Rising Stars: Meet China Lee of Chicago

Today we’d like to introduce you to China Lee.

Hi China, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, Chicago public school teachers would hand out personality tests to us, and year after year I received the same results. They reflected what I knew about myself before I could even understand what it meant. That I was an artist. I’ve always been an artist. I’ve had journals filled with fashion designs and poems; danced with my sisters; produced music with my brother. I’ve created drawings for my friends and styled my cousins’ hair. And because my formative years were spent on the Southside downloading Limewire viruses and writing HTML on Myspace, snapping photos on my digital camera was also a frequent occurrence.

Before I had ever taken a single real portrait, Picnik was the first app that exposed me to photo and graphic design. I fell in love with combining various the wingdings, borders and filters. I became the person people looked to if they wanted a photo edited. After my brother gifted me my first real camera, I added photography to my list of hobbies and for a long time, it was just that. It wasn’t until I was commissioned for a 2023 project that my connection to photography began to evolve and I decided to pursue a career in the field. Since then, my pursuit has led me to a life of passion that has a constantly evolving path.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I want to say that it hasn’t been a smooth road, but it almost has. Has it been challenging? Absolutely. Has it been disappointing? For sure. But I can’t say I’ve struggled in my career. I’ve had to work hard, learn new things, take risks and take losses, yet my love for what I do makes it all feel balanced. Maybe in the past I would’ve referred to it as that. I’m sure it felt like it at the time. Knowing what I know though, how can I refer to the things that have transformed me as struggle?

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Portrait photography is the medium I specialize in, but my skillset spans across multiple categories. My title at any given time depends on what the project calls for. During one project, I’m the director. In the next one, I’m a writer. For a different one I play multiple roles at once. People trust me to bring their ideas to life because I understand what they need from every angle.

I shifted my main focus to photography because of its special way of capturing life. You can write about a situation, paint a feeling, or record a video of something, but when you take a picture, it freezes a single moment and suspends it in time. I enjoy the way I feel when I capture something beautiful for myself. I do it for others so I can share that feeling. I’m proud that I’m not only fueled by my personal needs, but also by a desire to see the world’s beauty reflected in the images I take of the people and places put in front of my lens.

My creative style is unique because it’s not just one specific look. Many photographers develop an individual style, sharpen it then make it their signature. I was never able to do that, not for lack of trying. I do a lot of self portraits because I love exploring new ideas and I know that every photo shoot requires its own approach. I leave myself open to all ideas and concepts. I’m the photographer you come to when you want to create something specific, as well as when you want explore something innovative.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’m terrified of taking risks. The biggest risk I’ve taken is deciding to be an entrepreneur. There’s no safety net except whatever foundation and village you create for yourself. Starving artist is a concept for a reason. Usually, the only risks I take are either heavily calculated or majorly necessary. Not that I won’t take them, but I’m not always comfortable with them. It’s one of the biggest things I’m working on changing about myself. To be brave when faced with uncertainty takes true strength. Everything you want is on the other side of what you fear.

Pricing:

• Outdoor Mini Session $150
• Studio Mini Session $250
• Classic Session $350
• Premium Session $425

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bychinalee.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chinajustsnapped/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TachinaCierra/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@chinajustsnapped

Image Credits
All images captured by China Lee