We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marina Phavixay . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marina below.

Alright, Marina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

When did I first know I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally is by knowing that college isn’t for everyone. After my years in education and after graduating high school was a “What am I going to do next? “ for my future outlook. I never thought pursuing photography would make me want to create meaningful projects, seek opportunities, or build friendship throughout my nine years of doing photography. However, I would say who inspired me to pursue photography is a person who gave me a thought to something in life if I did not graduate college which was my best friend Precious ( last name unknown) , she gave me a hope to peek through if it did not workout in college because like I said college is not for everyone. Although, throughout starting photography I did not know what style or what kind photography I wanted to do until I got to be inspired by other photographers work which helped me knowing what style of photography I wanted to do and perhaps build confidently. When I found my style and know this can be side job/hobby for me was comforting because the more I got into doing more sessions the more I realize I want to build people confidences. I want to spread my work throughout my community and being talked about or mention throughout my journey of photography. Then again, I started to make photography my therapy because it made me focus, it made me not depressed, or it did give me comfort of “ I finally made something out it or myself.” . I have never put in so much effort other than my education ( after graduating high school) but putting this much effort on creating something inspirational is eye opening because I love the way how others can feel my work or ask me “ did shoot this?!” Which makes me feel capable of doing something creative.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

For whoever never heard about me or seen my work, I am just your average photographer who loves to create beauty and inspiration. However, how I started getting to photography is by being acquaintance telling me to go for it or just being inspired to do so by my best friend but the person who really kept me going was my youngest brother, Jacob Phavixay. My brother helped me through it all after I dropped out of college and after his passing to do something that made me happy in life and was a motivation for me to keep creating or being notice by other creators or models/clients. Photography is my only therapy that kept me in place and one day be on the cover of Vogue or be on the page of the magazine ( at least my work ). Photography is an challenge when there is other competitors in your area doing what you are doing which is a stick in a mud but my work that I provide is what an general photographer provides which is taking sessions for family, weddings, graduates, etc. Although, I do provide a session that no other photographer has not done is doing exotic sessions which is something looks like it was from a magazine , something that your usual photographer cannot do. But any photographer can do exotic sessions but not all the time I would say. Usually, I have clients/models who are willing to create my work into a reality which is exciting to see the outcome and it is exciting for my audience. Also, I make sure my clients/models are comfortable of doing a session if they are willing to do because people have boundaries and doing business is always a boundary because I do communicate with my clients/models with knowing what they do not like or do like. And if there is miscommunication, I always go with my clients/models schedule or go with the flow because at the end it always workout with more communication and capturing amazing work. Also, when it comes to on the day of the session, I always guide my clients/models how the pose I want them to be because that way it is easier for them to get into the flow because once you get your client/model into that flow then photos come out beautifully and it is a win-to-win outcome. Other than communication is key, visual is always the exciting moment for me and my audience because there are creations I have worked on is what i am proud of or what I can do better. The visual creation I am proud of is The Cultural Appreciation Project that I have done during the hottest season about a year ago in July. The project had myself notice more because it shown how we should appreciate each and everyone’s cultural even though there are something are the same there are always one thing different from each other. Also, I want to let my community to know that what we have and that it’s okay to get to know the culture because being a little educated does not harm anyone. Overall, I want my potential clients/models to know I am open-minded person who is willing to work with their comfort of their abilities or willing to build their confidence making yourself feel good about your flaws and strengths about yourself. As a photographer, I just want to have their moment of knowing what is true beauty to them not the standards of beauty in society.

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 non-creatives struggling to understand about any creators journey is if you are working with a creator and you like their work or would want to start creating is knowing how much effort is put into creating something inspiring because you may have a cellphone and take the same photo as the creator but it is not the same outlook like the creator. Because the creator put his/her money and time to create something amazing. Also, pricing is not numbers that creators just throw onto a site or piece of paper to rip you off but the amount they spend on their equipment and their time editing to make it perfect the way you like. As a creator, we are not doing this for your benefit but our benefit to be notice and make a difference in our work because action speaks more than words, if that is the saying. I have asked by so many clients/models who are not photographers have asked me “Where did you get your inspiration? “ or “ Has anyone criticized you or gotten those difficult clients? “ . The way I handle situations or criticism is by what can I make this win-to-win solution or not caring how my equipment isn’t like the other photographers is by not comparing my work to others or my work can speak itself because at the end their work and your work is unique because YOU made it not them.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The awarding aspect of being an artist or creative is friendship because throughout my nine years of doing photography I have made so many acquaintances and they have bring the better of me as a photographer and as a person because if it wasn’t for my clients/models I would not been where I am now. However, I do get nervous meeting for the first time because before I was an only quiet and very shy person but the more I force myself to meet new people and be acquainted with them is a different outlook for me because I feel open and helps feel calm and comforting. Also, as a photographer it is important to communicate, so a lot of talking is involved which helped me a lot to reach out new potential clients/models. In other words , it is wonderful to create amazing work but also gain friendship.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marinascreations.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: Marina_phavixaycreations
• Facebook: Marina Phavixay Creations

Image Credits
Marina Phavixay Personal Photo – Cynthia D. Tran