Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucy Wang.
Lucy, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Lucy Liora Photography began as a cubicle-confined dream back in 2014. Leaving a Big Four Accounting firm was one of the scariest and most difficult decisions I made in my adult years and certainly one made with the most comprehensive analysis. When I was still a college student living in Manhattan, I saved for months to purchase my first DSLR. I photographed everything in the city, from food to people but always as a hobby. Shortly after graduating, I joined PricewaterhouseCoopers and tabled my love of photography.
2014 was a whirlwind. I was newly married and living in some 3,000 miles away from my beloved New York. In the blink of an eye, my whole world had shifted and as I tried to steady myself, I rediscovered a familiar love of photography. Picking up my camera again ignited a joy that was exhilarating. After many long talks and prayers, I said goodbye to everything I had worked to achieve in academia and started a brand-new journey.
It has become a most rewarding decision and one that has brought me happy challenges and endless delight. Never have I been made more aware of how abundantly and fully God blesses. I’ve been made to see how God’s goodness rings true in every setback and every accomplishment. I’ve been made to see my husband’s endless faithfulness, support, and grace. He is my biggest cheerleader and it motivates me beyond what my own determination can muster. I’ve learned much about myself these past 3 years. I tested my limits, cried bitter tears, and threatened to give up many times. The business is much like a mirror, brutally honest and insightfully revealing. I’ve never been so humbled and convicted as these last few years yet they have also been the most fulfilling.
Photography is a noble calling. I document the intimate moments that are fleeting but meaningful. I capture memories that last through the generations. I feel incredibly blessed by every client encounter. I can’t believe this is my job; it feels entirely like a wonderful dream.
Has it been a smooth road?
It most certainly has not! The realist in me wants to say that every minute of every day has been a struggle. Opening a business has put a huge financial strain on our family. Not to mention that the business in question is not at all what I was trained to do. My entire life, I had worked to walk through the doors of the world’s biggest financial services firm, so when I had decided that I would now make a living taking photographs, I had to work like I’d never worked before to become fully trained and qualified in the field. I was a college student once again, pulling all nighters for weeks on end, learning everything I can get my hands on. The learning truly never stops and at times I can feel like I’m drowning in the unknown: Photoshop shortcuts, SEO, blog writing, client interaction, social media, natural light v studio light, working with toddlers (so cute but so “spunky”), book-keeping etc!
Then there’s dealing with competition…
I had to decide every day and when the circumstances calls for, to explicitly and actively put my blinders on…I’m snoopy and endlessly comparing myself on social media to other photographers and entrepreneurs. The fears and insecurities I feel trigger me to snoop and then I enter this vicious cycle of snooping out of fear and fear growing from snooping. Putting on blinders is so freeing but not intuitive and requires great discipline. but when those blinders on I can finally breath, I then have the room to let my creativity take me to places that were dampened by my fears. It also gives me strength to take baby steps in practicing, improving my skill sets in lighting, composition, and editing. in my safe place, I find the courage and confidence to reach out to kind hearted people to teach me, guide me, and critique me.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Lucy Liora Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My goal as a newborn photographer isn’t simply to take a picture of your brand new baby. My goal is to document a milestone and create a fully curated family heirloom. Those first few days with your brand new baby are a crazy, wonderful blur. Your little one is changing so quickly and so much. A lot of moms cry when they get the finalized photos back just a few weeks after because their little one has already grown so much and gotten so “big”. I feel extremely honored when selected by a family to document this particular milestone. In a way, I feel like I’m forever a part of each family’s story as they grow in numbers and in love. Nothing is more rewarding than having families return year after year as young siblings come along and to witness all the excitement and joy all over again.
At my studio, I’m most proud of the client experience that I strive to deliver. At inquiries, clients often comment on the fact that they like my work (best compliment ever). But the final deliverable is a small part of the studio experience. More than anything, I want each mom to walk away with feeling the entire process was genuine, deep, personal, and stress-free and with heirloom products that are intricately hand-crafted and entirely one of a kind.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Love: the Mexican food here is SO bomb.
Hate: The traffic!
The weather – I know… the east coast girl inside me really miss seasonal weather and snow.
Contact Info:
- Address: 806 E Broadway,
San Gabriel, CA 91776 - Website: www.lucylioraphotography.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/_lucylioraphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LucyLioraPhotography/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lucy-liora-photography-san-gabriel
Image Credit:
Lucy Liora Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
