We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yeya Chávez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Yeya, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

My first time charging for my portrait photography was for a group of girlfriends who just wanted pretty portraits together. This was back in 2009, Facebook was hot, and all the girls wanted the best profile pics. I charged about $60 per person and it was a group of 3 girls. I divided the earnings with my sister, who would do makeup & hair for each of them to maintain a tasteful and cohesive look. We worked outdoors, using natural light. It wasn’t glamorous, but it felt like magic. Seeing how happy they were with their portraits made me realize the power of photography: to capture not just how someone looks, but how they feel about themselves. That day planted the seed for what would become my life’s work.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a Los Angeles-based photographer, born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Growing up, art was part of my everyday life—my father, a musician and songwriter, and my mother, a graphic designer, surrounded me with creativity. Our home was alive with actors, musicians, painters, and theater creatives, giving me the freedom to explore both photography and filmmaking. My parents encouraged my curiosity and experimentation, shaping my artistic foundation from a young age.

With a background in film production and portrait photography, I’ve dedicated my career to capturing the essence of entrepreneurs, business moguls, and artists, elevating their brands with refined and thoughtful portraits.

My journey has taken me from indie gems to blockbuster projects. I worked as Stella Nolasco’s personal photographer at New York Fashion Week, with my work featured in Vogue México. I’ve also spent time behind the scenes on films like Driven and collaborated with Puerto Rico’s witty theater group, Teatro Breve. As co-founder of Como Imágenes, alongside creative partner Ricardo J. Santana, I dove into music videos and artistic commercial work, igniting my passion for video directing.

Since leaving Puerto Rico and moving to the States, I’ve found a newfound calling in still life photography. It was in Los Angeles where I truly honed my voice as an artist. This passion led me to open my print shop, where I release limited edition prints each month, and share my knowledge of photography and my creative process through Instagram—an opportunity to bring my work from the digital world into the hands of others.

My eye for aesthetics and composition has allowed me to work with celebrities like Keeley Hawes, Millie Gibson, and Dafne Keen, with features in ELLE Magazine and Town & Country Magazine. Whether I’m capturing elegant portraits, showcasing beautiful products, or exploring still life compositions, I bring a distinctive blend of creativity and spontaneity to every project.

When I’m not behind the camera, I’m planning my next project or exploring new ways to deepen my love for visual storytelling. With a talented team by my side, I’m ready to take on any creative challenge—whether it’s a large-scale production, an intimate brand shoot, or the next series for my print shop.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

At this point, I just want to share what I’ve learned along the way—whether it’s about photography, storytelling, or life itself. My mission, I’d say, is to pass on that knowledge.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

So many! Off the top of my head, I’d say ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron, ‘Big Magic’ by Elizabeth Gilbert, ‘More Myself’ by Alicia Keys, the BossBabe community, and Through the Lynes eBooks.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jessicayeya.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisyeya
• Other: https://printsbyyeya.com/

Image Credits

Jazmín Caratini, Dafne Keen, Gabriel Leyva, Millie Gibson, Ricardo J. Santana