Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Jay Young.
Aaron Jay, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I moved to LA 9 years ago and had just started experimenting with photography. I met a fellow photographer who hired me to shoot some nights at clubs on the East Side which eventually lead to being hired as the set photographer for Rupaul’s Drag Race. I worked on the show for 3 seasons and their spin-off shows, “Drag U” and “All-Stars.” During this time, I discovered how much I enjoyed photographing people and started to focus all of my energy on taking portraits. I love human psychology and self-development and photographing people allowed me to combine those things with creating art. Taking a stunning portrait is very much about human connection, authenticity, creating a space that allows someone to feel safe to be themselves, to stand in their power, in the honesty of who they really are, and to be seen. For the past few years I’ve focused completely on building my own business photographing people and it has been an incredible experience that continues to teach me so much about myself and other people. I’m incredibly grateful every single day that I get to do what I love and what I am so passionate about for a living.
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road, however one thing I’ve learned is that the only person who is ever truly holding me back is myself. There have been periods of time where I allowed my fear of not being good enough, talented enough, or of failure to be the driving force and in those moments, I struggled. As soon as I had the courage to take some action in the direction of my goals despite those fears, that’s when the struggle always lessened. Having your own business and having a service that you offer for money will bring to the surface any self-doubt and shame issues you may have. For this reason, it can be one of our greatest teachers and at the same time one of our greatest challenges to overcome which has been my personal experience.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Aaron Jay Young Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Our studio specializes in photographing people. As a photographer I would say I’m most known for truly capturing someone in a photograph – capturing connection and vulnerability and authenticity. I’m also known for my ongoing self-portrait series where I explore different aspects of myself and the human condition and get to express things from my past and present and turn them into art.
The thing I am most proud of as a company is that we strive to lift people up. Being photographed is generally an uncomfortable experience for most people. We create a space where our clients feel completely safe to be themselves and to actually have a fun time and in doing that and connecting with each other, that’s when the magic happens. Every person wants to be seen, to be heard, and to know they matter. And when you walk into our studio you are the most important thing in the world to us in that moment. We hear you, we see you, and we will capture the beautiful, unique human that you are. It’s a very empowering experience.
I think this is also the thing that sets us apart from some other studios. It doesn’t matter who you are, we believe that you matter and you deserve to been seen in the best light possible.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the diversity of Los Angeles – the people and the landscape. I get to meet so many different kinds of people from all over the world within a short period of time I can be at the beach, in the snow, or in the desert. I also love the weather. You really can’t beat it. Another thing I love about LA is there’s just so much to do here, so many interesting events and places to explore.
The thing I like least about LA is the traffic. Sometimes it just seems as though the city is overpopulated.
Contact Info:
- Address: Spring and 6th street. Downtown LA
- Website: aaronjayyoung.com
- Phone: 424-335-1041
- Email: aaron@aaronjayyoung.com
- Instagram: @aaronjayyoung
- Facebook: facebook.com/aaronjayyoungphotography
Image Credit:
Aaron Jay Young
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