Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Bang.
Hi Annie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Seoul, Korea and I was a journalist before becoming a photographer. Ironically, I became a wedding photographer while finalizing my divorce. I stumbled into the wedding photography business in 2013 by my friend photographer and fell in love with how much storytelling there was at weddings. I didn’t enjoy doing cookie-cutter or trendy wedding photos – I don’t photograph the same people, why should my photos from weddings look the same? It bothered me… so I wanted to make sure my work and my business will reflect as much as who the people I photograph and will take them back to the memories. I’ve found the genre of wedding photojournalism, and I love every bit of it.
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?
We’re very programmed to be aware of cameras – most of our parents would ask us to SMILE every time they took photos of us when we were young – so it hasn’t been easy to educate people why being present at their weddings and ignoring (or trying to ignore) my presence is important.
Other photographers in the industry also had lots of doubts about my ambition, saying my business will not survive if I don’t do what everyone else is doing. But I’m very passionate about what I do, and I’m glad I’ve stuck through it all. I cannot imagine doing anything else. I truly love my clients who let me capture the genuine moments of their lives.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a photojournalist who specializes in weddings and family. I document people’s unique stories. I LOVE embracing every individual’s difference, style, and personality, and my photos represent them. I’m most proud of being awarded as the number 2 in the world by WPJA (wedding photojournalist association) in 2019. I’d like to believe that my genuine care and love is strong; I make sure to be part of anyone’s group, close friends, and family members, making everyone (including kids and babies) feel at ease. I’d like to think I’m pretty personable and empathetic and this is perhaps my biggest strength as a person and a photojournalist.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I grew up in Panama in the 80s and then in Korea. I’ve always loved people. I did take photos of my friends with a small film camera in the 90s, and I still have these film photos and cherish them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.anniebang.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anniebangphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anniebangphotography
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/annie-bang-photography-los-angeles?osq=annie+bang+photography
Image Credits
Annie Bang
