We were lucky to catch up with Avery Kwong recently and have shared our conversation below.

Avery, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I haven’t always had an occupation in the arts. In college, I studied to become a structural engineer, however, soon realized that it wasn’t for me. So I went into construction management, destined for higher pay and less desk time. Even that wasn’t satisfactory. Even with stable income and job security, I felt more out of place than ever before. I wanted something more fulfilling. Music has always been a big part of my life, and being able to introduce my passions to others is an incredible feeling, so teaching was almost a no-brainer. Photography, on the other hand, was more unexpected. I’ve never been a stranger to taking photographs, but I never imagined myself getting paid to do it. To move from my hometown down to San Diego to pursue teaching AND photography was the biggest risk I’ve ever taken and one of the best decisions of my life – both personally and professionally.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I began my photography journey taking photos for my family and friends, as I feel most photographers do to start. My fascination with gear quickly led me to have the best equipment I could afford in order to achieve that “perfect” look. At the same time, I was brushing up on my editing skills, watching video after video about how to color grade, create presets, smooth skin, mask, etc. It was all for the fun of it – at first. Eventually my style started to take form, as did my desire to take on more challenging shoots. I started to do grad shoots for mutual friends, family shoots for my neighbors, and the occasional collaboration with local talent. I even dabbled in boudoir photography for a little while, further improving upon my client relation and natural lighting skills. Once I moved down to San Diego, I began shooting weddings, engagements, surprise proposals, events, and the list goes on! My experience with photography spread across many eclectic genres. The number one goal for me is to provide my clients with an unforgettable experience that just so happens to be immortalized in a physical form – pictures. Their comfort is of the utmost importance and I strive to deliver photos that will bring them back to the same emotion they felt the moment it was taken. I’m beyond proud of the progress I have made as a photographer: being able to make others laugh, cry, and everything in between all due to the click of a button. I want my work to bring happiness to anyone who decides to choose me as their photographer.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The biggest goal for me is to keep building my business and fully understand where I want to go. Admittedly, I’m at the very early stages of my journey. It’ll take some time for me to grasp who my target audience is and what I need to do to reach them. I also want to keep meeting like-minded people who are on similar paths as mine. They don’t necessarily need to be a photographer, but have a creative mindset with a drive to better themselves. I’ve been fortunate enough to have met many people such as this already, and together we are working to build something amazing as a team. My goals are ever expanding.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is my work and ethics are directly correlated to my success. Clients want to work with me because they feel comfortable, or they are a big fan of my style. What I decide to create dictates the way I’m perceived, which is incredible. I am my own boss in a sense. I get to do many things the way I want to do, and I’ve been doing it long enough to know what is authentic for me. On top of that, I get to help people with some of the most important parts of their lives! What could be better.

Contact Info:

• Website: Https://www.averykwong.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avery.kwong/profilecard/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Image Credits

Images by Avery Kwong