Today we’d like to introduce you to Joel Yarde.
Hi Joel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
It started when my graduation ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19. Because of that, I wanted to do something special for achieving my degree. I decided to get a camera and take pictures of myself with my cap and gown. From there, I really loved how the pictures turned out and decided I wanted more of this type of quality. Photography then became a hobby to where I just took pictures of anyone or anything that caught my attention. What I found that I liked capturing the most is people. Many people saw the pictures that I have taken and thought it was really good and started to ask, “Why don’t you start a business?” When the idea of turning my hobby into business was brought up, it scared me. I always said to myself that I didn’t want my passion to change. Shifting my hobby’s direction was something I always avoided; however, because of the people that supported me motivated me to give it a chance. When my hobby transitioned into a business, my passion for it grew stronger! I wanted to learn more and do more, and started to purchase more equipment. I love finding new ways to provide clients an unforgettable experience. This experience, is what I like to call, “Justicee”.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There are some challenges that I faced in the beginning of my business. One of the major struggles was not getting enough bookings. I had a lot of people ghost me on potential bookings either because the price was too high or they didn’t have a reason for photos. There was a lot of frustration I had, and it definitely challenged me mentally; however, I believe this was an experience I needed to go through in order for become who I am today. Most importantly, what helped me through the struggles was putting God first.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in portraits, but I love to challenge myself in shooting for other genres. What I am proud of the most of my work is the positive effect it has on people. Seeing the reviews of what clients have to say about my work gives me reassurance that I am doing right by them. What sets me apart from other photographers is how well I communicate with my clients. I will always want to make sure that they are given exactly what they are looking for and adapt to changes that may occur. According to my clients, what makes me very unique from most photographers is how comfortable I make them. They start off being camera shy, but in ways I communicated with them helped them to be open and feel a lot more comfortable.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
One thing most people that know me might not know about is that I am always envisioning a version of someone that they might not see about themselves. Ever since I became a photographer, every person I look at, I will always think about the traits that they have and how I can use it for their picture. Sometimes, I even ask myself, “If I were to take a picture of them, what pose would I have them do?” I always tend to visualize a particular look of someone based upon their looks, wear, and their personality.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.justiceephotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justiceephotography/
Image Credits
@JusticeePhotography
