Meet Riley Yahr | Graphic Designer & Photographer

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

Hi Riley, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I decided to pursue a career in the creative field because that’s what makes me happy. I’ve always wanted my work and career to be fulfilling and make me happy considering so much of our lives are spent working.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I went to college for art & design with a major in photography. Straight out of college I decided to forgo the traditional route of working at a company and decided to become a freelance graphic designer and photographer with a goal of someday becoming an art director for a print magazine. Despite one of my professors telling me It’s very unlikely that will happen and that I should pursue a career in commercial photography instead, I followed my heart and set out to become an art director. Hard work and a bit of luck eventually lead me to a job as an art director for a print magazine.

To this day, I work part-time as an art director, with the other half of my time spent running my business Riley Yahr Creative Studio where I help small businesses with photography, graphic design, branding, and digital marketing. It brings me so much joy helping other businesses grow and reach their full potential.

I got to where I am today with a lot of hard work, mistakes, and patience. I struggled financially for years but I’m proud that I never gave up.

My journey has taught me: Follow your heart. Do what you love. Work your ass off to get where you want. Don’t become discouraged by others. Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone is on a different path.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m lucky to live in beautiful Santa Barbara. A few of my favorite things to do is grab a pizza at Revolver, have a picnic at the Rose Garden at the Mission, take in the panoramic views at Francesci Park, kayak around the pier, sip on a glass of wine in the Funk Zone at Helena Bakery, walk the dogs at Mesa Lane Beach, enjoy a fancy coffee drink at Caje, walk down State Street…

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Parents. My father’s work ethic combined with my mother’s encouragement to pursue my dreams have helped me in my success.

Website: https://www.rileyyahr.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rileyyahrcreative/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rileyyahr/