Beyond content creation, Estevão is committed to continuous learning, always exploring new techniques and staying ahead of social media trends. His dedication to innovation and storytelling keeps him at the forefront of the digital space. In this interview, we discuss his journey, the inspirations behind his work, and how he continues to push creative boundaries to shape the future of digital media.
Yuliya: Tell us when and how you moved to Seattle and why you chose the Emerald City.
Estevão: My mother married an American, my stepfather, and together they formed a new family. An opportunity arose for me to come to the United States through her about 8 months ago. As I was still under 21, this allowed me to be included in her immigration process.
My stepfather made it clear that I would have a few weeks to adapt in NY, but soon I would need to find my own home and take care of my own life. Even before I arrived, I was already looking for ways to stabilize myself and create connections that could support me. I decided to come. It was clear, despite my age, independence was an important next step; with American culture, learning English, and moving far away from my family, I was a little nervous but also excited.
It was during this process that I reconnected with a friend, someone who had been following me on social media for a long time. We developed a strong virtual friendship, and he shared his life experiences in the United States with me, which I admired greatly. I asked if he knew anyone renting a room in the city he lived in, and to my surprise, he offered his own home, willing to take me in as a roommate.
Moving to Seattle, the Emerald City, was not something that was planned in advance. As I mentioned before, after the entire immigration process, I needed to find a place to call home and start my professional career in the United States. I already had well-defined dreams in Brazil, and my goal was to achieve them here in the United States.
When I arrived in the United States in Albany, NY at my stepfather’s house, I contacted my friend to confirm that moving in with him was still an option. With great generosity, he reaffirmed that it was. He lived in Tacoma at the time, and that’s where I initially settled when I arrived in the United States. My great friend, Filipe provided the initial support that was crucial for my journey, both personally and professionally. Filipe not only offered me a place to stay, but also helped me with food, clothes, money, and getting me a job at the restaurant he worked at. I am extremely grateful for everything he did for me.
During this time when I was working in the restaurant industry, I met someone named Chloe May–a coworker at the time; we quickly became close friends. I noticed early on that we had the same ambition level and drive to reach our large goals in business. She is well-connected in the Seattle area and was willing to help me build connections. We made an agreement where she would manage my services, and we started working together to find clients and build our own system.
As I started to advance in my career and expand my connections, I realized I needed to move to Seattle. Seattle is where everything happens; it’s the center of activity. Being close to the city would be essential to increase my engagement and expand my network. That was my main goal: to create a network of relationships with people that understood and valued my work.
As time went on, not only did Chloe May and I strengthen our business structures and systems, but also our friendship. She saw the opportunity for me to move in with her in Seattle which would dramatically help my business given the number of responsibilities we had. She organized the entire process to help me relocate as quickly as possible. I am truly grateful for all the support she has given me—she has been one of the most important connections I have made here so far.
The move to Seattle was a fundamental step in my business's growth and I have been able to advance even further in my professional journey. Without a doubt, moving to the United States is one of the most significant milestones in my life thus far.
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Estevão Mendes in NYChttps://suleyera.com/fashion/exclusive-interview-estev%C3%A3o-mendes.html#sigProIda4abad6906
Yuliya: How did you become a digital content creator, and how did you acquire photography and videography skills?
Estevão: My journey as a content creator began when I picked up a cell phone for the first time when I was 11 or 12 years old. From the beginning, I was fascinated by the idea of taking photos—of myself, nature and the people around me. The idea of experimenting with different angles and seeing how light transformed each image excited me. Besides taking pictures of others, I also enjoyed capturing my own angles: This brought me immense satisfaction. During this experimental phase, I fell in love with the creative process and with the power I had to create something unique with a simple device in my hands.
Eventually I started sharing my life on social media with content I created on my cell phone. I loved creating identification, sharing experiences, and seeing people connect with what I posted. Over time, I realized my content was being consumed positively. People liked my photos, my personality, and the way I expressed myself.
