We recently connected with Joey Cheng and have shared our conversation below.

Joey, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

This is a tricky question for all creatives out there that are going through the same dilemma, that is why I want to talk about this topic because we can definitely achieve the balance of being an employee and a business owner at the same time. But ultimately, we would enjoy much more as the owner of what we love to do because we can devote more time into doing 100% of what we love.

As a filmmaker, before I was about to graduate from college, I knew being a freelancer in LA would be the lowest chance of surviving. So I always wanted a 9-5 job at any film office. And so I did get a couple of great internships (non-paid) after finishing school. It was enjoyable at some degree because I’m still doing something that is related to what I love, and learning tons of what school doesn’t teach. And I’d freelance on the weekend as a wedding photographer. And mind you, I was an international student, a potential future immigrant at that time lol so opportunities and surviving are three times more challenging than a regular born-and-raised Americans haha. Even though my internships were all non-paid, but I never take it as a free labor kind of jobs. I always treated it as my official job, in hopes for a glimpse of chance to be hired afterwards. But it never happened.

So I keep my wedding photography as my main source of income, and establishing my own business. That’s a breath of fresh air on the weekend to really stay busy and have more of a life that is similar to a film set while being a photographer. And then going back to the office on Monday, doing my best giving out all I got to the “job” that I was put to do. That is like working for two jobs 24/7 because after your are done at that 9-5, you will be home doing stuffs from your own business. That’s really tough.

But it is OK because these are the things I love doing. I love the movie industry, I love story-telling, I love taking photos. And the rewards from all these – I’m satisfied.

But only until second half of 2022, I had to help the company I was interning at to produce a super-high quality shortfilm. So I finally got to put what I have been learning from the offices from the two years prior into what I actually love doing. And though there were lots of challenges and problems, me and the team tackled it. But then my internship ended and I unfortunately couldn’t stay in that company (that’s another story for the future lol). And then I realized how much I’ve missed actually being at the frontline on set.

After finishing that internship tragically ended, my heart felt like I’m starting from scratch again. So I continue on with my wedding photography bookings. Then finding on more sets to hop on, putting my ego down to start as a PA. Then the magic happens. I met MY crew. Our mentality are similar, our understanding of the world aligns, our philosophy and age are very closed. And most of all, we work great together. Being on set with them, finishing projects after projects with them (some are paid some are their thesis films), these are the happiest time in my life by having them since 2022!

And you won’t believe it, meanwhile all these are happening. One week right before my student visa expired then, I got a job at another production house! It’s a post-production house. And they basically saved me from my visa status and having to give up my American Dream/Hollywood Dream to pack my bags and go home – they hired me. And on top of that, they don’t have a problem with me hopping on set or taking wedding photos whenever I need! That was a god sent!

So now in 2023, I’m having a 9-5 job, my happy times with my production team, and doubled my wedding photography bookings than last year. I’m thriving through life. But it’s always a roller-coaster when you start your own business because you always have to take up the responsibility in taking care of your people, and yourself. But having a 9-5 job is such a safe blanket until you can fly. And now I have that protection over me with my 9-5 job, but I’m also allowed to have the freedom to chase after my dream.

So if you really wonder what it’d be like to just start up a company and ditch your 9-5 job, well if your business is making a net high 6 figures, I’d say go do it. And enjoy every second of it. If you’re like me still in the process of putting the pieces together, don’t be scared of the hustle as long as you are doing what you love doing! Don’t be scared of challenges because it only grows you. Don’t be scared of the pain because it only makes you stronger.

So really to all my creatives – just because we are creative it doesn’t mean we can’t stick to a 9-5 computer desk. Find the creativity within, find the passion within, enjoy the process and let’s meet at the top one day! So to answer this question – Start my own business or just have a regular 9-5? My question is, WHY NOT BOTH?

Joey, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Joey Cheng, and my social media existance is Joeytheteenadult. My business name is Teenadult Production. Some friends and clients came back and told me, why Teenadult Production? They thought it sounds like a porn production company. Well, first of all – dirty minds, polluted thoughts! hahahaha.

The name Teenadult was given to me by an uncle while I was 18. I was on a family vacation then, my family scared me that I was turning 18 so it was about time to disown me lol (they don’t mean it that way but just to mean that I was becoming a grown up). So my answered was, “why can’t I say a teenager in your eyes forever”? Then the uncle who gave that name said, “sure, you’ll be a Teenadult”. And that daunts on me because I thought “Yes, I can become an adult but have the ambition as a teenager as if I’ll always be chasing my dream life”. In a shorter way to explain the Teenadult Mentality is to never settle and never give up. But on top of that is to always STRIVE for the best I can give to the work I was put at. And that’s what Teenadult Productions means – no matter it’s wedding photography or film production, we are always striving to give you the best we have in us and guarantee the best work that you can have. That’s what I want everyone to know. This is our business discipline, this is the integrity in our work, this is the mentality that sets us apart from the others.

What I’m most proud of with what I bring to my clients is that I strive to provide the most custom accomodations to your needs. Once you get me on board, you’ll know. I’m always here for you, I’m always giving a true care to what you need, and I am not cutting corners to assist you in planning. Clients who had me before know that I’m flexible because let’s make your big day to be about YOU, not what I want to create, not what your family wants it to look like; let’s make it YOUR DAY. And so far, I don’t think I’ve ever failed anyone in this. And I know the friendship I’ve kept with my clients will prove that.

Lastly, what I want my potential clients to know – I WANT TO BECOME A WEDDING FILMMAKER. These are the combination of the two things I love the most, wedding & storytelling. I know that I can achieve that in my photos. I think my photos captured the sentiments of the love story that you have. But now moresoever, I realized the urge and yearning for more storytelling at the end of every photoshoot is that I wish, “damn, I wish I could’ve turned it into a movie for them”. So please if you want to take a semi-newbie Wedding Filmmaker to videograph or film your wedding, I’m willing to collab and do it for you!

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

If you want to be great, let your guards (ego) down.

I am a Christian, and I’ve been taught to love the others and be humble. I thought being humble means no ego. So I spent years in teaching myself through life-events to shred down my ego. In a way, yes, it’s 100% correct.

But recently I’ve learned to use your ego to protect yourself, especially if you were wrongfully being wronged so you can stand up for yourself.

Put down your own ego for life. Put down your ego for your loved ones.

And so I am learning to balance my ego now.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My resilience comes from a lot of things, my religion (as mentioned above), my role models, the support of my family, and life itself. I’m at a place now I’m not scared of failure, unknowns, or still-movements (philosophically and physically speaking haha); but I’m just impatient of them.

But one of the biggest resilient training that I put myself under is through workouts. I think workout is like a meditation for me. I like to put myself through a very very tough workout for almost daily (I’ve been training for 2 years consistently now). I have this theory – if my body and mind can get through this almost non-human-kind-of-tough-situations in 60-120 minutes of workout, I can pretty much thrive in life for my endurance. And it is paying off.

I just came back from a really physically & mentally demanding set last night (Sunday) waking up at 5am sleeping in at 3am. Then waking up at 7:30am on Monday to go into the office to work. That’s pretty tough, but I know I can do it because my role model can do it, but also knowing that my body can sustain this “trauma” shock.

Find your support system in life, hold on to them dearly, then you can slay and thrive.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theteenadultprod.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/joeytheteenadult

Image Credits
Credit for my Headshot: Stephanie Yi Yu