When Yumi Matsuo declares that she's a people-oriented person, it's easy to believe.
From the moment we sit down over coffee during one of her frequent trips to Tokyo, she is chatty and warm, sharing personal anecdotes with the ease of someone who clearly loves connecting with people. It is no surprise that her business as a lifestyle and wedding photographer in New York thrives on her go-getter attitude and ability to create close connections.
"People have told me, 'I would have paid just for that hour (to hang out), it was so much fun. It was empowering and I felt great,'" Matsuo says. "I love that. In my mind, it's just as much about the experience as it is about the photos. I want people to feel great about themselves."