Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kwang Westrate. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kwang, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
Being creative is the ability to use what you already know to inspire new ideas and ultimately create something totally unique. We often get caught up in a busy lifestyle that makes us rush through things. The pressure of juggling multiple tasks to meet a deadline can give us tunnel vision and cause a creative block. I found that planning things ahead and following a rough timeline can help break me out of this mindset, allowing me the freedom to find inspiration and giving me the ability to act on it. Creativity is all about connecting ideas in new ways. You can be more creative in everything you do by avoiding doing the same things in the same way. Challenge yourself to try something new, even some little things like a new radio station or a different kind of food. Every new experience is another potential source of inspiration. And it’s fun! My family enjoys trying a new recipe each week. It doesn’t always turn out perfectly but we enjoy the process and that makes it extra special.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m a photographer; I specialize in portraits and weddings. My business is called Blue Cake Photography. My son, who was 3 at the time, came up with the name while my husband and I were brainstorming. I designed the logo and 8 years, 2 states, and 1 pandemic later I’m still just as excited to be a photographer as I was the day I shot my first wedding.
I have been an artist my whole life and have a graduated with an art degree so I always knew I would be doing something art related. Ever since my Dad let me use his old camera as a young child I’ve loved photography so when my friend asked if I would photograph her wedding I bought a camera and jumped in with both feet. The most exciting thing for me about photographing people is the uniqueness. Every session or event has its own story and I love capturing all the moments as they unfold.
We relocated to Texas near Dallas just a few years ago and I have been excited at all the opportunities to meet and connect with new people.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The 3 most important qualities to me are Adaptation, Generosity and Time Management.
The ability to adapt and be open to changes in your business and in your life is very important. The whole world just agreed with me on this one after Covid.
Generosity can be hard, especially in the business field when you’re trying to stand out from your competitors. But I have learned that the real obstacle to generosity is yourself. I believe that if you focus on pushing yourself and give willingly of your time, effort, and understanding we can all be successful together.
Time management. I still struggle on this one, lol! As a mother of 3 little children I always feel like I never have enough time to get everything done. I try to Prioritize. I concentrate on the most important tasks first and if I have some extra time to get few small things done I see that as a little bonus.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
I am so grateful to have the parents that I have. As an Asian family we’re really close to each other and my Dad worked very hard to financially support the whole family while my mom took care of the rest to keep everyone happy. They both worked really hard but my sisters and I never felt left alone. Their hard work paid off and they got to retire early and I think that is really inspiring.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.bluecakephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluecakephotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluecakephotography
