We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Angelli Nguyen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Angelli below.
Angelli, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Every time I would sit down at my desk to reflect on my work, a gallery of hundreds of photos I’ve taken over the past few years glaring back at me, there’d be this ever-present sense of self-doubt. I’m a very anxious and worried person by nature, so it was easy to slip into the mindset that nothing I did was truly “good”. In the field of photography, especially, I found it hard to gauge the quality or improvement of my work objectively. My mind was constantly full of thoughts like, “What makes me so different from the next person over?” or, “I have no idea what I’m doing right now.” Paired with habits like self-degradation and comparison that probably stemmed from my Asian upbringing, I’d say imposter syndrome was something that I used to face on the daily.
I think the way I was raised majorly contributed to the negative way I viewed my work. It was very much an environment where criticism was customary and compliments were hard to come by. Naturally, that translated into my work life and the mistakes outweighed the victories tenfold. Breaking out of this disparaging headspace was an uphill battle and I’m still plowing through it today, but I have to acknowledge the things that helped me begin that journey.
The first thing that drew me out of this shrouded mindset was quite literally touching grass. Spending hours at a time craned over a keyboard and probably deteriorating my eyesight staring at a computer screen was seriously one of the most insane things I could’ve done to my mental and physical health. Realizing that there’s so much more to life and myself besides making my profession my only redeeming quality was what it took to forget about imposter syndrome– well, I didn’t totally forget about it but now it sits curled up somewhere in the depths of my mind.
The second thing that really helped me take steps towards solidifying my self confidence was reinforcing my support system. I really have found people who want to see me do well and respond to every one of my negative thoughts with a violently positive counterattack. They are passionate in their own lives and endeavors and unashamedly theirselves. Although it felt like I was being forcefed validation at first, their confidence in me helped me find footing in my struggle with self-assurance. It’s extremely comforting to know that there will always be people rooting for me even when I’m my own worst enemy.
The last question I ask myself when I’m in ruts of overthinking is, “Would I be proud of the things I’ve accomplished if I suddenly couldn’t work anymore?” It forces me to think about all of the experiences and projects I’ve done that have been subconsciously buried in my memory. At the end of it all, I am extremely proud of the work I’ve created and that legacy is enough to subdue the feeling of imposter syndrome.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m Angelli Nguyen, a fashion photographer, videographer, and content creator based in Denver, Colorado! I’m 20 years old and have always been enamored by visual arts. I am extremely fortunate to be able to call this my job.
I started my business fresh out of high school with nothing but a hand-me-down camera and a mission: taking the visions that people could only imagine in their heads and turning them into real images that will last forever. The best part of my job is sharing the final products and forever getting to have been a part of a moment where someone felt artistically seen. I love brainstorming with clients and am constantly learning as I work.
As of late, I’ve been pursuing social media and content creation more seriously and also preparing for a summer full of collaborations and stunning campaign projects. Keep your eyes peeled for some personal short film work coming soon! Would love to have more amazing people on board and connect with new faces whether it be as clients, collaborators, or friends in the same crazy industry.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Start before you’re ready:
For some reason, this phrase really stuck with me and it still pops into my mind today. Self-doubt and overthinking are the number one killers of ambition and creativity. There have been so many instances where I walk onto a set or a project with a half-baked idea, an hour’s worth of Google research, and no other background knowledge. It forces you to run with things as they go and this is undoubtedly the fastest way to learn even if it leads to a project crashing and burning.
Working for free
When you’re just starting, your portfolio is going to be a barren wasteland and no one will trust you. It seems bleak and slightly torturous but working for free was how I was able to build rapport within the community and prove myself as a creative. I didn’t see a penny from photography or videography for months and I was okay with that because I knew that I was ultimately growing. I still work for free (SOMETIMES, hahaha) to learn and move up in the industry inch by inch.
Following through
So many people told me that this industry was oversaturated and it would be impossible to distinguish myself among the thousands of talented people in the pool of visual media. The truth is that people tend to give up and write off an entire endeavor without putting in enough time to see the fruits of their efforts. Following through with your goals and project is so important to your success. Plan opportunities to create and network, ACTUALLY show up to said opportunities and give it your all. This is what separates people who want a serious future in this work and people who are just in it on the surface level.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am constantly looking for new people to collaborate with. 75% of my time spent on social media is outreach and messaging people who I want to work with. It’s one of my resolutions this year to surround myself with people who are successful and passionate in creating art online.
My degree is focused on pre-production casting so if you’re a model, actress, or performer, I’d love to have you in my contacts for reference for future projects in photo and film.
If you’re a photographer, filmmaker, or any other type of creative I’d love to collaborate and draft some shoots together.
If you’re someone who’s passionate about social media and fashion, would love to go out for a day and create content together.
Feel free to message me directly on Instagram at @aangellii or email me at [email protected]!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aangellii/
Image Credits
Angelli Nguyen
