Today we’d like to introduce you to Ha Ra Yi.
Hi Ha Ra, 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?
Oh man, I don’t even know where to begin, because photography is really just one piece of what I love to create. As long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to fashion, avant-garde looks, and the ability to curate a feeling through makeup, styling, and clothing.
I started taking photos around 2018 or 2019, before moving to Denver. At first, photography was honestly a bit of a selfish venture. I wanted to create images of myself that reflected how I envisioned myself and the stories I wanted to tell. But that quickly evolved when I started photographing my friends. I became obsessively invested in every aspect of the creative process, from styling and makeup to hair, posing, and creative direction, all in service of helping someone translate their story into something tangible.
What surprised me most was the privilege of returning those images to people and watching them reconnect with parts of themselves they had forgotten, overlooked, or never fully recognized or appreciated. Hearing things like, “Wow, you made me look like a model,” or seeing how confident and beautiful they felt in the photos completely shifted my perspective on what photography could be. I realized it wasn’t just about creating beautiful images. It was about helping people see themselves in a new light.
This creative outlet gave me the opportunity to provide people a physical reminder that they have a voice, and that the perspective they have of themselves is only one piece of a much bigger picture. We as people, can be so harsh on ourselves – especially with the influence of social media, and sometimes all it takes is seeing ourselves through a different lens to recognize our beauty, power, and individuality.
Since then, I’ve come to believe that photography has a distinct ability to remind us of our sovereignty, our individuality, and our ability to shine. That feeling of helping someone reconnect with their confidence and see themselves the way others see them is what continues to inspire me today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Woof, has it been a smooth road? Absolutely not. But honestly, nothing worth doing ever is, right?
Weirdly enough, one of my biggest struggles has been asking people to pay me. I know that sounds ridiculous coming from someone who runs a business, but photography has become personal to me. It never started as a way to make money. It started because I love creating, evoking emotions, and helping people see a version of themselves that often gets buried beneath self doubt and external expectations. A version they can revisit years later and remember, “I am that bad bitch – I am fierce, and no one can take that from me – I am everything I know I am.”
For a long time, charging for my work felt like I was asking people to pay me for something I’d happily do anyway. Maybe that’s also why I’ve always found myself straying away from the corporate world. So much of it feels impersonal and sterile, while photography, for me, is rooted in building connections and story telling. When someone trusts me enough to step in front of my camera, that’s not something I take lightly. Let’s be so for real, it’s intimidating having a giant lens in your face when you can’t see what I see. You’re putting a lot of trust in me and my vision, in hopes that I’ll take care of you. That I’ll see you the way you want to be seen, and sometimes even the way you deserve to be seen but haven’t quite been able to see yourself yet.
That trust is worth more to me than any paycheck because it means someone is willing to be raw, share parts of themselves, and allow me to tell a piece of their story. That’s something I consider an honor every single time.
With all of that said, over the years, I’ve realized people aren’t just paying for a few photos. They’re paying for the years I’ve spent developing my eye, the time spent planning and curating a shoot, the creative direction, the styling, the editing, and the experience as a whole.
I still have moments where I feel guilty sending an invoice, but I’ve learned that if I want to continue creating meaningful work, I have to value what I bring to the table. Passion is what got me here, but passion alone doesn’t keep the lights on, especially in this economic nightmare. The reality is that the more sustainable my business is, the more I can continue creating for the people who trust me with their stories.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Actually, professionally, I live in two very different worlds. By day, I’m a chemist working in the pharmaceutical industry, currently serving as a Quality Engineer. My work is rooted in science, compliance, investigation, and problem solving. It requires precision, critical thinking, and a deep commitment to protecting patient safety.
But really, photography is where my heart lives.
While science satisfies the analytical side of my brain, photography nurtures something much deeper. It allows me to weave together all the things I love like fashion, styling, makeup, storytelling, emotion, and human connection into something tangible and shareable.
I don’t think I specialize in a particular genre of photography as much as I specialize in cultivating an emotional experience through imagery. Whether that’s confidence, strength, sensuality, softness, rebellion, or joy – my goal is to help people rediscover parts of themselves that may have become quiet beneath the weight of self doubt, expectation, or life’s unruly demands. Don’t get me wrong, I also love photographing architecture, food, and liminal spaces. There’s something deeply alluring about the stories that linger within thoughtfully designed spaces, the memories woven into a meal shared among loved ones, and the way a place can stir emotion without uttering a single word. But if I were to pick a lane, I’d say portraits will always hold a special place in my heart.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a particular photo, publication, or accomplishment. It’s the messages I receive afterward. When someone tells me they cried looking at their photo, felt beautiful for the first time in years, or finally saw themselves the way their loved ones see them, that’s cake to me. Those moments are infinitely more meaningful than any award or recognition.
Maybe what sets me apart is that I approach photography as an act of care. My clients aren’t just subjects standing in front of a camera. They’re people entrusting me with pieces of themselves they may not share with the rest of the world. Being invited into that realm is something I consider a privilege and honor.
From styling and creative direction to the final image, my goal is to forge an environment where people feel comfortable enough to let their guard down and exist as they are. Long after the session is over, I hope those photographs become small anchors they can return to as reminders of their resilience, their beauty, their growth, or simply a moment when they felt fully themselves.
At the end of the day, anyone can take a technically good photo. What drives me is creating something that endures, acknowledges, and honors their personhood. Something that makes a person pause years later and remember not only what they looked like, but who they were, what they carried, and how far they’ve come. That’s the kind of work I’ll always be proud of.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
One of the most invaluable lessons I’ve learned is that while we often think we’re so different from one another, there is so much of ourselves reflected in the people we meet. The details change, the circumstances change, but so many of us are searching for the same things – belonging, acceptance, love, confidence, and purpose.
I’ve found myself connecting with people whose lives look nothing like mine. Yet somehow, within a conversation, a moment of vulnerability, or a shared experience, I discover familiar threads woven through our stories. At the same time, I’ve been deeply humbled by the contrasts in our lives and the ways those differences have shaped who we are.
Photography has become a mirror for my own growth. It’s revealed my capacity to hold space for others, especially strangers courageous enough to place their trust in my hands. There is something profoundly sacred about being entrusted with someone’s sense of self, and being allowed a small glimpse into the landscape of their inner world.
Carrying that responsibility has made me more intentional, more compassionate, and more discerning in the way I move through the world. It has heightened my awareness of both the subtle and profound ways we influence one another, shaping how I navigate life’s quiet moments as much as its defining ones.
More than anything, I’ve learned that connection is one of life’s rarest gifts. For a brief moment, strangers cross paths and exchange fragments of their humanity that might otherwise remain hidden. We leave with a deeper understanding of each other and, often, of ourselves. Being trusted with those moments is an honor that continues to humble me.
Pricing:
- 400 for 3 fully edited photos
- 600+ for group photos with 4 fully edited photos (time dependent)
- 75 each for any additional photos wanted after base price
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dynastyphotos.com/copy-of-work
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yi_jpeg
Image Credits
Lydia Lac (@sister_lydidiah)
Liz James (@Alt.HairbyLiz)
Lu (@hairmagick_by_lu)
Kenneth Paryo (@Kparyo)
Dalila Murtic (@makeupabigdill)
Photos of Spain
