Meet Yao Li and Timothy Wu of Written By The Light Photography in Culver City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yao Li and Timothy Wu.

Yao and Timothy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Back in year 2003, I was fascinated by Art History while studying in U.S.A., and Timothy, my husband, was in Germany pursuing the art of architecture zealously. In the massive but different trivialities, we both seek the Good Land in our lives. His apartment in Bauhaus was close to the residences of Paul Klee and Kandinsky, therefore the works and paintings only seen in books were part of his life. It was then I explored the field of photography. With some of the most talented emerging photographers in Chinese Photographic Forums, we established a small group declaring our art statement.

During one of my exhibitions I met Timothy. As a result, photography, art, beauty and love constituted the Good Land of our lives. As the Bible said such Good Land consists of mountains, valleys, rivers, and streams, with all kinds of produce, all choice fruits, new as well as old, and plains and high peaks of Zion. I expected to get a bird’s eye view of the world, and also hoped to experience the bottom of the valley so I ‘d know how to look upward. We enjoyed it. This was my dream come true.

Around that time, Timothy accepted an offer and started an Olympic project, and I went back to China without a single backward glance.

Often times, on the busy streets and remote country sides as our life led us, we simply paused ourselves to observe those subtle scenes, all those young people coming from rural villages with a hope to be someone in the metropolitan cities, cheerful and yet unsure of themselves; and all those old faces with a weary expression and at the same time a sort of sad dignity, silent and worried. How intrigued was I. Later I realized that I was just one of them, and through photography I was pausing the mundane agony of my own. In such unspeakable time, we vaguely looked for the truth of this world and the beauty buried in souls of this age.

When my husband’s work came to a closure, we made a decision to go to New York where he continued to work as an architect and I continued my study. There we met a group of artists who lived in dark basements and ate coarse food. They ran after their ideal of Art single-mindedly. We became one of them.

Soon we faced a terrible paradox. There was not satisfaction in human life, even though we lived as we had wanted, even though we took pictures, painted, and wrote poems sincerely out of the bottom of our hearts. We did our best and had the best the life could offer. These was not a sense of fulfillment.

In China, as we observed, from the top officials in government to the labors on the construction sites, no one was happy. In USA, it is still the same. In New York, one of our best friends had accomplished every goal in life, but still suffered from depression. Such reality does not differ due to regions, races, cultures, or financial situations.

I stopped my quest for Art, and had to think deeper.

The Things which differ and are more excellent.

In order to focus, we canceled cable services, cut off internet, and threw away cellphones. Every day I stayed at home reading all kinds of books that might answer our question and taking notes of ideas and keeping a track of my thoughts. Every night we discussed our discoveries after Timothy came home from work. Once a week we went to libraries to get all the books I needed to delve in or cafes to download all the materials.

One day, it dawned on me that I have not checked the bible, after getting through the classics of Greek and modern philosophy, literature, historical records of ancient societies, religions of the East and the West. With the question in mind and notebook by my side, I opened the Bible. Soon after reading a few pages of the Gospel books, I could not stop crying. Many ages ago, there were people just like me asking the same question, and this man Jesus answered. No more deductions of human minds, He simply answered! There is God! And He is the eternal God who created all and had plans for all. Everything in life is meaningful if we are in one spirit with Him, since He is the creator and planner who sees the whole picture. By such vision, we are able to understand our life, anchor our souls in something bigger and more constant than ourselves, and become satisfied wherever and whenever for we walk by faith, not by appearance.

He answered and said, it is written, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word, that proceeds out through the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4)

The shadows and the body

It is our story and it is our song. In our own effort pursuing Art, there were only shadows of the Good Land. However, only after we experienced the shadows, we are able to realize the Body when it was revealed to us.

And He made from one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, determining beforehand their appointed seasons and the boundaries of their dwelling, that they might seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, even though He is not far from each one of us. (Acts 17:26-27)

Praise Him, today we came back to where it all began, in a different light. Taking pictures for people became an opportunity for us to serve and testify the treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not out of us.

He is the true light. Sometime in life if we stop a little, and let this light shine in, He promises that He will enable us to live a new life written by the light moment by moment. The fruits of our transient lives thus shall be produced in eternity where a higher glory lasts forever.

Has it been a smooth road?
Not only considering the aesthetic factors as artists, we learnt to understand what people want to see in their images. The harmony is achieved through love. Love helps us understand more about people and beauty.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Since we are the children of the light according to the Bible, in our works, you will see the unique use of light shining on your loved ones.

Also, if you are a student, as we were, you enjoy a 50% off discount instantly.

Praise the Lord that you entrust us your precious moments. With the help of light and love, let’s fulfill your vision of happiness.

Pricing:

• Pre-wedding collection with two wedding dresses provided by us: $ 2000
• Pre-wedding collection without provided dresses: $1200
• Engagement collection with two casual clothes provided by us: $ 1600
• Engagement collection without provided clothes: $ 1000
• Two hours session of Child’s Portraits: $ 300
• Two hours session of Family collection: $ 400
• Wedding Day Photographic Services: $ 1600

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.writtenbythelight.com/
• Email: [email protected]

Image Credit:
Written By The Light Photography

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