El Cerrito Photographer Grew Up With Cameras

Business:
 
Owner: Barbara Yasuhara

Editor's note: Yasuhara responded to questions via email.

Do you work with a partner in your business? 

Yes my life long partner and husband, Wayne Yasuhara.

What is your history in El Cerrito?

I have a short but wonderful history so far.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working with many business owners here, one being Mark Canepa of The Village Shops and Galleries in El Cerrito, who gracefully offered me a space to shoot on occasions when I (need the) use of a studio.

Mainly, I am a lifestyle photographer. My studio sessions are limited. I find that most of my photography is done on location. However, on occasion I will receive calls from an author, real estate agent, or artist requesting a head shot, and this is when you will most likely see me in the studio. My clients range from Berkeley, Albany, and El Cerrito, and all parts of the Bay Area as well.

What has been your experience of owning a business in El Cerrito?

I am honored to see El Cerrito grow in the last few years. The city is definitely taking a notice and interest in the arts. As an artist who owns my own business, this is quite pleasing.  I am anxious to see what will become of 2012, but meeting and working with so many wonderful residents, merchants, and local political figures like our mayor, I have no doubt that this city will continue to thrive, and this leads me to believe that I, too, will continue to thrive in it.

What does your business specialize in?

We would like to say that we specialize in weddings, because our passion is forever ignited each time we cover such a milestone event, but in all reality, we specialize in capturing life's moments, emotions, and the overall essence of any event.

When we receive a call for a project–whether it be a wedding, engagement, bar mitzvah, corporate, portraits or fashion–we specialize in our clients and the overall vision, concept and goal of their photography and documentation needs.

We are not only in the business of taking photographs; we are in the business of valuing our clients desire to have their event covered from beginning to end.

After all is said and done, the party is over, what remains are your photographs and memoirs.

How did you get into photography?

My mother was a portrait photographer in Havana, Cuba.  Later, she was discovered by a well known talent scout. Then, she began to work as a singer, dancer and model in Cuba, as well as many countries in Central and South America, and later the United States.  In 1960, during a tour in California, she decided to stay in San Francisco and not return to the country she loved so much.  I have newspaper clippings where she even performed at a well known Latin club in El Cerrito–I believe it was on San Pablo and Central Avenue.

I came along in 1965. My mom decided to dedicate her life to me, and just a little of the music business, but never lost her love for photography. I recall her teaching me as early as 5 years old how to operate a box camera.  

We always had many cameras in the home and the Kodak Hawkeye just happened to be my favorite. I still recall the neck strap and how cool it was to change the flash bulbs. I would have mom pose by the Christmas tree or any fancy spot, and I would snap away. 

I later developed my love of the camera and photography as I grew up, and in junior high school I became the official yearbook staff photographer. That was it for me. An additional task I took on myself in junior high school was to reach out to local businesses near the school and sell photo ads for our yearbook.  I would arrange a photo shoot with the merchants. And yes, they were published in our yearbook.  

I later continued on as a photo journalist in high school as well as becoming especially interested in covering performing arts.

In my twenties I had a musical gift, like my mom. I dedicated much of my time working a regular weekday schedule with the city and county of San Francisco, (but I was also) singing, performing and recording Latin music for several years.

Photography was limited to performing arts, and portrait photography.

My husband, Wayne, immediately won me over when I discovered that he was also a photographer. He could do wonders with a digital camera–something I had hardly ventured into since I was so in love and loyal to film photography.

Slowly, I became more and more interested in the power of digital photography and when he bought me my first digital camera, the Canon 40D, it was over. I was in love with digital photography and the ease and how affordable it was compared to film.

Why weddings?  

In 2007, Wayne and I tied the knot. I will never forget the day we received our online gallery from our wedding photographers. I was in love with viewing my photos, and seeing the day unfold as it had. My husband and I looked at each photo and laughed, cried, and were in that day all over again.  I marveled at how much our photographers captured what we had not seen.

I yearned to do this for other couples. Each and every time I capture a wedding I place myself in the bride's shoes. I take pride in getting to know each and every client. I learn about how they met, how they were engaged, their lifestyles and cultures, as well as other important dynamics of the families and the planned wedding events.

I knew instantly this was a calling, and in 2008, YStudio, (Y stands for Yasuhara) was born.

What are your favorite photo shoots?

I would have to say weddings, but anything that is photo journalistic, covering events as they happen, is my favorite. I seek emotion, glances, and the behind the scenes that clients rarely expect to find in the coverage.

Additionally, our studio has been called on a couple of occasions to document a loved one's funeral or memorial–one Military memorial as far as  Honolulu, Hawaii. We find that covering the send off of a loved is also one of the most cherished and the most honorable ways for family and loved ones to remember them.

Often at these events one might think it is all tears, but hearing the stories and eulogies and seeing people laugh and cry always tugs at my heart.  I instantly become a friend of my clients and those being honored and it brings me peace to see everyone not only mourn their passing, but celebrating their life.

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