Chayo Mata is a beauty and fashion photographer working and living in New York. She is a professional that was born in San Antonio, Texas, who graduated from ETSU with a BA in Commercial Photography and moved to NYC where she exclusively assisted for Steven Meisel (from American and Italian Vogue) for three years. Since then she has been professionally shooting for 7 years in New York.

"Working with Steven Meisel, an icon in the photography world was the most valuable education and experience for my career. However, my greatest inspiration came from my parents. I remember seeing my father’s 35mm Minolta camera on his shelf. No one was allowed to touch it, and it was considered the most valuable piece in the house. A carpenter by trade, he was a weekend photographer. His favorite shoots were couples happiest days, their weddings.

I looked at that prized position for years, and often felt it was a magical instrument that had the ability to unleash great beauty, and great truth.

Then in high school a course was offered in photography, and I was allowed to find my own eye for beauty and truth. I was fully entranced and knew I had found my life's passion, even at such a young age. As I moved into my college years I attended San Antonio College and I began to shoot portraits. Although simplistic, they were so soul stirring and beautiful I knew this was not only my soul's passion, but also how I would move into making my career.

I am thankful for my father's untouchable camera, as it stirred me. My gratitude will always be with my parents for their undying support of my life choices.

I have been shooting digital since the beginning of my shooting career. I was shooting 5% digital then and now I shoot 99%. What keeps me alive is growing in multi media. Learning how to use new tools, various software, cameras, or working with any new technology gets me excited! Today I continue to find beauty in everyone and enhance or emphasize the beauty they have to offer".

"I always look for the beauty a person has to offer. I like to contribute with my art with Photoshop and Illustrator to empathize or enhance their beauty. School seems to be a forever element in my life". Chayo Mata

Fashion photographs sometimes seem easy to be taken since they always evolve good looking people, nice productions, fantastic make ups and some pretty cool ideas, but all of that without a great talented eye behind a camera is not that much. The photographers at this kind of shooting have to see the beauty beyond the person that is posing, need to capture the whole atmosphere of the scene in a unique way to get the attention of the people they intent to reach. And besides that they also need to make the models feel comfortable with them so the photo will look more natural, beautiful. As you will be able to see here, putting all that together is pure art! So enjoy it... ;)

Check out other photos from Chayo at her Website.