Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amy Chen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Amy, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?
From a young age, I had the incredible opportunity to travel the world with my family, which opened my eyes to the beauty and wonder of different cultures and landscapes. These experiences left a lasting impression on me and instilled a love of exploration. Travel became a treasured part of my identity.
But it wasn’t until I moved to California that my passion for photography truly took flight. I saw stunning natural beauty around, so I invested in a Canon EOS R6 and went on a solo road trip to Death Valley. I spent three days capturing the other-worldly scenery there. The experience was really empowering to me, and encouraged me to continue my solo photography journey.
I started sharing my work on Instagram for fun and without much purpose. But that changed when I met other creators in the Bay Area. Seeing others with the same hobby made me feel validated and less isolated. They showed me that I could use my creations to inspire and help others. That’s when I started sharing travel guides in addition to my photography to help people explore this beautiful world. Over time, I’ve also been fortunate to work with brands that enable me to explore more places.
I’m still relatively new to the industry, but I love that I’ve already joined a community of people who love travel just as much as I do. I’m excited to continue sharing dreamy places and inspiring people to explore this beautiful planet.
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.
Hi, I’m Amy! I started sharing and creating travel content on Instagram in 2022. I mostly share my photography on my page, and do some UGC and photography on the side for brands.
As a creator, my passion lies in capturing dreamy imagery in all corners of life. My ultimate goal is to create content that evokes a sense of wonder. Whether it’s a breathtaking landscape or a picnic in a small flower field, my aim is to convey the magic of every moment, big or small. I have a soft color, small girl-big world style to focus mostly on stunning sceneries.
I love exploring and sharing travel guides to California landmarks, but have gone on many international trips and will soon start branching out to more international destinations.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
For many creatives, there is a delicate balance between self-doubt and artistic expression. Creating something from scratch and sharing it with the world is a vulnerable experience. Personally, I have struggled with the fear of how others will perceive my work.
Not everyone is understanding of why I love to dress up and take self portraits. A lot of travel creators face many criticisms like “why are you taking pictures instead of enjoying the moment”, “you’re ruining the view”, and “she must be so cold in that dress”. But I think it’s important to be understanding and supportive, even if those passions may seem frivolous or unimportant.
Over time, I’ve learned to let go of others’ opinions and focus on creating what I love. For me, photography is the main reason I enjoy traveling. To my fellow creatives, keep pushing forward and doing what you love. And to viewers, show more compassion and allow creators to live out their best lives – they aren’t hurting anyone!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a travel creator is the ability to inspire others to go out and experience the world through the content I share. It brings me immense joy when someone travels somewhere because of a video I posted, or messages me about a local spot that reminds them of one of my photos. Even a simple comment that my work brightened their day makes my heart feel so full. I love helping people find beauty in this world.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy.traveling/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@awaywithamy