Today we’d like to introduce you to Nghia Tran.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Nghia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As a little kid, I always looked forward to going to Walgreens and getting the family photos developed. It was always so cool to see the little snippets in time, especially the ones I took. Not that they were anything special, it was just cool to hold an image that I had taken. That was when I fell in love with photography, but in my family, like most Asian families, I think, creativity wasn’t really encouraged or nurtured.
I only picked a camera back up again when I was older and was allowed to travel on my own, that was when I rediscovered my love for photography and my untapped creative potential. I wanted to document the places I was traveling to and the people that I shared my travels with, through my eyes. From then, I slowly started to teach myself how to properly utilize a camera and edit photos while maintaining a full time job at the family business fixing cars. People close to me started to ask me if I was interested in taking pictures of them, but I’m a naturally shy person and wasn’t very confident in my skills to take on that kind of pressure.
All of that changed when I met my wife. She really encouraged me to really give photography I shot. I started to accept those little jobs from friends and family and eventually, strangers. Photography allowed me to grow out of my shell, I found that I really enjoyed interacting with people. I especially loved their reactions when they saw their photos. It’s an amazing feeling to be in your client’s home and see a huge photo being the centerpiece of a room.
Has it been a smooth road?
It’s been mostly smooth. The hardest thing for me is the equipment. I make do with what I have, but there are some things that I need to save up for that I think will really take me to the next level. The second thing is that there are so many photographers these days, especially in a saturated market like Houston.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I started shooting photos professionally because I feel like it is something that I was meant to do. It may sound cheesy, but it’s true. I mainly shoot portraits, but I love working with people in general. My clients will tell you that I’m really easy to work with. And that I care. I will tell you that I REALLY care. I want the photos to turn out perfect and I want my clients to have the best experience possible because at the end of the day, my work is a reflection of who I am as a person. I care about each person that reaches out to me, whether they ultimately hire me or not, I am humbled even to be considered, and I think that’s what sets me apart.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
It is hard to stand out in big markets like Houston. I’m not one to tell someone what they should or shouldn’t do. The city itself doesn’t hurt the market for photographers, other photographers do when they price their work too low. That ultimately hurts everyone else.
Contact Info:
- Website: ntphotography.net
- Phone: 832-283-0393
- Email: n.tranphoto@gmail.com
- Instagram: @_ntphotography_
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