My name is Misha Bruk, and I create filmed legacy conversations with elders who are ready to share the truths, wisdom, and beauty of their life story. These are not scripted interviews -- these are sacred dialogues in which we take deep dives into the core of each person, and traverse their inner terrains.
I've always been highly empathic and intuitive, and have the capacity to hold space for profound insights to surface from within. I help bring forth major themes and elements that make a life extraordinary. The process of creating these videos is a chance to be fully seen and heard, and to offer something truly meaningful to future generations.
This project began with my aunt. At 93, she was starting to get a little forgetful. We sat her down for a simple interview — she spoke about her childhood, meeting her husband, and what had mattered most to her. She passed seven years later, at the age of 100. When an 18-minute version of that interview was played at her Celebration of Life, it became the most powerful part of the gathering. Seeing the effect it had on people — the emotion, the clarity, the connection, hearing my cousin (her son) roar with laughter — stayed with me. It was my child's idea to start a family archive back then, but it wasn’t until years later that this idea took root in a much deeper way. Now, I create legacy videos that go beyond memory. These are spacious, guided conversations that honor presence and uncover deep truths and the threads that define a life.
Why This Work Matters to Me
I studied architecture at UC Berkeley, but it was a beginning black and white photography class in my final semester that truly changed the course of my life. The darkroom felt familiar — my first memory of photography was in childhood, helping my dad set up a makeshift darkroom in our bathroom. I still remember the red glow of the lightbulb and the magic of watching images slowly appear in the developer tray. That awe never left me.
After graduating, I became an architectural photographer instead of pursuing a career as an architect — this was 1989, long before digital. Over time, my work expanded to include people. I began photographing events and doing headshots, mostly at Stanford University, and eventually had a breakthrough: I realized that a great headshot wasn’t just about lighting and angles — it was about creating a meaningful experience in the moment. In just 15 minutes, I could help someone see their own value — and then see it reflected right back in their eyes and capture it in a photo.
This approach led to creating short videos for professionals, helping them share who they really are on their websites. The process was about uncovering their “superpower” — something they do so naturally, they almost overlook it — and creating what I call a fresh story. A fresh story has energy. It’s alive. It surprises even the person telling it.
The inspiration for legacy videos came not from a client, but from family. After my aunt passed at 100, an 18-minute video of her was played at her celebration of life. That video—simple, unpolished—became the most powerful part of the day. I realized then how deeply this kind of storytelling matters.
Today, I bring everything I’ve learned — about light, presence, listening, and trust — into each legacy video. This work isn’t about performance. It’s about helping people feel truly seen, and preserving that feeling for the people they love.