Meet John Yates

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to John Yates. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

John, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
After working in the creative industry for more than 12 years I definitely have experienced times of burn-out. It has been important for me and my business to keep my creativity alive. I have done this by continually looking for new challenges to take-on. This can look like trying new techniques within my industry or stepping completely outside of my industry to challenge myself in new ways.

It is easy to get into a rut especially when your client’s depend on you for your vision and want to see a consistent product. Doing projects just for myself and finding others who want to collaborate has been essential for me. I seek out collaborations with other creatives with diverse backgrounds to engage with. With over a decade of experience I have definitely gotten comfortable in my process and much of it can feel routine versus creative. Embracing curiosity, welcoming failure and practicing mindfulness, help me to keep the spark of creativity alive both in my work as well as everyday life.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I created Celladora Photography in 2011 as a wedding photography brand for couples who find beauty in the details, and in the moments. We blend a photojournalistic approach with beautiful “un-posed” portraits to deliver a collection of timeless photographs that tell your unique love-story.

Our brand of photography highlights a real authentic documentation of the story of each wedding we photograph. Our unique style comes from getting to know each couple on a personal basis so that we can highlight their style and not force them to fit into a cookie cutter mold.

In 2019 we added videography to our services to bring a more cohesive experience in-house for couples who wanted to have a team approach to their wedding day photography and videography. This service has been very well received and we have been able to continue to offer excellent service while increasing the services we offer to our couples.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Having a strong technical knowledge is imperative in our field. No one wants to see their wedding photographer fumbling around with their camera’s settings on the most important day of their life. Being able to be confident in the technical skills relating to photography and videography instills a sense of trust in our clients. For new photographers wanting to break into the wedding market I would recommend practicing relentlessly until you are confident in all kinds of light and situations.

Being able to offer world class customer service to our clients is one of the things that truly sets our company apart. Listening to our clients helps us to undergo this journey with only couples who are just the right fit for us and our style.

Lastly being able to be flexible has had such an impact on us. We plan for every contingency that we can think of. But we are still thrown the occasional curve-ball. Being able to adapt on the fly has shown that we are leaders in our industry.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My mother has been one of my biggest cheerleaders throughout my entire life. Having her support has been incredible. She shows me by example how to take risks and go for your dreams. She has also been successful as an entrepreneur and seeing that example has pushed me to my own success. I am extremely proud of her and all she has accomplished.

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