Meet Xiaohan Lu

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

Xiaohan, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

As a photographer in New York, building confidence and self-esteem has been a gradual journey. Here’s how I’ve developed it:

Practice Makes Perfect: In the beginning, my photos weren’t always great, but I kept trying new angles and techniques. Over time, I found my own style and improved my skills. Practicing a lot helped me overcome my initial doubts and feel more confident in what I could do.

Learning from Feedback: I got both positive and negative feedback early on. Instead of letting criticism bring me down, I used it to see where I could improve. Positive feedback from clients and other photographers also boosted my self-esteem and showed me that my work had value.

Setting Small Goals: Reaching small goals—like finishing a client shoot successfully or trying a new style and getting good feedback—made me feel closer to my bigger dreams. These small wins built up my confidence bit by bit.

Connecting with the Community: In a competitive place like New York, connecting with other photographers is important. I joined photography events and exhibitions, and talking with others helped me see that everyone has their own unique style. This made me more accepting of my own way of working.

Accepting Mistakes: Photography isn’t perfect, especially when shooting in unpredictable settings. I learned to accept mistakes and take lessons from them. Being kind to myself this way made me feel more confident.

Through these experiences, I’ve slowly built up my confidence and self-esteem, making it easier to face challenges and express my creative ideas.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a New York-based photographer with a focus on portrait, fashion, and food photography. I graduated in 2022 from the School of Visual Arts, where I specialized in Digital Photography. Since then, I’ve been immersed in capturing the diverse and vibrant essence of New York through my lens. What excites me most is how each photo can tell a unique story—whether it’s the character of a person, the elegance of fashion, or the visual appeal of food.

Recently, my project, Premium Mediocre, was exhibited at the Urban Photo Awards in Trieste, Italy, and was even selected as the official visual for the international award. This was an amazing opportunity to connect with an international audience and see my work resonate beyond New York.

Right now, I’m continuing to expand my work in these areas, always exploring new ways to bring out the extraordinary images in the everyday. I’m thrilled to keep pushing the creative limits of my photography and to share more stories through my images.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, three things made the biggest difference in my journey: resilience, a strong attention to detail, and connecting with people. Here’s why they mattered and some advice for those just starting out.

Resilience: Photography, especially in New York, can be tough. I’ve faced rejections, criticism, and creative blocks, but resilience helped me keep going. My advice? Don’t let setbacks stop you. Every challenge is a chance to learn. Keep building a portfolio you’re proud of, even if it takes time.

Attention to Detail: Small details make a huge difference, especially in portraits, fashion, and food photography. To get better at this, keep practicing and be critical of your work. Look closely at each photo and ask if everything in the frame adds to it. Over time, you’ll develop a sharper eye for what makes a shot special.

Connecting with People: Photography isn’t just about images; it’s about people too. Being able to make your subjects feel comfortable brings out their true personalities. My tip? Focus on communication and listen to people’s stories. The more you build trust, the more real and powerful your photos will be.

For those just starting, these skills take time to develop, but they’re worth it. Stick with it, stay curious, and keep pushing yourself—you’ll see the impact in your work and relationships.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I try to step back and take things one at a time. Here are a few strategies that work for me:

Take Breaks: I’ll step away from the camera or computer for a bit, maybe go for a walk or do something unrelated to work. It helps clear my head and reset.

Prioritize and Simplify: I break down what needs to be done into smaller, manageable tasks. Focusing on one thing at a time makes everything feel less daunting.

Reach Out for Support: Sometimes, talking to friends or fellow creatives helps me put things in perspective. They might have advice or just provide a reminder that I’m not alone in feeling this way.

Reconnect with My Why: I remind myself why I’m doing this work in the first place. Thinking about the bigger picture and my passion for photography helps me refocus and re-energize.

My advice? Find small ways to recharge and remind yourself that it’s okay to take things slow when needed. Over time, you’ll figure out what works best for you！

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gracelustudio.com/
• Instagram: grace.lux