Meet Chase Yaws | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chase Yaws and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chase, why did you pursue a creative career?
Growing up, my mom made wedding cakes, and my dad and step-mom are both tattoo artists. I struggled in school a lot. I was diagnosed with ADD when I was 14 or 15 and I rarely – if ever – felt inspired by traditional academics. Photography really caught my attention in my junior year of high-school. Not even joking, it may have been the only class I passed that semester. My teacher hung my photo up as an example of “what to do.” It was the first time that I felt real, palpable recognition from my superiors, and like so many others with ADD, that positive reinforcement spawned a full-blown obsession. Photography proved that I was capable of making something good. It showed me that my shortcomings in biology or calculus weren’t because I wasn’t smart or incapable of anything. Being creative granted me agency. It allows me to take part in moments of confidence and love. It’s vulnerable, and it helps people master their fears of how they’re perceived. It adds value to my life, and I hope that by capturing special moments of other people, it adds value to theirs.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think what sets me apart from other photographers is my identity. I’m a queer photographer, and my biggest passion project is landscape photography. The landscape photography community has definitely made strides towards inclusivity, but there’s still this sort of alpha-masculine primal attitude that has its hold on a lot of photographers in the scene. Existing as a queer person in that space makes me feel obliged to challenge and correct that behavior.

Of course there’s the normal challenges of running a business like building clientele, financial restrictions, etc. But I think my biggest challenge basically every single day is impostor syndrome. It sucks. It sucks that even after mountains of validation our brains still like to play little tricks on us and convince us that what we’re doing is meaningless, or that people won’t like it. I think a lot of creatives struggle to feel like their work is actually good enough, because we all have someone we look up to. We all have this standard of what our outcome should always be. The other big challenge is social media. There’s this pressure to create museum worthy pieces as absolutely fast as possible. If you even think about taking a break for a day your growth stunts. I learned that taking breaks is key for me. My work shines so much more when I’m not trying to pump out half baked, under researched and under prepared photos. Doing the leg work of really knowing exactly what I want out of a shoot beforehand creates a more meaningful experience for me, and better art for the viewer!

I do it all, from concert photography to landscape. My business focuses primarily on photo/video media for concerts, and lifestyle portraits for singles, couples, and families! I’ve been described as “relentlessly cheery,” and I focus on making all of my clients feel comfortable, safe, and confident when working with them. I’m dedicated to getting the best results for my clients as quickly as possible.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh boy, I can’t even keep it to one city! First and foremost, I’d say Rocky Mountain National Park. We’d cruise to Dream Lake, an absolute must see Colorado staple. On our way down the mountain we’d get brunch or breakfast at Luciles in Longmont! My favorite place for good creole breakfast, their house made orange juice is unbeatable. For dinner or lunch we’d hit Watercourse. Damn good vegan comfort food in a super terrific environment filled with friendly, passionate staff. On our way out of Denver, stop over at Central Market in RiNo and grab some chocolates and confections from Temper. I can’t even recommend just one of the chocolates because I treasure every single one of them, I’ve never had one that I was just “meh” on. For great drinks in a super cozy, upscale feeling place without ridiculous upscale prices it’d definitely be Social in Fort Collins. They have this seasonal drink called the Dapper Dan, and it might be the best whiskey cocktail ever made.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First, I’d like to dedicate this to my step-mom, Jen. She referred me for The Shoutout, and I’m forever grateful for her constant love and support. Second, I’d like to also shoutout my brother, Cannon, a graphic designer and full time creative, who inspires me to work hard at what I do and push the limits of my creativity. Third, my wonderful girlfriend, Emily for supporting me always. Whether it’s a 4amwake up call, driving 9 hours just for literally one shot, being my practice model, or just being there when I feel like a big impostor and giving me comfort. She always has my back. My mom and my step-dad, who have helped me so much. And my Dad, who always inspired me to pursue any kind of creative career and puts me on to everyone he knows. Last, every person who believes in me, but especially my friends/found family, Chan, Dalton, Jenny, Sterling, Scott, Waz, Brown, Bradon, Will, Sadler, Graham, Spencer, Bradley, Alex, Alicia, Brisa, Zack, and a whole lot more names that the readers probably don’t wanna read, so I’ll spare ’em. Everyone mentioned here is foundational to my pursuit of art full time. Thank you for your words of encouragement, being the first person to like a post, buying a print, or hiring me when I was just first starting out.

Website: https://chaseyaws.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/chaseyaws

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chaseyawsphotos

Other: chaseyawsphotos@gmail.com Please feel free to publish my contact email as well!

Image Credits
Chase Yaws