Today we’d like to introduce you to Anh Bao Tran-Le.
Hi Anh Bao, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My path to becoming a photographer has been windy, and it started with my first photography class in high school. My high school teacher was old school and insisted that all his students learn the basics of photography on film cameras. Our first project was to use a pinhole camera to capture images around campus, and then he showed us how to develop our film in the darkroom. I fell in love with the medium immediately from there, and I still shoot personal projects on film to this day. There was something magical about being able to document the world around us, create memories, and capture emotions with photography that resonated with me. Fast forward a bit, when I went to college, I had this grand notion that I would become a doctor one day, so I loaded up my schedule with all of the required classes for a pre-med student and set my camera down for a few years. During the summer after sophomore year, when I was home, I picked up my camera and just started shooting again, and it was great to come back to something creative that made me happy. When I returned for my junior year of college, I started my side hustle of portrait photography and ended up in the niche of senior portraits, primarily done through word of mouth.
After college, I worked in the healthcare sector, but deep down, I knew that my passion had always been photography. One of the first internships that I applied for was for National Geographic. From there, my photography journey blossomed when some of the people I photographed in college got engaged, and I could branch out into engagement and wedding photography. After college, I moved to Colorado and was able to visit picturesque places like Rocky Mountain National Park and expand into landscape photography. After encouragement from friends and family, I applied and was accepted into my first gallery, The Denver Art Society. At the gallery, I was able to sell my nature photography prints while still working on expanding my portrait photography portfolio. I live in Chattanooga and have recently transitioned my photography from a side hustle into a full-time job by starting my own photography business, Anh Bao Tran-Le Photography. It has been a fun ride, and I am happy that I have been able to experience the world through my camera.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Becoming a photographer has been a gratifying career, and I recently decided to pivot full-time into photography. While doing this as a hobby and side hustle, I could spend most of my time shooting and editing. Surprisingly to me, and perhaps to others, when I decided to dive into becoming a full-time photographer, I spent less time behind the camera and more time with all of the other aspects of the business. I am not just the photographer anymore; I am also the marketing coordinator, bookkeeper, and customer service support. I probably only spend 15-25% of my week out directly shooting. In contrast, the rest of the time is spent in my studio editing and managing the business elements of being a photographer. I wouldn’t trade it for a different career, but realistically, owning my photography business and being in galleries is much different than I initially thought.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I live in Chattanooga, where I continue to do portrait photography, am an exhibiting artist at In-Town Gallery (the nation’s oldest co-op art gallery), and do multiple art shows and festivals throughout the year. Portrait Photography allows me to connect with people directly and showcase them in the best light. In contrast, my nature photography will enable me to communicate with people through my artistic take on the world. Since moving into a full-time photographer, one of the most rewarding aspects has been being recognized by other artists and institutions I have long admired. A recent accomplishment is having two of my art pieces featured at the Hunter Museum’s “Hunter Underground Gala.” To have my prints featured for their gala night and to be a part of it was an honor and a magical experience. The other neat aspect of my job is that I can run into past clients where I was their portrait photographer and hear about their new life milestones, like getting married, having kids, or traveling, which feels special to be a part of their storytelling journey through photos.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The most vital aspect of my photography has been my flexibility with my artistic vision. There are a lot of great photographers who specialize in one photography niche, and I have found that to be difficult. There are so many fascinating scenes and people around us that specializing feels limiting.
For example, one of my favorite days of shooting was when I was in West Virginia last summer to visit the New River Gorge National Park. During that trip, I could capture birding, landscape, street, urban, and portrait photography all in one day. I started the day hiking out in the Sandstone Falls, which was stunning. It was right after a storm, so the waterfall was gushing, and I was able to create a magical landscape photography piece. During the hike around there, I switched to a telephoto lens and captured so many great birds. Finally, we returned to Beckley for lunch at a cafe where I met a resident, Tango. We chatted briefly about the area and his family history and quickly became good friends. At the end of lunch, I asked him if we could shoot some portraits together, and it turned out to be a great street portrait session for me. So you never really know what to expect.
Pricing:
- Wedding Packages – Starting at $500
- Portrait Sessions – $250 for full hours
- 12×18 Metal Prints – $150
- 16×24 Metal Prints – $300
- 20×30 Metal Prints – $500
Contact Info:
- Website: www.anhbao.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wandering.anhbao/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092301361015
