Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Darathy Chheang. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Darathy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know

If I had a chance to start over I would definitely put myself out into the community. I grew up very shy and lacked confidence in everything I did. Forcing myself to go out to shows and shoot photos helped me gain confidence along with network skills. Networking definitely was a big key part of my journey. I got the ball rolling when I started reaching out to individuals with similar interest.

Darathy, 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?

Imy name is Darathy and I am a creative in the LA county. Photography & videography are my current focus at the moment but you may find me making music or producing an art piece from time to time. I’ve shot a couple weddings and graduation portraits, etc. but concert/festival content is what I am enjoying right now. I partner with a studio called Green Tea Studios to provide recap content of the mini music festivals that they put together with That Good Sh*t, which is a music curating page. My focus on upcoming new artists helps me engage with more likeminded creatives. Music festivals are great for networking and growing my craft. I highly recommend any newcomer to take that advice. It was definitely advice that I carried with me after I had taken a career in music course at Cal Poly Pomona.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was that art had no place in my future. When I was younger, I didn’t have the support from family to pursue art as a career so I eventually dropped it. I took a chance and revived my creative side when I got to Cal Poly Pomona and started living on my own. Taking those risks really go a long way if you know what you are doing. I always knew I had interest in music and art, but always held myself back because I was afraid of not being loved by family. Now I’m doing the things I love with no worries about anyone judging me. The lesson here is that it’s okay to choose a career goal that is not ideal for your family. Your mental health matters and choosing to do something you love will keep you happy! Family will eventually understand your goals.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Partnering with festival organizers definitely helped me reach a wider audience. They were able to use me as a creator in return they were able to promote my work to their community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://darathy.photography/photoalbums
• Instagram: @darathyc

Image Credits
All photos are shot by myself. My personal portrait was shot by Alex(@alex_takesvisuals) on instagram.