We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emily Tran a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I was in middle/high school when I discovered graphic design and video editing. YouTube was exploding in popularity and I remember watching YouTube videos and being impressed and intrigued at how these videos were pieced together. It was then I discovered editing applications – such as Adobe Photoshop and Premiere – and was determined to recreate all the cool graphics and effects I saw in other people’s content.

This determination has allowed me to learn a lot about graphic design and video editing on my own over the years. Whenever there was a school project that involved creating a video, I was always the one producing and editing it. My first job out of college was even centered around photo and video production. And now I run Happy DMV (@happy_dmv) on Instagram, where I create frequent, short-form videos. All of these experiences have allowed me to develop my skills in content creation and most importantly, learn how to recreate all of those cool YouTube graphics and effects I saw many, many years ago!

Emily, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Emily Tran and I run Happy DMV, an Instagram page that highlights different restaurants and spots in the DMV area.

Before creating Happy DMV, most of the photos and videos I took would mainly be sent to one of my best friends. It was – and still is – our daily ritual to send each other photos of the things that make us happy each day. We always find happiness and beauty in the places we visit, and I knew I wanted to channel and share this joy somehow. So I started Happy DMV in the beginning of 2022 and I am so glad that I did. 

Happy DMV has shown me that there are many people who appreciate and enjoy the plethora of gems in the DMV. It has shown me how willing people are to support small and meaningful businesses and brands. And most importantly, it has shown me how much happiness can be spread through content creation.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I can’t decide between these two so I’m going to say both!

First, content creation has allowed me to shine light on small businesses that usually don’t get as much attention as mainstream spots. Whenever a small business DMs me to tell me that my reel has brought more traffic to their page and spot, it always makes my day. I also love hearing from my followers whenever they support a small business based on my recommendation. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing a small business thrive or a viewer enjoy an amazing meal/fun outing.

And second, I love how content creation has deepened my connection with the DMV community. I love talking to the business owners and creatives I feature on my page and learning more about their story. The DMV has such a rich and diverse food scene – along with many hidden gems – and it’s important to know and support these spots. I also love talking to other content creators in the DMV area, some of whom are my very close friends today. The DMV is filled with kind, genuine, and supportive people of diverse communities, and I appreciate getting to work with and meet these folks.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I started Happy DMV during a transformative time in social media. Short-form content had come to dominate the social media landscape, as seen through the rise of TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. Since creating my account in January 2022, I try to post 3-4 reels per week and keep up-to-date with the ever changing trends. This has allowed me to reach vast audiences and to build my page. It’s definitely hard work posting so often but it’s 100% worth it when you see the positive impact a reel can have. If you’re trying to build your social media presence on Instagram, you should definitely post reels!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @happy_dmv

Image Credits
@happy_dmv