We were lucky to catch up with Vi Vo recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Vi, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
Hi, first of all, Happy New Year and thanks so much for having me, Bold Journey team!
My ability to take risk has always been inspired by my Dad. He is a true leader, bold entrepreneur and genuine teacher of my life. I witnessed the perseverance, bold risk taking and integrity of him through both challenges and victories. Maybe the word “risk taker” has run in my blood! (laughing). My family told me I have a stubborn heart and it’s true! My life has been full of unlimited possibilities and I firmly believe the Universe favors the bold. And sometimes, it will test you to see if you really want what you want.
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 Vi, the owner of VIVO Photography business, provided Wedding photography services based in Texas and California, also travel worldwide.
With nearly a decade of experience, my approach is rooted in a deep understanding of the art of photography and genuine caring. From intimate candid moments to grand, sweeping scenes, I do everything with heart-centered focus, which brought deeper purpose to my career. It has always been the big love and trust from my couples who would flight me out from different states like California, Texas & New York to be a part of the biggest event of their life. Each of them has special and unique stories to me. And it will always be my honor to capture the very first stage of their family legacy.
The passion for photography has brought me to many places, different cultures and opportunities to work with many talented vendors in the industry who inspire me to create more everyday. It really “takes a village” to make our clients’ visions of dream Wedding come to life. Wedding event itself is already unpredictable which requires us to be present and focus on every single details, from weather to logistics, time management and so on, with high level of flexibility and assertiveness to serve the best for our clients.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
10 years in the unfolding of my career, I played different roles as President of RMIT Music Club at University, teaching assistant at a local English center, Experiment Design Manager for a global advertising agency in Vietnam, Art director & consultant for a start up company in Silicon Valley and now running my own business as published destination Wedding Photographer based in the U.S. Well, looking back, I see my life is truly a multifaceted surprise! (smile)
I could say adaptability, optimism and persistence. In specific, be flexible and make the necessary changes to grow in any environment and circumstances. Feel and acknowledge your doubts and fears, yet do it anyway. Instead of “what if I fail”, ask yourself “what would I do if I knew I could not fail?”. Doing things you’re supposed to do, disciplines over motivation/ feeling and commit to your vision.
And of course, be a bold risk taker. You’ll never know if you don’t try. It took me a lot of rejection, no as answers, failure, setbacks to earn the big yes, award winning, published work and achievements like today. And don’t let those instant gratification and success people share on social media these days let you doubt yourself and believe in “one big giant leap” then you will succeed the next day. It depends on what YOU define “your success” after all (not based on society norms). It’s the small steps that you consistently walk every single day that matters. Lets the excitement of adventure outweighs your fears! Have faith in your vision and in your ability to see it through.
One day or day One, you decide.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
I’m so grateful that I was raised in a loving and grounded family. My beloved parents, sister and supportive husband really got my back. They always root for what I love to do and encourage me to pursue my own path since day one. Whenever I got doubts in my head, it’s their unwavering faith that gives me strength and hope. Also, I was lucky to meet good mentors, colleagues and friends who felt like second family along my journey. Leaving my home country Vietnam to a new land like America was the biggest risk yet most rewarding chapter of my life thanks to all people I met. God has been so good to us indeed!
To anyone reading this, I hope you find your way back home, to yourself. When we look inward and know who we truly are, we choose to be reborn as a new person living to the fullest potentials of our life. Like a baby, we have to be patient and tolerant with ourselves to be a beginner, a learner to take very first steps and follow it through. Wish you all the best!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vivophotography.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivophotography28/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivo28/
Image Credits
Vi Vo profile picture: taken by Nguyen Nguyen (Vi’s husband)
Photos taken by ViVo Photography (@vivophotography28)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
