Today we’d like to introduce you to Yana Cooper.
Yana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started an Etsy shop back in 2014 and at that time I wanted to finally start my photography business as well but life got in the way 🙂 As I was growing my Etsy business, I never gave up on my photography dream. in 2017 my daughter was born and that’s when I knew it was time! I officially closed down my Etsy shop and started working on my photography business.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have had some bumps along the way. I’m a self-taught photographer and that comes with a lot of mistakes. I did however learn from them and they made me grow and love the photography business even more. I was striving to learn more and to perfect my art. For example, simple things like contracts are VERY important but unfortunately overlooked by many… so I would highly recommend new photographers to invest their time in creating one.
Learning about gear was another one. We live in a world with so many options and so many opinions that it can quickly get overwhelming and discouraging. So, over time after talking to lots of creatives and reading a ton of information online I started narrowing down what works for me and what I do.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a lifestyle photographer. I mostly photograph families, couples, and seniors. However, I really enjoy editorial photography. I feel like that’s where you can really show more of your creative side. I have a passion to perfecting my craft, paying extra attention to fine details, and exceeding my customers’ expectations.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I’m originally from Russia. I came to the states in 2009 to play tennis for a Division I school. I was also 16 when I started my first year in college. I’m the only child and unfortunately, my parents are still living in Russia so we go visit them when we can.
Contact Info:
- Email: yanaycooper@gmail.com
- Website: yanacooperphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yanacooperphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yanacooperphotography
