Today we’d like to introduce you to Karl Yost.
Hi Karl, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Photography’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Even during my 30-year career in IT, I always had a camera nearby and was the kind of person who’d stop and take a picture of something most people would walk right past. Over time, I started feeling burned out in tech and began looking for something different. Photography—something that had come in and out of focus over the years—moved to the forefront. I wanted to make something. I wanted to use my hands and have an end product I could point to and say, I made that.
Over time, I’d built up the financial security to go all in on starting my own photography business. I was also lucky to have a great employer who let me drop down to part-time for a stretch. That gave me the space I needed to make the transition, and eventually, I made the jump.
These days, I run Karl Yost Photography full-time. I shoot everything from fine art landscapes to real estate, food, products, and local events. I work with small businesses, artists, and organizations that need solid, thoughtful images. Whether I’m photographing a chef in the kitchen or a home for sale, I keep things simple, focused, and honest.
At the end of the day, I’m still doing what got me into this in the first place—paying attention, chasing good light, and making images that feel like they mean something.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth road. I was talking with some other business owners recently about how working for yourself often takes more time and energy than a typical 40-hour job working for someone else. You have to wear all the hats. Running a photography business means being the photographer, editor, marketer, bookkeeper, and more. It’s a constant balancing act between the creative side and the business side.
A lot of people imagine a photographer just shows up, takes some photos, edits in a coffee shop, and does it all over again—but that’s nowhere near the reality. Honestly, only about 25% of the time is spent taking pictures. The rest is running the business.
One of the harder parts has been tracking down work. You send out emails, follow up, put together proposals—and often hear nothing back. It can feel like you’re just shouting into the void. That part takes patience. Another challenge is helping people understand the value of professional photography. Phones can take decent pictures, sure—but what I offer goes beyond that. It’s about lighting, timing, and shooting with intent. Sometimes you have to show the difference before people really see it. But when they do, and you get to do the work, that’s the part that makes it all worth the effort.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I split my time between fine art photography and commercial work. On the fine art side, I’m drawn to quiet, often overlooked scenes—landscapes, textures, and still moments that carry a sense of mood or place. That includes the intricate details of plants and natural forms—the kinds of things you only notice when you slow down and really look. Much of that work is centered around Yellow Springs, but it’s less about the location and more about noticing what others might pass by.
Commercially, I work with small businesses, restaurants, real estate agents, and Airbnb hosts. I photograph food, products, performances, and spaces—anything that needs to be seen and shared. I want to help others succeed—whether it’s a business, a cause, or a local effort—because when they succeed, the whole community benefits. My goal is to create images that tell their story and support what they’re building.
What tends to run through all my work—whether it’s a fine art image or a client project—is just noticing things most people overlook. In my personal work, that might be a quiet scene in the woods or a small detail others would pass right by. On the commercial side, it’s often someone caught up in what they’re doing—cooking, building, performing—bringing something to life. I love catching people in that zone, in their element. It never gets old to witness. People are truly amazing when they’re doing what they do best. I try to hang back, pay attention, and make images that feel true to the moment.
I’ve had my work shown in a few exhibits and was honored to receive an award for one of my pieces. That recognition means a lot, but what matters most is when someone connects with an image. Whether it’s a print hanging in their home or a set of photos helping them grow their business, that’s what makes the work meaningful.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I’m always open to working with people—whether it’s a business that needs photos, a real estate agent looking to show a property, an artist or musician wanting to document their work, or someone planning an event that needs to be covered well and with care.
You can reach out through my website karlyost.photography or connect with me on social. I’m based in Yellow Springs and work all over the region, but I’m open to traveling if the fit’s right.
If you want to support what I do, even the small stuff helps—following along on social, sharing posts, signing up for the newsletter, or picking up a print. It all goes a long way and keeps the work moving forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://karlyost.photography
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karlyostphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karlyostphotography
- LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/karlyostphotography
