Daily Inspiration: Meet July Nguyen

Today we’d like to introduce you to July Nguyen.

Hi July , 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?
I originally went to school with the intention of becoming a teacher and graduated with my bachelor’s degree in 2020. Photography wasn’t something I initially planned to turn into a career, but somewhere along the way, I completely fell in love with it.

I started out photographing landscapes, and eventually began photographing graduation sessions, families, couples, and maternity sessions. The more people I photographed, the more I realized how much I loved documenting real connections and the little in-between moments that can so easily be forgotten.

Over time, weddings naturally became a bigger part of my work, and that eventually led to the creation of Flashes of Love. Today, I primarily photograph weddings and couples throughout Southern California, with a focus on creating images that feel candid, cinematic, and true to the people in front of my camera. I love giving my couples gentle direction when they need it, but I also want them to have the freedom to simply be themselves.

Looking back, it’s funny to think that photography was never part of my original plan. I think that’s one of my favorite parts of my story — sometimes the things you never planned for end up becoming exactly where you’re meant to be.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not! I think from the outside, it can sometimes look like everything happens really quickly or easily, but there have been a lot of growing pains along the way.

One of the biggest struggles for me was learning how to actually run a business while also learning how to be a better photographer. When I first started, I was so focused on taking good photos that I didn’t really think about everything that comes with running a business like pricing myself, contracts, emails, marketing, finances, building a website, finding the right clients, and just figuring out what kind of photographer I wanted to be.

There were also definitely moments where I questioned myself and wondered if I was doing things “right,” especially because photography is such a saturated industry. It’s really easy to compare yourself to other photographers and feel like you should be further along or doing things differently.

I’ve had to learn to trust my own path and remind myself that my business doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. A lot of figuring things out has happened through trial and error, and honestly, I’m still learning every day.
I think those struggles have actually helped me grow the most. They’ve pushed me to become more confident in my work, more intentional about the kind of experience I want to give my couples, and more comfortable with letting my business evolve naturally.

It definitely hasn’t been a perfectly smooth road, but I think that’s what makes getting to where I am now feel even more meaningful.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a wedding and couples photographer based in Southern California but willing to travel for love stories wherever that may take me. I love capturing love stories in a way that feels natural, romantic, and true to the couple. I’m really drawn to the little moments like the way someone looks at their partner, the laughs that happen when no one is paying attention, the happy tears, and all those in-between moments that you might not even realize are happening until you look back at your photos.

I don’t want my couples to feel like they have to pose the entire time or know exactly what to do in front of a camera. A lot of people tell me they’re awkward in photos, so I try to make the experience feel really easy and comfortable. I’ll give direction when they need it, but I also want them to just be themselves and enjoy being together.
I also really love shooting 35mm film. There’s something about film that feels so nostalgic and timeless, and I love being able to mix it with digital photos to tell a story in a different way.

I think what I’m most proud of is the relationships I’ve built with my couples. I never want to feel like I’m just another vendor they hired for their wedding. I genuinely want to get to know them, hear their story, and make them feel comfortable with me. One of my favorite things is when couples come back to me later for maternity photos, family photos, or another special season of their lives. It means so much that they trust me to keep documenting those moments for them.

As far as what sets me apart, I think a lot of it comes down to how much I care about the experience and the people I’m photographing. Of course I want to create beautiful images, but I also want the photos to feel like them. I want them to look back at their gallery years from now and remember how they felt in that moment, not just what they looked like.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I think if there’s anything else I’d want people to know, it’s that I never planned for any of this. I went to school to become a teacher, and photography was something that just slowly became a bigger and bigger part of my life. I decided to take a chance on it, and somehow it turned into a career and a business that I genuinely love.

I’ve definitely had moments where I questioned myself and wondered if I was on the right path, especially when I was first starting out. I think that’s normal when you’re building something from the ground up. I’m still learning and figuring things out all the time, but I’ve learned to trust myself a lot more and not compare my journey to someone else’s.

I’m just really grateful that I get to do what I do. I get to meet people, hear their stories, be there for some of the biggest moments of their lives, and preserve those memories for them. That’s something I don’t take for granted.

And honestly, I’m excited to see where this takes me next!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://photosbyjulyyy.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flashesoflove_/