Shortly after graduating from gastronomy school, I joined YOLO Coffee Shop, located inside a renowned hostel in my city. I quickly earned the trust of the owners through my reliability, adaptability, and strong interpersonal skills. I was entrusted with opening the store each morning, managing inventory, setting up the POS system, and handling all financial operations, including cash flow, billing, and card transactions. Throughout the day, I managed customer orders, ensured smooth service, and resolved issues with professionalism—even under pressure. Leveraging my culinary background, I took full responsibility for food preparation, while also recommending menu updates and enhancing plating and presentation standards.

Alongside my operational role, I negotiated a unique value exchange: the coffee shop invested in professional photography equipment, which I used to produce a full-scale shoot of the entire menu. This project allowed me to merge my passion for food photography with the business’s branding needs. The content not only elevated their visual identity across social platforms but also marked a key milestone in the growth of my photography career. The final results can be seen on my Instagram portfolio: @luislondonot.

Unfortunately, the business came to an end later in 2024 due to a decision by both partners. I have remained in contact with them since they've been really influential in my career.