From there, I got deeper into digital influence and the content creation process. However, while working at a supermarket, I felt my time and talents were being wasted. I started reflecting on how I could use my gifts to offer something of value to people. It was then that I remembered my talent for photography and editing. I enjoyed editing my own photos and got a lot of positive feedback from people regarding my editing style.
I decided to invest in my talent. Upon leaving the supermarket, I used my severance pay to buy my first camera. At the time, I was 14 or 15 years old and knew that this decision would be the first step toward turning my passion into something bigger. Soon after I bought my first camera, I realized that just having the equipment would not be enough to achieve my goals. I needed knowledge, strategies, and systems to really move forward. At that moment, my goals were not very clear, but I knew I was taking an important step by doing something different. I started by photographing friends and family, this marked the beginning of my journey as a photographer.
Soon, I realized I needed to enhance my skills even more. I began seeking more information on social media, especially on YouTube, which was a crucial platform for my learning about cameras, cinematography, and social media. As I dove into this universe, I started participating in events both in my city and in São Paulo, one of the largest metropolises in Brazil. It was during this time that I began to combine my artistic career as a photographer with my role as a digital influencer, creating content based on the new skills I was acquiring.
As I delved deeper into the world of social media, I noticed that the algorithms were changing; they were favoring videos over photos. This shift sparked a new idea in me: why not create videos as well since they were the most consumed format? With this new perspective, I decided to expand my skills into the realm of videos. I had already developed a solid foundation as a photographer, but I realized I could go further.
Over time, I became more passionate about videos than photography. Today, although I still consider myself a photographer, I am more of a videographer, as videos can capture emotions in a way that photography cannot. Video offers continuity, a narrative that creates a deeper connection with the viewer. Since then, I have fully immersed myself in the world of cinematography and found my place within it.
Estevão (Stevotake) Work in Brazil I Photo credits ©Stevotake
Yuliya: What are your ultimate goals as a content production professional?
Estevão: My goals as a content creation professional are to build a community where people can learn to develop their skills and talents, while simultaneously using them to serve and add value to others. The idea is that this exchange is a two-way street. In essence: delivering value generates positive and reciprocal returns.
To achieve this level, my team and I are creating a content creation agency. In this agency, I will teach not only how to enhance talents and skills, but also how to apply them strategically, both for personal benefit and for community growth. My goal is to support videographers, photographers, influencers, and anyone interested in the digital universe, helping them explore and maximize their potential.
Yuliya: Your work is predominantly focused on fashion. What inspired you to get into the fashion world?
Estevão: Fashion entered my life unexpectedly. I grew up in a simple environment where people did not pay much attention to it. I had no idea that what we wear conveys a message, that our clothes carry meaning for those who see us. Initially, when I entered photography, my intention was just to explore a visual and artistic field. But as I delved deeper into this journey, I began to realize that certain behaviors and choices cannot be ignored by those working in art. Upon reflecting on the photographic process, I began to better understand the role of the visual in relation to the way we express and present ourselves to the world. Along this path, one of the concepts that became clear to me was the power of fashion.
As I advanced in the world of photography, videography, and the internet, I started connecting with people from the fashion industry—professionals that demanded from me skills that I had not yet developed. It was at this point that I began to question how I presented myself to the world. Was this how I wanted to be seen? Was this what I wanted to express to the world?
I realized what I was expressing at the time, was in fact, not what I wanted to express to the world. I no longer identified with the old Estevao. By working with these people in the fashion industry, I began to reflect deeply on who I was and what I wanted to show through my work. It was then that my passion for studying and understanding more about fashion emerged. I began to see that content creation and delivering visual quality are not limited to a single isolated aspect. It is a combination of elements that, when united, form something meaningful and potentially very powerful.
I learned that fashion involves much more than clothing. Just to start, fashion involves colors, lighting, contrasts, angles, and shapes—all of these connect and create a complete visual experience. This discovery sparked a growing passion within me and an insatiable desire to explore even further. I began reaching levels that once seemed impossible for both myself and those around me. This was an amazing feeling.
