Meet Nikky Huynh of Upland

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikky Huynh

Hi Nikky, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I discovered my passion for photography at the age of 10 when I bought my first camera—a Nikon Coolpix Point and Shoot—using money I had saved from birthdays and Christmases. From the moment I got my camera, I took it everywhere—on family vacations, school trips, and outings. I photographed everything and everyone—friends, family, and everyday moments for about the next few years.

During my senior year of high school, I joined the yearbook club, which deepened my interest in photography even further. A few months into the school year, my aunt gifted me an old Nikon DSLR, and I instantly fell in love with it. My three dogs became my most frequent test subjects as I learned the ins and outs of my camera. I taught myself how to shoot in manual mode and mastered the differences between ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. I also began learning how to edit using Lightroom and Photoshop.

A few weeks after Christmas, I purchased my first “big girl” camera from Facebook Marketplace for $700. I started exploring portrait photography, transitioning from photographing my dogs and candid street scenes to capturing human subjects. Eventually, I began booking small paid sessions through friends and family who were willing to take a chance on me. What started as a hobby gradually turned into a small side hustle that I continued throughout my undergraduate years.

In the fall of 2018, I started my freshman year at Whittier College, majoring in biology with the goal of becoming a veterinarian. Like many students, I needed an on-campus job, so I joined the university’s communications department as a social media and photography intern. My job involved photographing various school events, such as sports games, to cultural celebrations, concerts, and award ceremonies. Over time, I became known on campus as “the girl with the camera.”

After a year at Whittier College- I transferred to the University of La Verne because I was facing an existential crisis. I no longer wanted to pursue medicine but had no idea what else I wanted to pursue. At the time, I still felt that photography was too “silly” and unrealistic of a career to pursue therefore, leaving me in a confused hole. Once I transferred, I switched my major to communications and minored in photography, which helped keep my passion for it alive.

Then, in 2020, when COVID hit, my photography business unexpectedly peaked. With my job shut down and classes fully remote, I devoted all my energy to my business and started marketing heavily on Instagram. By April 2020, I was booked almost every other day with graduation sessions, photographing students from colleges such as UCLA down to SDSU. As a college graduate myself, I connected easily with my peers, and through word of mouth, I found myself capturing graduation portraits for numerous classmates.

Around this time, a photographer friend invited me to second-shoot weddings with him, and I fell in love with every aspect of the wedding industry. I started wondering if photography could become my full-time career. However, uncertainty still held me back from fully committing and instead, I chose to continue my education by pursuing my MBA in marketing while keeping photography as a side business.

About halfway through grad school, my photography business naturally transitioned from graduation and family sessions to weddings and elopements. That was when I finally gained the confidence to pursue it wholeheartedly. A few months before graduation, I made a bold decision—I quit my full-time job as a supervisor at John’s Incredible Pizza Company to dedicate all my time and energy to growing my business.

I realized that even with an MBA, a corporate marketing job wouldn’t bring me the fulfillment I was searching for. But having my camera in hand, capturing couples on one of the happiest and most significant days of their lives—that is what truly fills my cup and gives me a sense of purpose.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like most small businesses, the beginning was anything but smooth. I struggled with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and internal skepticism. I constantly questioned myself—out of thousands of photographers, what made *me* stand out? I kept pushing myself down, telling myself to pursue a more traditional 9-to-5 career in marketing or communications instead.

I also faced criticism from extended family members who doubted whether photography could provide a stable income, advising me to keep it as a side hustle just to be safe. Despite my attempts to follow a conventional path, something kept pulling me back to photography.

Through the unwavering support of my immediate family, friends, and industry professionals who became close mentors/friends, I realized that no other career could compare to the fulfillment I felt through photography. Looking back, I’m grateful for those external doubts and internal struggles because they forced me to fight harder for what I truly wanted. Overcoming skepticism—not just from others but from myself—made me even more determined to succeed.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in couples, weddings, and elopement photography, blending a documentary-style approach with classic, timeless portraits. I am passionate about capturing the raw, candid moments that unfold naturally throughout a couple’s special day—the laughter, the tears, and the unspoken emotions—while also ensuring they have beautifully composed portraits that they can cherish for a lifetime. My goal is to create a seamless balance between storytelling and artistry, allowing every couple’s love story to be preserved in a way that feels authentic to them.

However, my work goes beyond just delivering stunning images. I want my business to be known not only for the quality of my photography but also for the experience my team and I provide. Every couple deserves to feel welcomed, valued, and celebrated. In a world filled with uncertainty, I want my clients to know that their love is unwavering and worthy of being documented with the same care and devotion as any other.

More than anything, I want my clients to feel confident, radiant, and truly seen through their photos. While I am dedicated to producing high-quality imagery, I also want every couple to walk away knowing they were treated with kindness, respect, and genuine care—not just as clients, but as people with a unique story to tell. My mission is to create a space where love, in all its forms, is honored, and where every couple feels supported from the moment they reach out to long after their final gallery is delivered.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
One of the biggest lessons COVID taught me was to cherish every moment and the people around me. One day, the world felt open and normal, and the next, schools, jobs, and social spaces were shut down indefinitely. I went from casually saying goodbye to classmates for spring break to not stepping foot on campus for two years. The experience made me realize the importance of appreciating everything and everyone because life can change in the blink of an eye.

Pricing:

• Wedding packages range from $4,000 to $10,000
• Couples/Engagement sessions start at $500
• Graduation packages range from $250 to $700

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nikkyhuynh.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkyhuynhphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikkyhuynhphotographyy
• LinkedIn: https://www.tiktok.com/@nikkyhuynh
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/nikkyhuynhphotography/