Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathy Zhang.
Hi Kathy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story really began during the pandemic, when I unexpectedly had to cook every day for my family. What started as routine slowly became something I genuinely enjoyed. Cooking turned into a creative outlet, and because photography had always been my hobby, I began taking photos of the dishes I made. That’s when everything clicked—I realized how fun it was to blend food with creativity.
The more I created, the more I wanted to explore. I went from simple phone photos to experimenting with full food photography, and eventually, videography. Today, I get to tell visual stories through food—a passion that grew out of a difficult time and transformed into something meaningful.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not smooth. This is a completely new hobby for me, and I’m entirely self-taught, so everything has been trial and error—lighting, editing, styling, filming, all of it. Since I have a formal full-time career during the week, I can only dive into cooking and photography on weekends, which made the learning curve even steeper.
Balancing family life while picking up new creative skills was challenging, and there were plenty of moments of self-doubt where I questioned whether my work was good enough. And of course, there were funny mistakes—like prepping everything perfectly, cooking the whole dish, setting up the scene beautifully… only to realize I forgot to turn on the camera.
But every obstacle has pushed me to grow. Those early struggles shaped my style, taught me to be resourceful and patient, and made this weekend hobby something I truly look forward to. Every project inspires me to keep experimenting and improving.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Becoming an artist has been my childhood dream, and I’m glad I’m still pursuing it—just in a completely different way. I develop recipes as a form of self-expression and film them in a way that feels true to me. Each dish becomes like an art piece, capturing not just flavor, but color, texture, and emotion.
I specialize in food photography and videography, turning everyday cooking into visual storytelling. What sets me apart is this artistic approach: I don’t just show food, I try to capture the feeling behind it, creating visuals that are both beautiful and meaningful.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was curious, creative, and always drawn to anything I could make or capture. I loved noticing details—colors, textures, and small moments—and found joy in expressing myself through art and photography. I wasn’t the loudest kid, but I was observant and imaginative, always exploring my interests in my own way. Looking back, it’s easy to see how those early passions naturally led me to pursue food and photography as a creative outlet today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @happywowohappy
Image Credits
Kathy Zhang @happywowohappy
