Check Out Yury Sharlou’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yury Sharlou.

Hi Yury, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
A year ago, I landed in Los Angeles with my pregnant wife and two dogs. I had no job waiting for me. My background was in filmmaking, but I decided to try something completely new: become a self-employed photographer.

It was a huge challenge. I had no photo portfolio, no connections, and no help. I was truly starting from zero in a city full of talented people.

But I was determined. Slowly, things started to change. Now, I have regular clients. I do photoshoots for models, actors, and businesses. It’s amazing to look back and see how far I’ve come.

My clients tell me they love my creative work. That’s why they choose me. It shows me that doing what I love, and putting my artistic touch into it, really works. I’m making money doing something I’m passionate about.

Because of this success, I’ve already started doing personal masterclasses for photographers. I’m also planning to launch an online class soon. I want to help other photographers and artists bring more creativity into their work, consistently. I know how important that creative spark is, and I want to share my system with others.

My journey proves that even when you start with nothing, you can build something great if you follow your passion and work hard.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life here in LA isn’t just about taking pictures. It’s a constant juggling act, and my family is at the center of it all.

My son is 6 months old now. He needs a lot of my attention, and I absolutely love spending time with him. But I also need to help my wife. It’s a busy household!

Then there are our two dogs. They’re totally different. One is super calm and just wants to relax. The other is an Australian Shepherd, full of energy and reacts to everything. So, I have to walk them separately, twice a day, and make sure they get enough attention so they don’t go crazy. It’s a lot!

My wife is amazing, truly. She’s so supportive, and I’m incredibly grateful for all her help. She makes so much of this possible.

All of us – my son, my wife, our dogs – they all depend on me. It’s definitely challenging. But honestly, that’s what gets me off the couch every day. It’s the biggest reason I push myself to work hard and build this business. They are my motivation.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
When I take photos, I try to keep things natural. My style is often quite candid and cinematic, aiming for that classic film look. I really prefer my images to feel natural, almost like a moment caught on film.

I don’t do a lot of editing afterwards. I like the photos to be true to what I saw, not overly changed or looking artificial. I want the image to speak for itself, as it happened.

I try to create photos that have a certain feeling, whether it’s a portrait or a scene from daily life. I’ve found a lot of inspiration in the work of photographers from the past. They understood how to tell a story with light and composition in a really timeless way. That’s something I’m hoping to share in my courses – a system for being more creative, inspired by those classic ideas.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I think that’s it😊

Pricing:

• $300 for 1 hour shoot
• $350 for 2 hours personal master-class
• $199 – I pretty often doing some mini sessions

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yurysharlou.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yury.sharlou/

Image Credits
Sofa Wang, Chelsea Delgado, Anna Bella, Artem Mykhailov, Jovelle Rose, Grace Lu, Manuella Passarin, Dominique Vianney