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

Hi Ayaka, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I was a classically trained violinist for 15 years, and that taught me how to work really hard. I think it can be difficult to find success as an artist, because being creative and running a business require totally different skills. I always try to be respectful of my clients’ time, from quick email replies to turnaround times. I think clients really appreciate my timeliness and attention to detail.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I specialize in Portrait and Fashion Photography. I think what sets me apart is my attention to detail, unique compositions, utilizing motion in photos when I can, and my very fast turnaround time. I also prioritize people’s skin tones because I believe that is extremely important. When working with a diverse array of people, I want to make sure I know how to handle everyone’s skin tone in many different settings. I think it’s never easy starting your own business and I’ve definitely had some challenges along the way, but I think at the end of the day you have to do your best and know and recognize that you’ve put your best out there. I’m proud of the work I’ve done and strive to get better as the years go by. I love learning and trying new things and I think that is truly the only way to grow and be better.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It’s funny because people often ask me if I went to school for Photography. I actually completed my Masters in Music at Indiana University (years ago) and I feel like I learned so much about how to work hard, be efficient, and manage my time there. One summer I also had the pleasure of assisting conductor Cliff Colnot who taught me to be very timely in responding to emails and that is still ingrained in me. I think communication is such a big part of being a business owner and that is definitely a skill I learned back then.

Website: www.ayakasano.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayakasano.co/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayaka-sano-47415187

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ayakasano.co

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