Meet Ly Tran

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ly Tran.

Ly, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always wanted to take pictures ever since I was little. I took random pictures of almost anything and everything that catch my attention. My best friend is the one who really gets me serious with photography. I bought my first DSLR camera because of her. She is an amazing photographer, and she inspired me. I started to look into photography and practiced taking pictures more and more. It grew in me, my love for photography. The way it feels when holding the camera, the sound it makes when pressing the camera shutter button. It feels so addicting.

Then I started doing videography, making travel videos of places that I have been to, a day out, a hiking trip, a festival, some daily happenings, the moments that stand out, or anything really, the moments I want to remember. My hard drives are filled with footages and pictures to edit. I always find myself editing, not even noticing time is passing by, but I enjoy it a lot. One thing leads to another, I then grew interest in film making, and now I am a high school teacher, teaching Film and doing freelance photography and videography on the sides. I am still learning, something new each day, something new along the journey, to where I am and where I will be, I always cherish it.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I first started, I was very self-conscious, I doubted myself often. Putting my work on Instagram and Tumblr, I constantly looked at my phone screen to see how many likes, comments or views. Not much, not at all. It was quite disappointing, thinking that I am not good enough. I felt like for a long time, I constantly seek some kind of “instant” validation or approval through “likes” and “views”. The more views, the more likes, the more followers, the better I stand out, the better my work look. It is a commonsense truth, but it is also not. Because if every single post has to be post-worthy, something that surely can attracts people’ attentions, then it is no longer about expressing what matters to me anymore.

Then I started to realize that this is not my meaning, this is not my purpose. That, this is not the reason why I love taking pictures, nor the reason why I want to make videos in the first place. I stop worrying about how other people perceive my work. I did not feel the pressure from social media as I used to, now I enjoy posting what I love to post, what matters to me. I keep my old posts, even though they are not good, but I can see my growth, my improvement.

My style is candid, at its essence is a way of connecting with the world and bringing back the moments that stand out. I usually add little stories to my post caption, so when I go back to it, I will always remember the stories and what was happening at that moment. My work is like storytelling gallery of my personal interaction with the world.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a freelance photographer and videographer, usually people refer me through words of mouth. I do portraits, seniors and graduation photos, baby and family photos, engagement and weddings.

But what I am most proud of, is my Sunset Film Class. Last year, I was offered to teach a beginning film making class at Sunset High school along with the Math classes that I am currently doing. It’s a thrill but also a challenge as I am new to filmmaking. But I am excited to be able to share with my students what I know about film making, even though it can be a very beginning level, as I still a beginner. But we all need to start somewhere, and all that matter is just do it.

I learn and I teach. But I’m not learning alone, I’m learning with my students through every aspect of film making; writing, scripting, directing, acting, shooting, and editing. On production days, we can be so confused, and we can be so tired and frustrated, but then the next projects, it would be much better, we have better ideas of how to do things. I see my growth through mistakes, and I recognize my students’ growth too. And that makes me so happy, so so happy.

My students make a big part of my work. I’m very grateful that they are very patient with me. And I love them so.

What sets me apart from others, maybe my work ethic, but I don’t usually compare myself to others, I mostly compare my present self to my past self, which I can often be very hard on me. I love to see other people’ works, I constantly think, “wow such an amazing work, how did they do that?”. I look at others’ work as references and guidance for me to learn and improve myself. I never stop working and learning something new, I love to keep myself busy. My mind keeps thinking, some spontaneous ideas, or some random projects, and I will make it happen. Because ideas are just ideas until you make them come true. I work really hard for what I do, but just like this saying, “do what you love, and love what you do”, I can happily say, I do.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Willingness.

You have to willing to do things, to try, to make mistakes, to listen, to work with other, and to keep doing it and doing it. It doesn’t matter if you know how to do something, it only matters if you want to do it. Because when you want to do something, and be passionate about it, you will learn, and you will try your hardest, you will work so hard and feel satisfied with your work. That is your calling.

I want to take pictures, I want to make videos, I want to teach my students, I want them to have fun while learning, and me having fun while teaching. For which, I’m willing to give my all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://trangialy.wixsite.com/tran
• Email: jollylee227@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nulkican/?hl=en, https://www.instagram.com/sunset_film/
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXUfLItjcgyy-uoCTfCklBw?view_as=subscriber

Image Credit:
Hanh Nguyen

Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.