Osaka native, expatriate, outsider, business woman, observer, confidante, New Yorker: Yoko Essel’s unique approach to photography is a reflection of who she is. Having been on both sides of the camera, she knows what it is to endure being photographed. Having struggled with bridging cultural impasses, she knows how to reach across a communication void. For Yoko, photography is the realization of an understanding between her and her subjects. And in realizing her clients’ vision, her photography then becomes their communication to the world – the emergence from light and shadow of their inner self.

The daughter of a successful business man, Yoko was born and raised in Osaka, a large, bustling city renown for its cuisine, savvy merchants, and fast pace. The Osaka sense of humor has been compared favorably to that of New York: quick-witted, self-deprecating, and down-to-earth. In fact, in Japan, cultural stereotypes depict a conversation between two Osakans as “manzai,” a comedy routine featuring two people, and many noted Japanese stand-up comics come from Osaka.

As a child, Yoko often assisted in her parent’s pawn shop, waiting on customers helping to manage the accounts. True to her Osakan roots, customer service came easily to her. She learned early on how to listen to customers, and to resolve problems so as to both respect the clients and benefit her parents’ business. (That keen Osakan sense of humor, which so often transcends business, came into good use.) After graduating from college, she expanded her commercial experience by working as a customer service representative in a major department store. In Japan, a country which values discretion and etiquette, this position is highly demanding, requiring tact, extreme politeness, and an unerring instinct for service.

By her early 20s, Yoko longed to immerse herself in a new experience, and wanted to be challenged in a completely unknown city, preferably one in which she had a limited knowledge of the language. New York fit the bill, and she came for a short visit, not realizing she would quickly fall in love with the city. The urban rhythm, fast pace, and earthy humor were innately familiar to her. The relaxed societal and racial boundaries were new to her; she was intrigued by the depth of interaction between strangers and across economic and ethnic lines. Her first visit to New York was transformative in many ways – she met her future husband, renowned photographer Robert Essel.

Upon marrying Robert (after a lengthy long-distance courtship), Yoko made New York City her permanent home. In her English-language classes, she discovered a like-minded community: expatriates from Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East who became her international family. The language difficulties she and her friends experienced (English was their common language) made their communication more direct and honest.

While initially uninterested in pursuing photography, Yoko used her business savvy and customer relation skills in assisting Robert, and even modeling for him on location shoots and in the studio. Eventually, she began to experiment with amateur photography, playing with lighting and camera settings out of curiosity. Robert quickly recognized her innate talent, and began teaching her professional skills. Her photographs began to attract attention, and she started taking on small projects, becoming fascinated with the process of revealing her subjects inner selves. As her passion and skill have become recognized, she has steadily expanded her professional work experience. Her current client list includes performers, small businesses, organizations, and individuals.