Today we’d like to introduce you to Hazel Yanes.
Hi Hazel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always loved creating. Long before I thought of it as a business, I enjoyed helping people to create their ideas through whatever I have in my hands.
I began my creative journey in El Salvador around 2006, and a few years later, TELOCREO officially came to life with the encouragement and support of my family, especially my father. Like many small businesses, our path wasn’t always predictable, and there were seasons when family challenges forced us to slow down and rethink our plans. Looking back, those experiences strengthened my faith, deepened my perspective, and reminded me that success is never built alone.
When I moved to the United States in 2015, I found myself starting over. I had to learn a new culture, rebuild my career, and earn people’s trust in a completely different environment. Working in the printing industry at The UPS Store became one of the most valuable chapters of my journey because it gave me hands-on experience serving entrepreneurs, churches, nonprofits, and local businesses while expanding my knowledge of branding, production, and customer service to start TELOCREO here in the United States.
Today, TELOCREO has grown into a creative studio that brings together strategy, design, photography, publishing, and print. None of it would be possible without the people God has placed beside me. My husband Jorge has been my greatest encourager, and our daughters inspire many of the projects I create today, especially those for homeschool families. Their love and support remind me that the most meaningful work is built together.
At the heart of everything I do is a simple desire: to use the creative gifts God has given me to help others communicate their stories with purpose, preserve meaningful moments, and create work that makes a lasting impact.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, and honestly, I don’t think I would change that. Every challenge has shaped both my business and my character.
One of the hardest seasons came when my family went through unexpected circumstances that changed the direction of our lives. It reminded me that even the best plans sometimes have to pause, and that faith, perseverance, and the support of the people around you matter more than having everything figured out.
Starting over in the United States brought a new set of challenges. I had to rebuild my career, adapt to a different culture, and earn the trust of clients in a completely new environment. Those experiences stretched me professionally and personally, but they also gave me valuable experience that continues to influence my work today.
As an entrepreneur, I’ve also learned that creativity is only part of the journey. Building a business requires patience, learning new skills, creating systems, understanding your value, and continuing to grow even when progress feels slow.
Today, one of my biggest balancing acts is being both a business owner and a homeschooling mom. Rather than seeing those roles as competing, I’ve learned to embrace them together. Many of the ideas that have become books, educational resources, or creative projects were born through everyday moments with my family.
Looking back, I see God’s faithfulness through every season. The road wasn’t easy, but each obstacle became part of the foundation that shaped the business I have today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about TELOCREO?
TELOCREO is a creative studio built on the belief that every meaningful project begins with purpose.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with entrepreneurs, churches, nonprofits, authors, homeschooling families, and organizations at many different stages of their journey. Some come with a clear vision, while others simply know they have an idea but don’t know where to begin. One of the things I enjoy most is helping people find that clarity before we ever begin designing.
Our work includes brand identity, strategy, marketing materials, photography, self-publishing support, educational resources, custom printing, and memorial design. Creating memorial pieces has become one of the most meaningful parts of what we do because it allows families to celebrate and preserve the life of someone they deeply love with beauty, dignity, and care. Every project, whether it’s a business launch, a family keepsake, or a tribute to a loved one, deserves the same level of thoughtfulness and attention.
I believe what sets TELOCREO apart is that we don’t start by asking, “What should this look like?” We start by asking, “What is this meant to accomplish?” Strategy comes before design because beautiful work should also communicate clearly, solve problems, and reflect the heart behind the message.
The part of my work I’m most proud of isn’t a particular project or achievement; it’s the creative process itself. Time after time, I’ve experienced what it’s like to begin with uncertainty, take the first step in faith, and watch God provide clarity, creativity, and direction along the way. Seeing an idea grow from a simple conversation into something that is printed, published, displayed, shared, or treasured by a family is incredibly rewarding. That transformation never gets old.
If there’s one thing I’d want readers to know about TELOCREO, it’s that we’re not simply creating designs; we’re helping people communicate their stories, preserve meaningful moments, and build resources that serve others for years to come. I hope that every project we create reflects excellence, intentionality, and the love with which it was made.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Behind TELOCREO has always been a story of support, collaboration, and people who have shaped who I am today.
My first teachers were my parents. My mother showed me the beauty of caring for others through her patience, sacrifice, and unconditional love. Watching the way she cared for our family taught me lessons that I now carry into my own home as a mother. She helped me understand that what truly matters is not only what we accomplish, but the people we are nurturing along the way.
My father has been one of the greatest influences in my creative journey. Through his creativity, problem-solving mindset, and sense of organization, he helped me develop many of the skills that continue to shape my work today. TELOCREO began with the support and collaboration of my family, and that foundation has always been part of its story.
My husband Jorge has also been an essential part of this journey. His support, ideas, and willingness to build a life centered around our values have allowed us to pursue this vision together. He has been a steady provider and encourager, reminding me that dreams are not built only through ambition, but through teamwork, sacrifice, and faith. Together, we have embraced homeschooling our daughters, which has required intentional choices and sacrifices, but has also given us the opportunity to create the kind of family life we value. I believe homeschooling is possible when families intentionally build a life that makes room for it.
My daughters are another source of inspiration. Many of my ideas are born through the everyday moments we share—the questions they ask, the things they create, and the beauty of watching them learn. They remind me to stay curious, slow down, and find inspiration in simple things.
Above all, the greatest source of guidance in my journey has been the Holy Spirit. Every step of TELOCREO has required listening, learning, and trusting God’s direction. Many times, I have started with only a small idea, and through the process, He has brought clarity, creativity, and purpose.
I don’t see TELOCREO as something I built alone. I see it as something God has allowed me to steward, with the help of the people He has placed around me. Every person has contributed a piece of the story, and that collaboration is part of what makes this journey meaningful.
Pricing:
- Brand Strategy & Design $250 – $2,500+
- Photography Experiences $150 – $1,500+
- Creative Consulting $100 – $300/hr
- Publishing & Print Projects $150 – $3,000+
- Custom Memorials & Keepsakes $100 – $1,500+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.telocreo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hazel.yanes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hazel.yanes
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HazelYanes
- Other: https://share.google/6vmlRfOpxr7S6kVCG
