We recently connected with Ty Chen and have shared our conversation below.
Ty, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
I find it a gift being the only one in the room that looks like me. Metaphorically, this can even apply to the way that my photography looks. Being unique is a gift, it allows you to stand out. Being in a room with everyone who looks like you, or in this instance when other photographer’s works look like yours, can be comforting to know that you fit in. However, it is very hard to differentiate yourself from everyone else that way. When you stop being afraid to stand out, that’s when you shine your brightest. That’s when your light will attract other likeminded individuals who will naturally gravitate towards you and appreciate everything you have to offer.
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?
Having been a professional photographer for the past 10 years, I’ve helped aspiring models develop their talents, actors who needed new and exciting headshots, and worked with both major fashion brands as well as small independent local brands to raise brand awareness through exciting imagery. Most recently, my fashion editorial work was featured in ELLE Magazine.
What I love to capture in my photography are vibrant colors, youthful energy, and drama. People have described a softness in my work, and an intimate nature in a lot of my personal projects.
I am now currently taking commercial fashion clients who are looking to elevate their brand and wanting to create exciting campaign images. I am also now, and always will be, open to any beginning models and actors who need help creating a body of work to showcase their unique qualities to casting and clients.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
There are a few qualities that have helped me get to where I am today.
The first is a natural sense of curiosity. I have always been curious about how things work, even when I was playing with my Power Rangers toys as a kid. My family would get me the Megazords, which somehow never came with instructions, and I would love figuring out how all the pieces fit together. During the beginning of my photography career, I would study fashion images and figure out what made each image compelling. I’d ask myself what I loved about each photo, why it was dynamic, what story it was trying to tell. I would watch behind-the-scenes videos from my favorite photographers and pause to study what lighting equipment they used. It was all so fun for me, like solving a mystery.
The second quality to have, I would say, is consistency. They say it takes 10 years to be great at something. If you love something, you just have to keep doing it and building it. With photography, I would be pretty gung-ho about it every few months. I’d shoot and shoot and shoot until I get bored or tired, and I’d take a break until I found inspiration again. My career would probably be even bigger than it is now if I had just kept going. But it’s also important to take breaks when necessary, and in those moments of inspiration, I was consistent in how often I shot and what I shot which built the skills I still use today.
The third and most important quality is having unwavering faith in yourself and your abilities. Believe that you have something no one else has to offer. It’s going to be scary, because you’ll think “What if that’s not true?” and you might try to protect yourself by downplaying your talents or by blending in with the rest of the crowd. But I always felt a little bit of delusion goes a long way. Believe your are special and unique and everyone else will believe it too. You have to be your own #1 fan.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
This is going to sound really really crazy but the two people who have really helped me build my resilience in this industry are Tyra Banks and RuPaul.
Tyra Banks basically taught me everything I knew about fashion, modeling, and photography. I watched all 24 seasons of America’s Next Top Model on repeat, multiple times through. I studied it like it was a textbook and then eventually applied it to the real life fashion industry. Of course some of her advice is now dated, but I always say take what you need and leave the rest. Just apply what works for you and forget what doesn’t.
RuPaul was the one who taught me to really believe in myself like nobody else, and to never forget the star that I am. She’s the reason why I believe in my talents enough to go into every set with confidence, to pitch myself to clients, and even to leave situations that don’t serve me and my well-being. These are all very important things you need in this industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tychenphotography.com
- Instagram: @tychenphotography
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ty-chen-la/
- Other: Email: contact@ty-chen.com
