Today we’d like to introduce you to Makela Yepez.
Hi Makela, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was seven years old I used to travel to San Francisco with my family and we’d always go to the De Young Museum and visit the Observation Tower. At the time my grandpa was into photography and always carried his camera around. I asked if I could see his camera and he let me take it for a few moments to take some pictures. When he got the camera back he was impressed with some of the photos I captured. That Christmas he got me my first ever camera: a Kodak digital point and shoot. Years later my fascination for cameras and photography never went away. By the time I was in middle school I was begging my parents to buy me a new camera. After consistency and determination, my parents agreed to buy me a new one that changed my life: a camera that had lenses and could be manually set and had crisp and clear images… I was set.
A few years later after traveling, taking all kinds of pictures, upgrading my camera again and taking my camera everywhere… I got to a point where I was ready to set the camera down. I figured I had my run, it was fun, but there was no longer any point to be investing in photography and definitely no point in trying to pursue it as a career. I had humbly hung up my camera for good…. Until one day a classmate of mine asked for headshots since I had a camera. I said yes and took her pictures. Now my camera can rest… until another classmate needed new headshots. Again, I picked up my camera, but this time they offered to pay me. I wasn’t even expecting money but I gratefully accepted. Soon the word got out that I was taking headshots and before I knew it I was taking headshots week after week. A professor saw my work and was impressed by them and she asked if she could refer me to other students she taught at other schools. How could I say no?
Before I realized it, I had started my photography business. Now I shoot headshots, grad pics, family events, theater shows, concerts and portraits… you name it and I shoot it. I’ve stayed booked and busy for a year and a half now and things are just getting started. Looking back now and thinking about when I was ready to call it quits with photography seems like such a silly little moment in my life because now I can’t imagine my life without doing what I love.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Money has always been and will always be an issue… with photography, it’s never as consistent as you’d like it to be. Sometimes I’ll go a month or two with no bookings… and other times I’ll have five shoots in three days… as a freelance photographer I’ve had to be as flexible as my schedule needs me to be and saying yes to everything just to afford to eat. As freelance artists support is number one. I’ve been surrounded by such a supportive group and have such a supportive family that even in the toughest times I know I’ll make it out okay.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a photographer of people. I am intrigued by humans and tearing down the expectation to look “good for the camera.” I find humanity in humans when they’re not posing or smiling but when they’re thinking and laughing. I try pulling that out of everyone I shoot. No two shoots are the same because no two people are the same. I know I don’t have the best of the best equipment so it’s my job to not take a pretty or perfect picture but a personal and unique one. I get to do this a lot with grad pics; I let my client lead the way and take charge of what they want and how they want it and then I insert my eye and skill and together we make something personal and beautiful. Photography is more collaborative than I could have ever imagined and it’s that collaboration that keeps my art dynamic and charming.
This might be a cliche answer but truly every new shoot I do is my favorite. I’m constantly learning from the shoots in the past to inform my next one and every time I get in a studio or on campus or in a venue I am learning all over again. The job never gets boring because I have so much to learn. My work grows with me and I think that growth allows for unique and adaptive shots.
How do you define success?
Success is feeling right about what you’re doing. I don’t think success is something that one can truly achieve but something one can achieve toward. It’s more of a direction rather than a location. I used to think success was being famous and rich but I’m starting to learn that wealth and fame have nothing to do with success because success is about what’s right for YOU.
Pricing:
- Headshots: $150
- Grad Pics: $150
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/makelayepezphotos
Image Credits
Tony Yap Frank Demma
