Brandon Friederich – Maxim
“A great model is someone open to pushing boundaries and embracing unconventional settings. Sometimes this means hiking to a remote location, braving cold temperatures or working in public spaces.”
“I gravitate toward minimalist locations—deserts, snow-covered landscapes and water scenes, where the focus remains on the subject without distractions. To find these spots, I rely heavily on tools like ChatGPT for initial research, then dive into Google to visualize the location and plan how the model and the scenery will interact.” Not only does Yaro need to be willing to venture to these entirely remote locales, but so does his subject. “To me, a great model is someone open to pushing boundaries and embracing unconventional settings,” he explains. “Sometimes this means hiking to a remote location, braving cold temperatures or working in public spaces. The best photographs are born from a combination of the model’s personality, the light and the location.”
Yaro is of course partial to shooting in his homeland, but aside from Ukraine, he’s got a short list of favorite destinations. Nepal recently left a lasting impression after he beheld (and braved) the Annapurna Circuit—a mountainous 81-mile trek that circles the Annapurna mountain range’s massif and apexes with the Thorong La pass at 17,769 feet. In Namibia, Yaro got close to a native tribe and even walked alongside a cheetah when he wasn’t lensing au naturel model shots in the country’s namesake desert. Greece is another favorite, specifically the island of Mykonos, as are Morocco and Iceland. You’ll find shots from these excursions and others if you join the 480,000 who follow Yaro on Instagram. But for all the Continued from page 53 envy-inspiring travel porn, it’s important to remember that his penchant for working in challenging locations has brought about more than one harrowing situation.
“During a shoot near the active Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua, I was poisoned by toxic fumes and nearly lost consciousness,” he recalls. “I’ve also photographed in the dangerous Rocinha favela in Rio de Janeiro, where I narrowly avoided trouble with local gangs. Additionally, I sometimes cover global protests or revolutionary uprisings, such as the massive demonstrations in Paris in May 2023, where the risk of arrest was high.”
Continue scrolling through his IG feed and you might spot an alternative subject that seems juxtaposed amid the rest of his material: supercars. “I have a deep appreciation for extraordinary cars,” he says. His own Maserati Quattroporte S Q4 in its top-tier trim makes an occasional appearance, not to be outdone by a Lamborghini Huracán or Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe. The inclusion of these vehicles makes perfect sense when you remember that Yaro is a citizen of Florida’s Magic City, where high-end dealerships are abundant and multiple luxury marque-branded residences are breaking ground.
“Living in Miami, where there’s always a focus on the trendiest elements of a lavish lifestyle—luxury cars, yachts and more—it feels fitting to embrace this aesthetic,” he says. “Photographing models with opulent automobiles captures a unique atmosphere of style, success and luxury. This combination not only commands attention but also underscores prestige and elegance.”
Yaro isn’t alone in photographing pretty girls and fast cars in striking settings. But, as you can see, he has a singular style. And that’s all that matters. As he puts it, “The world is full of talented photographers, but standing out requires a distinctive style and relentless dedication. You don’t need to be ‘better’ than others—what matters is doing it differently.”
