We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Yrsina Colangelo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Yrsina below.

Yrsina , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about how you got your first non-friend, non-family client. Paint the picture for us so we can feel the same excitement you felt on that day.

When my son was seven years old, I volunteered as much as I could to help in his art classes, take pictures, helping with projects wherever I could to be the momma bear I am as long as I was closer to him.

His dad and I signed him up in football, soccer, baseball, and lots of outdoors activities. I always loved photography and I took a few classes in the Dominican Republic, where we come from, but of course I started in the dark room with chemicals and papers. I switched to digital in 1994 two years before my son was born.

I volunteered to be the photographer for Sebastien’s teams for each sport, then I shared the pictures as a gift to the parents.

One day, this nice lady (Judy) asked me if I wanted to do a photography job for her. I said yes without knowing that Judy’s connections would be the beginning of a great friendship and the start of my company. She was in an executive position at the San Diego International Airport in charge of all the parties, events and activities. Judy and her husband Mike introduced me to lots of future clients and other companies. This combined with my volunteer work here and there, YC Photography was born. I have great friends who believe in me, who support me and keep referring me to others. I started donating my time at my church, New Break, doing lots of our events for the community. I started giving family sessions for military families even before I knew I was going to be a NAVY mom.

My company thrives on referrals, volunteering, giving and positive reviews of my services on social media.

I believe that giving is the best feeling in the world, however, the most important things are the relationships you build through the years when you are passionate and you put your heart in everything you do.

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

My aunt Kitty would always follow me around with the camera since I remember. It didn’t take me long to want to be on the other side of the lenses, taking photos myself.

After I graduated from high school, I went to Laie a fashion school and I took modeling and fashion design classes. Few years later in 1993, I participated in Miss Dominican Republic, won one of the titles and met two wonderful photographers who inspired me a lot Marian Balcacer and Michele Maunier.

I love being a photographer and share my passion with everyone I meet and capture. I believe that every client is unique, and I am ready to customize anything to match their specific needs. I give my all in every interaction I have so it’s fun and unforgettable.

I try my best to connect with my clients, so I understand exactly what they are trying to achieve or what they want to communicate through my images.

I’d love to help make one of the most important moments in their life be an experience to remember for years.

I love when I visit their homes and I see an entire wall with the pictures I took, In my heart I feel their walls are my galleries. That feeling is indescribable.

I love shooting weddings, engagement, portraits, family, pregnancy, newborn, sports, quinceañeras, parties and events, and also commercial and products.

I love watching the families grow through my pictures. From graduations to surprise proposals, then engagements, then planning their weddings with them, few years later capturing their newborn, then family photo sessions every year and some events in between.

Lots of my clients treat me like family and that is feeling is “priceless”.

One of the best ways to support an artists is by tagging them and writing the credits when they post on social media. It’s greatly appreciated.

I know we have lots of people in this industry, but I firmly believe what makes us unique and separate us from each other is our passion, personality, attitude and of course creativity.

I had situations where I had to put the camera down and make the bouquets, because the florist didn’t make it on time. Fix the arch because the wind blew it, get on the microphone very calm, because the military base was in locked down and the guests need it to stay inside longer. I remember flying to New York to shoot a wedding and end up doing the bride’s make up, because the make up artist got stuck on the bridge. I have some stories… LOL

I think we always have to give and do more than it is expected in life, that will sets us apart from others.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

“Built a team so strong you don’t know who the boss is”

I love this quote and live by it!

I work with an amazing dedicated hardworking team. We all give our best, we share the credit no matter who brings the client.

We are a family of photographers and videographers who give their all and the best.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I was living in France when my 26 years old husband died of cancer. I was 25 and my son was 21 months old. I didn’t ask “how I’m going to do it alone”, I just did it, with a smile on my face and an open heart.

I taught my son to be independent. I taught him everything a dad normally teaches a son, but I became officially momma bear! That’s how his friends and few of my colleagues who work with me call me.

That time in my life defined a lot who God created me to be, a warrior. I do not give up no matter the circumstances, and I make sure I give my best, because my son is watching me.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.ycphotography.com
• Instagram: Ycphotographysd
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ycphotographysd?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/dZZpoEGhjy

Image Credits
Sharon Cooley Photography (2 images)