We had the good fortune of connecting with Donyisha “Yash” Wooley-Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Donyisha “Yash”, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I started taking graduation photos for friends and colleagues back at Cal U in 2014-2015. After one session turned into 15 I was addicted to bringing my subjects visions to life!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Bringing visions to life keeps me busy and so I’m constantly working on setting myself apart professionally is my desire to create something that out lives both me and my subject. Challenges I faced were growing up in a smaller town where the community and school rallied behind the sports players and teams. I played sports but I excelled in music! When I decided to leave college to pursue my dream of film + photography Washington Pa didn’t really have a need for me. So I moved to Pittsburgh Pa. Pittsburghs art scene was VERY cliquey and if you didn’t know somebody who knew somebody forget about it! 2016-2017 I waited for my shot. 2018 I was given my first paid gig. The referrals started rolling in from there! I want the world to know that nobody has to give you permission to be great! “A vision without action is merely a dream”

Thanks Lauren Long owner of LaLa Salon & Spa for being my first business in Pittsburgh to book. That gave me the confidence to stop waiting for opportunities and go and seize them!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So I’ve officially been in Arizona for a yr and a spot that I’m constantly bragging on is Sumo Maya it’s Mexican Asian cuisine and Postino WineCafe! What I love most about AZ is the museums and galleries! If you’re an aspiring art collector like me then old town Thursday evenings Gallery Crawel…. A vibeeee

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to thank my mother Amethyst the vessel who carried me into this world and a special thanks to my father Myron Jones III who cultivated my artistry and creativity! Making my parents proud has always been the a big motivation!

Website: https://glimmer.io/u/qamem-ajeto-mitex-ataru/

Instagram: directedbyyash

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@directedbyyash?si=RBBrnwRdwLAz9xuN

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.