We recently connected with Yael Nov Donay and have shared our conversation below.

Yael, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Though I believe I am still on my journey to success (and it’s not always a linear path), I believe that it is crucial to surround yourself with kind and empathetic people that you can connect with on a real level. Whether commercial clients or the families that I photograph, image-making and any kind of creative work require a level of vulnerability, trust, and authentic connection. Artists and creators entrust me to document their work in a meaningful way. They share their designs or their art with me and allow me to capture it so it can be shared and seen. When I get to know my clients on a deeper level, this foundation of respect and mutual understanding comes through in the images.

After becoming a mother, I have shifted a lot of my photographic focus towards family portraiture as well. Now understanding how challenging it can be as a mom to be in front of the camera with your kids, it is my goal to create this opportunity for more parents. The time with our little ones flies by, and it is my absolute pleasure to capture some of these special moments for my clients. To capture these beautiful memories, it is crucial to create an environment of ease and comfort. Spending time getting to know each family before we begin our session goes a long way in creating meaningful images.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I studied Art History and Photography at the University of Washington. I continued my studies at Art Center College of Design (which is what brought me down to California), where I experimented with a variety of media and materials, but always seemed to come back to photography. I don’t like to pigeonhole my work in a specific category, but I typically shoot lifestyle and portraiture. I love to work with brands and designers to bring their work to life through visual storytelling. I utilize my background in fine arts to inject every image with my aesthetic influence. Whether a fashion lookbook or a family photo session, I strive to elevate and celebrate small details. I have always been interested in capturing the beauty in the everyday.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

We live in a time when people are more connected and simultaneously disconnected than ever. Social Media can be a beautiful tool for finding other creatives or an audience for your work. I have found some wonderful, fun, and interesting clients through my Instagram. Our in-person communities can be a great resource and support system, but allowing that community to expand via social media can help find new brands and individuals to work with through a new kind of “word of mouth”.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

When I work with a client, I truly believe in the importance of creating an authentic connection. As I mentioned earlier, image-making requires a level of vulnerability and I don’t take that for granted. I strive to stay connected with my clients, through social media and engaging with their brand or small business and with individuals and families by staying in touch and checking in throughout the year. For me, it’s incredibly important to foster a community with my clients. I have had the pleasure of working with a lot of great businesses that create awesome products, so it always feels good when I can support their business the way that they have supported mine.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.yaelnovphotography.com
• Instagram: @yaelnov
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaelnov/

Image Credits
Portrait of Yael by Natalie Myers. All other images by Yael Nov Donay