The idea of uniting style and art is what inspires me the most. Through fashion, we can express our identity, reveal our personality, and even reach new levels of self-love and self-awareness. That is why fashion has become such an essential part of my life and work.
Yuliya: You have recently returned from New York City, where you have been capturing red-carpet appearances of some notable celebrities and key figures in the fashion industry during New York Fashion Week. Please share with us your experience and which particular shots and videos you are most proud of.
Estevão: I had a truly incredible experience in New York from start to finish. One fun fact is that I have a very detailed vision board hung up in my room, and on it I have NY Fashion Week! I honestly did not expect this opportunity to manifest as quickly as it did. All I can say is that I am extremely grateful. Simply being in the city and feeling all the energy it radiates is transformative. New York has a unique vibe, and being immersed in that environment was something very special for me.
One of the most remarkable moments in NYC was creating a video leading up to the Tommy Hilfiger runway, with the artist Félix, a Canadian singer who is hugely successful in Asia, especially due to his Korean roots. This video was a turning point for my social media, reaching 16 million views and counting. This post has a massive impact on my professional Instagram page and I am very proud of what I created. My goal with this video was to connect people to art in a visual way. In essence, to convey an experience that would enchant the audience, whether through aesthetics, sound, an emotional connection, or all three. The response was extremely positive and it motivated me even more.
Another video that I also loved was the one featuring a Korean influencer named Jihon, who now lives in Europe. She is an amazing person with captivating beauty and a wonderful soul. I was honored to capture this special moment in time, highlighting her beauty and I know other people felt this as well due to the positive attention the video received. Seeing people embrace what I produced there is very rewarding, not just for the recognition, but the fact that my work and skills are truly connecting with people.
These experiences at NY Fashion Week emphasized to me that the person in front of the camera is important, but the vision, the talent and the dedication I put into each creation behind the camera is what holds the most power. The final result is always a combination of technique, art, and passion. Seeing the audience react positively to the result is, undoubtedly, one of the greatest feelings.
Yuliya: Who of the celebrities you captured there inspired you the most?
Estevão: One of the celebrities that inspired me the most while I was in New York City was the Spanish singer, Bad Gyal. I am a huge fan of her work and the songs she creates. In fact, she has collaborated with one of Brazil’s most popular singers, Anitta, of whom I am also a huge fan. In fact, it was through Anitta that I discovered Bad Gyal.
It was a surreal experience having her right in front of me and being able to capture some videos. It moved me even more when she reached out to me through Instagram’s DMs to thank me and repost the videos because she really liked what I had created. That moment left me deeply inspired and gave me even more certainty that I am on the right path. I am truly starting to fulfill the dreams I have been working hard for and, simultaneously, beginning to reap the rewards. I am deeply grateful for this journey I am on and am excited for the next chapters to come.
Photo credits ©Stevotake
Estevão Mendes is a digital content creator and social media strategist with a specialization in crafting marketing strategies that drive performance on social platforms. With a strong foundation in cinematography, Estevão combines advanced visual storytelling with creative direction to produce compelling content that resonates with audiences.
Originally from Espírito Santo, Brazil, Estevão moved to the United States in early 2024, shortly before his 21st birthday. Since then, he has leveraged his expertise to collaborate with renowned brands like Intimissimi and partner with top influencers and fashion industry leaders.
A standout moment in his career so far came during NY Fashion Week 2024, where his work included a viral video with over 17 million views and a series of equally impactful projects that demonstrated his ability to create content with precision and creativity.
Estevão approaches every project with a unique perspective, adapting his role to meet the needs of each challenge, whether it’s developing a high-level strategy or overseeing a full creative production. His passion for storytelling, coupled with his drive to stay ahead of social media trends, ensures his content consistently connects with audiences and delivers results.
When not behind the camera or strategizing campaigns, Estevão enjoys exploring new creative techniques, staying inspired by design trends, and continually refining his craft as a “forever student” of digital media and marketing. He is always open to opportunities that push creative boundaries and ignite impactful conversations.
