Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Nguyen.
Hi Tony, 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?
Howdy! My name is Tony Nguyen — Vietnamese by birth, proudly raised in Texas — and I am a photographer based in Houston, Texas + surrounding areas. I am currently a freshman at the University of Houston, GO COOGS!! As a child, I was always taking pictures and videos every chance I can get and was really involved in arts and crafts. My journey began during my freshman year of high school when I was introduced to the photography club, where I was able to dive into the aspects of photography and allowed me to express my creativity. After begging and persuading my parents to buy me my own camera, they gave in. I got my first DSLR camera (Canon Rebel T6) in 2018 and became obsessed with it. I started taking pictures of my friends and family, which eventually transformed into a small business I am running today, Nguyentography.
In addition, I love assigning myself projects that challenge me, as well as giving back to the community. I had a small custom shirt business, which was exclusively for University of Houston students. I knew that college merch can be expensive and not everyone can afford it, so I made my own UH shirt and sold it to students at UH — I ended up raising more than $400 that was donated to various charity organizations. Recently I found my love for creating Instagram and Snapchat filters/lenses! Even though the process takes hours, they are super fun and interactive to make. Never in a million years did I ever think that my filters would have gained more than 41.7 MILLION views across both platforms! When I am not doing photography, you will find me at a boba shop, coffee house, or in bed binging on a Netflix show. I am also a huge food lover, so I am always down to try food from different cultures!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Of course, it has not always been a smooth road and I know that everyone has different experiences. Being a self-taught photographer at a young age, I did not have the money or resources that many photographers on the internet had. I would spend countless hours researching and watching YouTube tutorials + videos about the coolest camera gears, which, unfortunately, I did not have access to. At the start of my photography business, I struggled with time-management. I was a dual-credit student at the time, taking high school and college classes at once — it was sometimes difficult to manage numerous shoots in a small time period + getting the gallery back to clients on time. I also did not drive at the time, so I had to make sure the client’s booking corresponded with the schedule of the person who was going to drive me that day. However, through the obstacles, it made the journey fun, unpredictable, and worthwhile. My business has transformed so much throughout the years and I am looking to learn more and grow each day!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am mainly known for my portrait photography — which includes seniors, couples/engagements, and families. I am always down to try new things, so I hope to expand my services in the future to weddings, events, and maybe commercials! In general, I am most proud of how my photography business has grown through the years, including myself, who never ran a business or had prior-experience in photography. As of this moment, I am most proud of my photography website, which I had built from scratch (twice) and invested plenty of time in. I hope that whoever visits my website finds it aesthetically pleasing and leaves with a smile on their face!
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I am so glad this question is asked! To all my young or new photographers out there aspiring to start their own business, know that it will take time to develop and grow your business and that it is okay to ask questions, for help, or recommendations from others. I am sure wherever you are, there are numerous photographers who would love to help and share with you their experiences. For me personally, I knew of some photographers within my area and just connected with them through Instagram! We all know of each other and are now friends. It is always nice to comment on their posts or DM them to know more about their journey.
Pricing:
- Silver Package (30 Minute Session) – $75
- Gold Package (One Hour Session) – $120
- Platinum Package (2 Hour Session) – $200
Contact Info:
- Email: nguyentographyhtx@gmail.com
- Website: nguyentography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/nguyentography_
Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tw.xngy/
