Born in Taiwan, Simon Yao immigrated to the United States in 1990. Simon’s style of photography combines his vision of the East with his experience upon moving to the West. 

Although Simon graduated from the Ohio State University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business, he took a photography class as an elective because his family always had a SLR camera, “but no one knew how to properly operate it.” His entrance into photography was purely serendipitous, but from it, he discovered his passion. 

After graduating from college, Simon had the opportunity to further cultivate his photography skills by working with distinguished portrait artists. Then, in 1999, he started his own venture—Simon Yao Studio—in his small two-bedroom apartment. However, the business quickly outgrew the space and Simon moved the studio to a site in Dublin following his second and third year of operation. Having found an idyllic permanent location in 2002, Simon Yao Studio is located on the northwest side of Columbus, nestled within the serene setting of Brookside estate. 

Since starting his own venture eight years ago, Simon has photographed over 300 weddings. His signature style of work is not only easily distinguished from other professional photographers, but is also recognized by local wedding professionals. Simon Yao is best known for introducing his clients to a unique blend of storytelling photojournalism combined with modern wedding portraiture. This approach is ideal for anyone who wants to discover and reveal a new dimension of themselves. 

Simon’s work has appeared numerous times in Columbus Bride and The Knot Wedding Pages. In fact, Simon Yao Studio has become one of the elite wedding photography studios in the Midwest. But Simon is not driven by competition—what motivates him is his love of photography and working with clients to create exceptional photographs, which are viewed as pieces of art for people to treasure forever. His genuine, warm personality, combined with absolute professionalism, allows his clients to feel at ease, yet at the same time, reflects his passion for photography. 

When asked about his job, Simon simply says, “When you enjoy what you do, it shows.”