Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Long Truong. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Long thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Throughout my high school and early college years, I’ve always had the ideology that computer science was the only subject I was going to pursue. Growing up in an Asian household with high expectations, I was constantly pressured to think that if I studied anything other than computer science, I would be looked down upon and compared to other successful students. I proceeded to major in computer science at CSUSM only to fail 3 out of 5 semesters and nearly repeat every computer science required course. This placed a huge toll on my academic achievement and mental health. Faced with my most significant challenge, I was uncertain if my heart lied in computer science. The first action I took to overcome this challenge was taking the time to thoroughly recognize, understand, and acknowledge that I may have been on the wrong path. For years, I built up the mindset that finishing with a computer science degree would result in wealth, satisfaction, and an enriching lifestyle. The next step I took was reaching out to numerous people to seek their guidance and perspective. Blessed with such a supportive group from professors to friends, the overall message was to do what made me happy: to follow my passion and love for photography. With their reassurance, the last step was making the riskiest decision of my life. On September 26, 2021, after majoring in computer science for 3 years, I changed my major to arts, media, and design at CSUSM to pursue photography and abandoned all the beliefs I’d built up over the years. I proceeded to transfer to the University of California, San Diego, and am currently in my last year as a visual art media student.
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.
Videotaping on an old video recorder, taking pictures on my Nintendo DS camera, or even snapping photos on a flip phone, I was interested in documenting things at an early age. My close friend once said, “We never get to experience the same moment again” which catalyzed my passion for photography. In 10th grade, I took my first photography class and spent countless days learning from YouTube tutorials, I noticed the difference in the quality of my photos. During my senior year of high school, I decided to step outside my comfort zone and take portraits of my friends. I fell in love with the experience and from this, I gained confidence, patience, and learned to articulate my vision creatively. I started to build a portfolio and grew lots of connections by attending and photographing campus events ranging from theater plays to school dances. During graduation, I was given a camera as a gift and proceeded to start my own photography business the following summer. While my business taught me how to handle logistics and clients, develop my planning and time-management skills, and help support my family financially, I wanted to further my experience professionally which led me to land a photography internship during my freshman year at California State University of San Marcos (CSUSM). As a university photographer for 3 years, I took photos for a plethora of events, people, and locations on campus. This experience placed me in all types of situations where I learned to diversify my skills across various subjects and people, adapt to my surroundings, and maintain a level of professionalism at all times. On top of that, I gained multiple connections that led to me photographing Amazon Prime’s screening of their new series “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” YG’s and Liltjay’s Halloween Party located in Hollywood, and even a wedding at Burning Man. Ultimately, my journey in photography has improved my ability to articulate my vision creatively, handle logistics, be flexible and so much more. Now, I am extremely eager to deepen my knowledge and use my skills and experience to provide photographs for others while exploring more of the world.
As a professional photographer with over five years of experience, I have honed my skills in various areas, including portraits, events, editorials, and commercial photography. My portfolio showcases my ability to capture the essence of a moment, whether it is a special event or a product. I am confident that my ability to work under pressure and attention to detail make me an ideal candidate for this role.
In addition to my technical skills, I possess excellent interpersonal skills that enable me to connect with clients, understand their needs, and deliver outstanding results. I am highly organized, efficient, and able to manage my time effectively to meet tight deadlines. Moreover, my creative eye and ability to think outside the box allow me to bring a unique perspective to every project I undertake.
I have extensive experience with industry-standard photography software, including Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, and I am always eager to learn new techniques and tools to enhance my work. Furthermore, I am keenly interested in the latest photography trends and technology, which enables me to stay ahead of the curve and provide innovative solutions to my clients.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
After making the riskiest decision of my life to change my major from computer science to visual arts media to pursue photography, I gained a new goal that drives my creative journey. I grew up inspired by things I discovered on the internet and I want to inspire others the same way. I dream of leaving something that will benefit others even when I’m no longer on this planet. In the meantime, I’m passionate about documenting the little moments in life for myself and others. I seek to become a photography teacher/professor and inspire the next generation of creative artists. I believe this is possible with the knowledge I have gained throughout the years and I am extremely fortunate and grateful to be able to pursue this dream.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Resilience, drive, and appreciation are all qualities that define who I am. Resilience stems from the difficulties I faced with family, health, finances, and abuse when I was born. My father abandoned me at birth and I was independently raised by my mother. I had multiple underlying health conditions living in Vietnam because it is a highly air-polluted state. Moving to America when I was three, my health conditions improved, but my life at home was rough. My stepdad was abusive, smoked, and had terrible financial problems that carried over to my mother. To keep myself distracted from these problems, I checked out books from my school library to read and discovered new things on the internet. Even on nights when I wondered if we’d have enough to pay rent for this month, I pulled myself together and told myself that it was going to be okay. Secondly, by teaching myself hobbies, taking initiative in multiple student organizations, and practicing my love of photography outside of school, I’m driven to make my goals and dreams come true. I’ve relieved some financial obstacles by obtaining a part-time job while balancing school and an internship. Despite having no father figure, I did not fall victim to drugs or alcohol to cope with my challenges. I sought to be a person my mother could be proud of and lead by example. Lastly, I appreciate learning and giving back to the world. I want to leave behind a legacy to show kids like me who have grown up with challenges that it is possible to overcome anything and chase their dreams. I want people to understand that it is okay not to have a career that others want for you, but to pave your path whether it is computer science or photography. I’m resilient through my life experiences and how I’ve handled difficult situations, driven to pursue my passions, and appreciative of the opportunities and outcomes presented in my life. I will strive to do my best and influence others with positivity and love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.longtphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longtruong.jpg/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/long.truong.180625/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LongTruong.mp4
Image Credits
Long Truong
@longtruong.jpg
https://www.longtphotography.com/