Today we’d like to introduce you to Joy Yang.
Hi Joy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hi! I’m a Houston-based part-time portrait photographer who just loves taking pictures. It started off as a hobby and it became a passion – a passion to make other people happy and feel confident when they see themselves through the way I see them in my lens.
I was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan and moved to Houston, Texas in 2012. Graduated from the University of Houston in May 2019 with a marketing major and sales/finance minor. I am your local Houstonian who is still amazed by how big Texas is and only says Y’ALL instead of you all.
I got into photography in 2012 when my family and I decided to take our first road trip in the U.S. after we moved here. I wanted to document our travel experience, and my mom helped me pay for my first camera!
From there, I would take my camera everywhere I go – whether it be hanging out with friends, attending school and student organization events, or traveling! In my sophomore year in college, some friends asked me if I can help take their graduation pictures, and that’s when I discovered I really enjoy doing graduation and senior sessions because they help capture such an important milestone of their lives before they enter a new chapter.
I took a break after graduating from UH but in April 2020, I got back to it because I wanted to focus on my interests outside of my full-time career. Thus, I officially made my Instagram page and launched my website and SNAPS WITH JOY was born!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There were definitely some ups and downs ever since I started SNAPS WITH JOY! At the beginning, I was having doubts thinking that maybe I started at the wrong time because it was around the same time when the pandemic started. I was unsure if people would even be comfortable to take pictures, but it turned out to be the opposite. Since in-person ceremonies were canceled, graduates reached out because they wanted a way to remember and celebrate their achievements.
Other obstacles I ran into was not knowing how to price my work correctly nor having an established portfolio. I started by doing photoshoots at a discounted price and also collaborating with local Houston models to gain experience and add to my portfolio. Some people say to always price yourself at what you’re worth, but I think it was the right move for me to start off at a discounted price as it helped attract my initial clients, which ultimately became my source of referrals down the road.
I also came to realize the importance of having a customer relationship management system. I used to communicate with all my clients through direct messages or text messages, and it became too burdensome to keep track of who I have or have not spoken to. This led to me doing more research and that’s when I discovered Unscripted! Unscripted is an app that owns the largest database of poses & prompts in the world, and it comes with an easy client management system that allows me to send out questionnaires, invoices, and contracts. It definitely made my life so much easier!
[If you’re a photographer and you’re reading this, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, I also have a promo code for $20 off: snapswithjoy20off]
Networking and meeting fellow photographers was also a challenge. In any career, it is crucial to have a support system, a mentor figure, or someone to bounce ideas off from. Being a photographer is sometimes a lonely role because you’re doing everything yourself (marketing, booking clients, selling, taking pictures, invoicing, budgeting, and editing, and more). Luckily, I joined some Houston based photographer Facebook groups and was able to expand my network from there! I also started following some other photographers in the Houston local areas on Instagram and became friends with them.
The last and biggest struggle that came to mind is probably being able to balance everything. Since SNAPS WITH JOY is something I am running as a side hustle, I not only need to be able to balance work-life, but also work-life-photography. There are often times where I have to wake up early following a long night, or sacrifice the time I have with friends. Over time, I have gotten better at it by constantly staying organized and planning ahead. If you’re reading this and you’re a photographer, please please please always remember to take a break when you need it and not burn yourself out because at the end of the day, we are here to create and do something we love, not more stress!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in mainly graduation and senior photography, with also the occasional sessions for couples, families, professional headshots, and portraits. I am most known for doing graduation pictures at the University of Houston specifically, because that is where and how I started SNAPS WITH JOY! Being an UH alumna myself, I know all the best spots and angles for my grad clients, so it makes sense that most of my clients are UH grads!
Something I take pride in is that I work with a diverse groups of clients from different backgrounds and communities. I wanted to make sure my potential clients are not hesitating to reach out after stumbling upon my page because of thinking that they don’t fit a certain profile. Anyone can be a stunning super star in front of my camera – that is the takeaway I want them to get.
What I think sets me apart from others is that I am one of the few photographers who will let the clients pick out the images they’d like me to work on themselves! I want to make sure when someone chooses me as a photographer, they’re not only comfortable during the session, but also love every single photo they receive at the end! Even though it is an additional step for me to go through the admin work to let my clients pick their favorites, it’s all worth it when I hear how happy they are when the final gallery is delivered!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I just wanted to thank Voyage Magazine for this amazing opportunity to share my story with others! I know there are still a lot of things for me to learn in this space, but I hope my story can inspire someone to take a leap of faith and go after their hobby/interest too!
If you’re a photographer, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I would love to meet you because I can never have too many photographer friends!
If you’re someone who is interested in booking with me, I am here to capture those moments of joy, whether they be: an important milestone you want to celebrate before entering a new chapter of your life, a special occasion where you create memories that you’d like to cherish forever; or a casual photoshoot dedicated to you and your loved ones.
When you choose me as your photographer, you can expect me to hype you up at the shoot, guide you on posing throughout the process, give you recommendations on props/outfits prior, and most importantly – make you feel comfortable and confident in yourself in front of the camera so we can capture candid moments and genuine smiles.
I look forward to working with you, please don’t be shy and come say hi!
Pricing:
- Graduation & Senior BASIC Package: $180
- Graduation & Senior EXTRA Package: $225
- Individual Portrait STANDARD Package: $150
- Group Portraits BESTIE Package: $225
- Group Portraits SQUAD Package: $300
Contact Info:
- Email: snapswithjoy@gmail.com
- Website: https://snapswithjoy.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snaps_with_joy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/snapswithjoy/
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