the easier it becomes to make decisions and continue moving forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thelivingmirror.co/