Life & Work with Connor Bahng

Today we’d like to introduce you to Connor Bahng.

Hi Connor, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
It all started in second grade when I met my childhood friend Ryan Rios. I had just moved to a new school, and my teacher introduced me to the kids in the class. 

She asked if anyone wanted to show me around school, and Ryan raised his hand. Since then, we’ve grown up together, played baseball in high school, and have had countless BBQs and fun times. 

Growing up, I think both of us kind of knew that we would like to go into business at some point in our lives. We had always talked about streetwear (fashion), music culture, and just the value of many materialistic things. 

So fast forward years later, after college. Ryan reached out about starting a photo studio. My background is in film production, and he is in business/photography. 

This is where we said, “Why not?” and we went for it. 

We did our research, pulled the funds we needed, and secured our first lease for a commercial property. Since then, we have been networking, marketing, and building upon our original idea of being just a photography studio. 

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?
It has not been smooth as most business owners would say, especially in the first year. 

We had to learn our business model and see what works. I think one of the biggest things is trying to find out what marketing strategy gets views on our business and what actually converts those views into renting customers. 

I think it’s important to have the fortitude and patience to figure out how your business will operate because, like life, there are many things that you can’t control. 

We opened our studio right as the film industry finished the 8-month strike, so there was a lot of uncertainty. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My background is in film production. 

After graduating from school, my mindset was to get on too many productions as possible. I was a PA (production assistant) on all types of short films and music videos. 

I did my internship at Dash Radio, was a runner on set for Fox Sports NFL, and a video producer at Gladeo. Along the way, I also continued to do photography and camera operating. 

Beginning of 2024 I shifted my focus to directing, specifically sports commercials. 

I think what sets me apart is that I worked in almost every department of filmmaking, and I have a vision for myself to become a sports commercial director. It’s pretty rare to meet a director in this industry and in Los Angeles who wants to do sports. 

Growing up, my background is in the arts but also being an athlete, so I have the qualities of being both, and I think that separates me from just being an artist. 

What was your favorite childhood memory?
I remember as a kid, I had lots of energy and creativity. Part of the reason why I was in sports and also in the arts for a long portion of my youth. 

But growing up, we didn’t have the instant access to content like kids today. One of the best memories was being able to go to Blockbuster on Fridays with my mom and sister. 

We would pick a movie and the anticipation to go home and watch a movie from Blockbuster was something I always looked forward to. 

Once the movie started, I was absorbed in it, and that same passion translated when I went to see a movie in the theatre. 

I think the magic of going to the movie theatre has lost its magic and it’s kind of sad what streaming has done for movie culture. 

Contact Info:

• Website: connorbahng.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connor_socal/?hl=en
• Other: midwayproduction.com