We recently connected with Aimee Uchida and have shared our conversation below.

Aimee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar you earn in a new endeavor is always special. We’d love to hear about how you got your first client that wasn’t a friend or family.

The first client that stood out to me was my photography teacher. One day, out of the blue, she reached out to me on Instagram and asked if I could take family photos for her at a nearby park. I was completely caught off guard—especially since I had only just started my photography business. Walking up to the park that day, I was incredibly nervous. I saw her there with her husband and their dog, and it suddenly hit me: this was real. Up until then, I had mostly done street photography and was still learning how to guide people in front of the camera.

But my teacher made me feel comfortable right away. She believed in me, having seen my potential as her student. The session went smoothly, and she ended up paying me $100, plus a tip! It was such a rewarding experience—not just because it was my first official session, but because I got to help capture special moments for her family. That first dollar felt like the start of something real, and it is a feeling I’ll never forget.

Aimee, 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?

I’m a Japanese American born in Torrance, CA, and I’ve always had a creative outlook on life. As a child, I was constantly drawing in a sketchbook, dancing, playing guitar, and creating anything I could with my hands. My photography journey began when my dad gave me an iPhone 4 in 6th grade. I started taking pictures of everything around me—friends, landscapes, taking photos in the “moment.” Traveling frequently with my family also exposed me to new places and deepened my love for capturing the world through photos. In high school, I became obsessed with street photography, drawn to its spontaneous, unposed nature. It resonated with me, much like how golf which I practiced daily, taught me to focus in the moment. For a long time, I shied away from portrait photography because I did not see many women in the field. It was not until a photographer friend invited me to shoot in her home-built studio that I gave it a try. That experience changed everything. I began taking portraits of friends, and I realized how much I loved bringing out their joy and confidence through the lens. Now, I’m inspired by the growing number of successful women photographers, and I’m proud to help my clients feel empowered and seen. Portrait photography has become my passion, and I’m excited to keep growing and evolving in this craft.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being creative is when a shoot that I’ve carefully planned comes together smoothly. One moment that stands out is my first-ever studio shoot for Oneul Zine, where I had the opportunity to photograph jewelry for a small business. I had never shot in a studio before, so stepping into that environment with a full team—a makeup artist, hairstylist, and the client—felt like a pivotal moment in my career. Seeing everyone come together, and share their talents to create something beautiful was incredibly fulfilling.

What made it even more rewarding was the collaboration. Being able to direct the shoot, while also learning from the other creatives, gave me a sense of growth and confidence. It is those types of moments where everyone’s hard work and vision align to produce something amazing, which makes all the challenges worthwhile. There is nothing more satisfying than delivering a final product that meets the client’s expectations and showcases the combined effort and creativity of the whole team.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Some resources that I wish I had known more about communities and networks for photographers. When I first started out in portrait photography, it was challenging to find models, makeup artists, and hairstylists to collaborate with—I did not know who to reach out to or where to start. Being able to have access to those networks would have made things much easier. I also wish I had learned about client management and business tools sooner. Transitioning from street photography to portraits meant I had to figure out how to communicate with clients, price my services, and handle contracts. Understanding those aspects earlier would have saved me a lot of time and stress, and it would have given me more confidence in building my photography business from the start.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aimeeuchidaphotography.squarespace.com
• Instagram: aimeeu.photos

Image Credits

Models: Siwa Hwang, Jazmyn, Glenda Hernandez Quezada, Pearrie Hammie