Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Ybarra.
Hi Jay, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was always into cameras from a young age. The earliest memory I have of taking my own photos were one of those little plastic 110 film cameras, with the flip up viewfinder. I don’t recall if I ever developed any of those, but I definitely liked acting like I was taking photos. That was really the extent of my camera knowledge up until about middle school, when my mom had bought a video camera that would use DV tapes. I got much more use out of that than she did for sure. I would keep it with me, record videos of friends skating. That interest followed me to high school where I took a media tech class, and got more familiar with how to use a camera. I never really pursued video outside of that though. I eventually did find some SLR cameras at a Goodwill with some decent lenses, and that’s when I really fell in love with photography. I never really intended to get into portraiture, but I got a little bored of taking photos of the city and random things around the neighborhood. The more and more I started working with people the more fun I had with it, and now it’s the main thing I do.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been too bad. I think the hardest part was always trying to find my groove. What I liked, and how I wanted my photos to look. I used to edit on a really old laptop that had a terrible screen, so photos anywhere else but that computer looked a little strange as far as colors. Skin tones would always look a little too yellow, or dark. I think my style will always continue to keep changing though.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a photographer. I really love street photography, but I quickly learned that Austin really isn’t the best place for that. I love portraiture though. I like how photos make people feel. I always try to make people feel powerful in front of the camera. I think what people notice right away when they see my work is the diversity of the people in my photos. I really like interesting styles and looks, so a lot of the time I look for that over a typical “model” look.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Since I’ve been getting back into film, always have to have a light meter app on my phone. A lot of videos I watch on YouTube are mostly film photographers. I think once you find one you like; you will get suggested a ton of different ones. My inspiration has always been Hip Hop, so The Source Magazine has been something I looked at as a kid, as well as album booklets. I have a great book called “Contact High” that I found a lot of inspiration from.
Contact Info:
- Email: photo.jay.photos@gmail.com
- Website: jayybarraphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photo.jay/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photojayphoto/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/_photojay
Image Credits
Bianca Gonzalez Cande Aracely Devri Velasquez Ishia and Melissa Adams Sydni Adams
