Breaking into working upscale and high paying jobs in the photography sphere is no small undertaking, especially if you haven’t found your niche. It takes skill, determination, and a lot of hard work finding the right connections.
When Catherine Nguyen picked up her first point-and-shoot camera on a trip to Vietnam more than two decades ago, she had no idea that she had stumbled into her future career path. She enjoyed photography, but like most new photographers, she wasn’t sure of what type of work to look for or of where she wanted to focus her skills when giving it a try professionally. She tried food photography, wedding photography, and even a travelling position doing hotel photography but nothing stuck. Burnt out from being on the road, she returned home and by chance saw a job posting for luxury interiors – she had found her niche.
So, for the past 10 years since, she’s been hard at work building her name into the go-to photography brand for all things luxury interior and architecture throughout the US, with her work being featured in dozens of well-renown publications such as Elle Decor and HGTV.
Allow me to introduce Catherine Nguyen…
—
My name is Catherine (Cat) Nguyen and I own Catherine Nguyen Photography. I am a luxury residential and commercial interiors and architectural photographer based in Raleigh. My clients are primarily interior designers, custom builders, architects and magazines.
In 2000 I traveled to Vietnam for the first time since leaving as a baby. When I came back, I had over 30 rolls of film from my point-and-shoot camera. My boyfriend at the time decided to buy me my first manual film camera for Christmas. I dipped my toe in the water by taking a few classes at the Cooper Union.
I remember talking to my cousin who was attending the Academy of Art University for Interior Architecture in San Francisco. When I told her I felt I need a change, she suggested I go to the Academy for a degree in Photography. I think I told her she was crazy, but the seed had been planted. I started researching schools and photography programs. Eventually, I decided to take the plunge and move to San Francisco for a fresh start!
While at the Academy, I was very interested in Fashion Photography on location as well as product photography. Upon graduation, I realized that if I wanted to pursue Fashion Photography, I would have to move back to NYC or go to Los Angeles, which I did not want to do. Instead, I tried out different specialties: assisted at a well-respected Food Photography studio, was a third shooter for a wedding photography business, and photographer for a high-end real estate company. I realized pretty quickly that food photography, while beautiful, was not for me. I also was not interested in pursuing wedding photography. So, I continued to shoot for OpenHomesPhotography in SF through 2008 until the economy took a downturn. At that point, I needed to pivot and ended up being contracted by a hospitality content creator based in Vancouver.
I spent the better part of 2009 covering the Pacific Northwest and Midwest. It was a different hotel in a different location every day. At one point, I had been on the road for about 3 months without going home. I was exhausted and burnt out. I returned home after contracting H1N1 in Indianapolis. I needed to pivot yet again. I went onto my alumni job board and saw a posting for interiors photography for a property management company in the area. I also was referred to an amazing decorative painter. She opened up many doors for me in the area. I started to gain architect and interior design clients. I realized I had found my niche.
Name recognition through consistent publication as well as consistent posting to Instagram has really helped me to attract clients. Client retention has come down to staying active in the local community and keeping my name visible.
Irving Penn, Richard Avedon and Michael Kenna inspired me to work toward becoming a photographer. I also remember sneaking fashion magazines as a young girl and loving the drama and beauty of the features.
Things today are going very well! I am busy and receiving new client inquiries regularly without having to cold call or knock on anyone’s door. I have just signed on with a new marketing agency and am working on relaunching my brand. I hope that I will become more regularly published in national publications.
Work hard. Then work harder. Don’t look over your shoulder at your competition. It will drive you crazy. Be your own loudest cheerleader while also always striving to improve. Don’t take less than what you’re worth! It’s hard to recover from that.
People can follow me on Instagram @catnguyenphoto, look me up on my website https://www.catherinenguyen.com.
My mother in law loves to sew.
A few years ago she asked me how to set up an online store.
She wanted to sell fancy throw pillows she was making.
I gave her very basic steps. Enough to get started (I don't know much about ecom).
A few weeks later she showed me her site. It…
Whatever your 2024 goals, hopes, and dreams are.
I hope you make it.
Everyone wants “yes.”
But they don’t wanna pay the price.
100 Nos is the price of one yes.
You can get as many as yeses as you damn well please as long as you’re willing to pay the price.
I was sad to learn that Charlie Munger died today at age 99.
What a life.
He would likely roll his eyes and argue that none of us should be too surprised, based on the actuarial tables, but we’ve lost one of the 20th century’s greatest investors and businessmen.
Chris and I…
