October 22, 2016

Meet Mid Wilshire and Koreatown Photographer: Jay Myoung Hoon Youn

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Myoung Hoon Youn.

Jay Myoung Hoon, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story begins exactly how everyone would think. Everyone knows it’s tough being an artist, but it’s even tougher to pursue art as a career. I think it takes an extraordinary amount of passion to be able to turn an artistic hobby into a living. I knew that it would be difficult walking this path, but how could I say no to what I truly wanted?

My first interaction with a camera was in middle school. But it wasn’t until high school where I started to develop a real passion for photography. There was just something so fascinating about being able to freeze time with a camera. After high school, I started working at a wedding photography studio, but couldn’t tell if it was what I wanted to do. But luckily, it wasn’t long until everything clicked and I realized how much I loved doing what I did.

In 2002, I began turning my dreams into reality by finally opening up my own studio. I had so many ideas and wanted to run things my own way. For the next 13-14 years, I attended a countless number of weddings and even did photoshoots for a number of different magazines. I developed my own style over these years and refined my technique as much as possible.

Then in 2015, I took another big step forward coming to Los Angeles, while knowing that I would be faced with many challenges. But it was another dream of mine to come here and completely start fresh. I opened up Jbrostudio in 2016 and began a new chapter in my life.

Has it been a smooth road?
I certainly had an interesting experience throughout my early years as a photographer. My biggest dilemma was that as I fell more and more in love with my work, I became equally afraid of it. The deeper I looked into my photos, the more I realized how difficult it was going to be to in the future. This journey taught me a lot about myself. I guess you could say that my own photos taught me more about myself and developed me into who I am today. I don’t think I’m where I want to be yet, though. I still consider myself learning and striving to become better a better photographer.

Adjusting to my new home in Los Angeles has also been quite a challenge. Culturally, everything is so different! I have never lived in such a diverse city before so it’s really interesting, but frightening at the same time. Another big challenge I face is running a new studio. I feel like I’m starting over. It’s definitely refreshing and exciting, but there are times where I feel uncomfortable because it still doesn’t feel like home to me.

I’m really happy, though, and I don’t regret my decision to become a photographer. All the hardships and joy that came out of walking this path will be unforgettable. Photography became my outlet for creativity and exploration. Although I may never be fully satisfied with my photography, that’s what makes my work so exciting. It’s a neverending process of learning and experimenting. It opened up a door to infinite possibilities. I would do it all over again if I had to.

When you look back, what are you most proud of?
Personally, I still feel like I’m so far from where I want to be, so I haven’t thought about this. But if I had to really pick one moment, it would be a photoshoot I did in downtown LA. I had the opportunity to take pictures of one of our brides in a traditional Korean dress (Hanbok). It felt extremely rewarding doing something out of the ordinary and I really thought the photos came out beautifully.

Tell us more about the struggles you’ve faced along the way.
Honestly, this is going to be an apparent answer. It is true that those working in the field of art struggle financially before they make it (if they ever do). This is reality and we know this for a fact before we go into this sort of work, but we still press on because of our passion. Sadly, not all journeys have a happy ending. Nearly 99% of the people I know that used to study photography with me have quit and moved onto other industries. There’s a strong correlation between finance and photography, in a way where photos don’t come out the way you picture it to come out when you’re constantly worrying about whether or not you can financially survive. It took a lot of luck, endurance, talent, and a deep understanding of myself to keep moving forward during such difficult times.

Is there something we can do as a city to improve the outlook for professionals like you?
I love Los Angeles! Ethnic diversity is what keeps me really interested. It gives me the opportunity to try new things and it allows me to develop my skills further. Even now I’m in the process of trying to bring a photographer friend from Korea. He would really love the diversity. I think it’s a great starting point for all photographers.

Pricing:

Portrait photography starts at $300 ( 2hour session, 3 outfits change, 70-80 Digital Images, 10 full edited images)
Family Photography starts at $800( 1 and 1/2 – 2 hours session, 3 outfits change. 1 16*20 High-resolution Picture with frame, 2 8*10 prints and numbers of family pocket pictures)
Engagement and wedding start at $2500 ( 12*15 30P Album, 20*24 2 High-resolution Picture with frames, 8*10 Prints , Online viewing gallery, proof of DVD)

Contact Info: