Today, we’d like to introduce you to Ray Zhao.
Hi Ray, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It started with a Canon Rebel t7. I took my first photography course during my sophomore year in college to help prepare a portfolio for the graphic design program, and I would build a habit of bringing this Canon T7 camera that I rented during the semester to places where I go and take pictures every day, and eventually, I started to enjoy taking photos and exploring and learning about different areas/genres in photography.
I applied to the photo program instead because I enjoyed photography and what it brings to my life. Through working with different genres, I was mostly intrigued with making images in a studio setting, and by starting with an interesting idea, followed by ideal lighting and studio set-up, I could make works to express myself and who I am as a photographer/artist.
I am very grateful for the support from families and friends along the way and for being a photo student at BYU and working with many talented people. The journey for me as a photographer has just started as I am graduating this April, and I want to create works that express who I am and inspire others around me.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
The challenges for me have always been self-doubts and living up to expectations. Growing up in a Chinese household, Aside from eating good food for dinner every night, there is an expectation for me to succeed, and I’ve always wanted to make my parents proud.
I followed my brother’s path of majoring in finance right after graduating high school, and my first year of college was filled with doubts and questions. I’ve always been interested in art/design and wanted to pursue a career that allows for creativity, but it’s not as stable as a career such as one in finance or another field of study. I had to think about what was best for me and decided to follow my heart and do what I was passionate about.
Being a photographer means that you are sharing your works for feedback/critiques, and it wasn’t always easy for me to showcase my work to other people. I’ve learned to separate myself from work and take feedback as a way for me to grow and learn. Although I had self-doubts, I was unafraid to push myself outside my comfort zone and find unique opportunities to learn new things.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe you can tell us more about your work next?
I am a photographer specializing in still life, products, and food photos. My typical working day involves going to the photo studio to take images or assisting others with their work. I am also a full-time student at BYU.
Aside from classes or work, I enjoy cooking, spending time with family and friends, and cuddling with my dog. I am most proud of displaying my works in different photo galleries and being able to do what I love to do as a career, also working with many creatives and talented people is super awesome!
I am always brainstorming and creating images/works that are unique and special to me as I grow as a creative in this industry.
In terms of your work and the industry, what changes do you expect to see over the next five to ten years?
I think there will be a lot more AI technologies being utilized very soon. Sora was just announced a couple of weeks ago, and looking at the videos created by Sora, it’s truly an amazing achievement. Still, it is also scary to think about how it will improve exponentially in a few months.
I am somewhere in the middle with AI as I think it’s awesome to use those technologies to refine works and make our lives a bit easier, but also, with how good it is and the rapid improvement, there are legitimate concerns to consider. I am constantly adapting to changes, and learning more about AI is essential as I already use AI techs frequently in my work, and I hope AI can do more good than harm. Regardless, I don’t think that AI can ever replace our creativity as creatives and artists, and I am excited to see what the future holds with the advancement of AI.
With my journey, I am looking to graduate this year and plan to move out to New York or LA to pursue a full-time photography career. I believe that with hard work and learning from others, I can achieve the goals that I hold to myself in the next five years. I also want to be a better person, so holding myself accountable and staying on the right path are important as I learn and grow.
Contact Info:
- Email: rayzhaox312@gmail.com
- Website: www.rayzhao.world
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayzhao0321
