Elisa's interest in photography began in her teens; photographing children of her large extended family. This inevitably led to better cameras and equipment. She earned a BA in Social Welfare from New Mexico State University. She worked in the social services and business management fields prior to her professional photography. Her photography has been included in numerous national juried exhibitions and fairs including Contemporary Spanish Market in Santa Fe, Rennaisance Craft Fair in Las Cruces, Hubbard Museum of The America West Annual Exhibition, Photo Arts Market in Santa Fe and Ranchos De Las Golondrinas.
     Her work has been published in the Calendar of New MexicoTreasures, sponsored by The Office of Cultural Affairs in 2006 and 2007. Elisa's photographs have been used to illustrate the Legacy Report for the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office in 2006, and to illustrate all the annual reports for that department since 1999. She is a member of the Santa Fe Society of Artists.
     Chilton-Wood has worked extensively for state and national political campaigns. She has photographed such notables as Former President Bill Clinton, New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid, Presidential Candidate John Edwards, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, U.S. Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Governor Christine Gregoire of Washington State and Presidential Strategist James Carville.
     Elisa lives and works in Santa Fe, New Mexico.