Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Choi
Hi Kelly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story starts from when I moved to the States when I was one years old. My parents were immigrants from South Korea and wanted to give me and my brother a better life. My mom was definitely an inspiration in starting my love for food. Even though she lived a very busy life taking care of us, she always showed us that she loved us through her food. Even though she was a great cook, I wasn’t always a fan of her food. I grew up with my mom always making sure I ate a well balanced meal but as a child I remember hating it. She made me eat my vegetables even though I hated them. I reluctantly ate them but as I grew older, I realized that I liked trying different flavors and cuisines. She was always experimental with trying different recipes and making them. One of my fondest memories is growing up my mom would force me to get in the kitchen with her to help her cook even though I hated it. Even though I hated it, I realized that I learned a lot about cooking and food profiles. Once I got older, I learned to cook for myself which helped me in understanding how food should taste and how great food can taste.
I have always been a foodie and I loved trying new foods. My food page journey started once I moved to Dallas around 14 years ago. When I moved to Dallas, I had come from a state where there wasn’t a lot of diversity. Once I moved here I wanted to find new foods to try with my friends. Since I wanted to document all the unique spots and foods that I got to try, I started to upload them to instagram as a food diary. I decided to keep my account public so that I could share with my friends. Once I started to post more and more, I noticed restaurants noticed my work. They complimented me on the quality of my photos and asked if I wanted to work with them in exchange for trade deal. I realized that I could share my food journey with other people and showcase good food in Dallas. I wanted to help small businesses by sharing my art through my photos and sharing about places that people did not know about.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was not always a smooth journey. I started my page for myself and a hobby but I really wanted to grow my page as well. I struggled with growing my page at first. I just tried as hard as I could but it was quite hard to figure out the algorithm. I didn’t know how to grow my page but I honestly kept going even though I grew very slowly. Growing a page takes discipline and perseverance even though there are not many rewards. I think that is the hardest part of having an instagram page.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I actually started my page because of my love for photography. I started by taking photos of my son 17 years ago. I fell in love with photography and decided to go to learn how to take better photos through Youtube. I learned on my own but I decided to attend Art School to learn more. I unfortunately did not finish art school since the cost did not justify the work I would be guaranteed. I decided to start my own photography business. Once I started my own photography business, I kept trying to consistently post more on instagram using my Photography skills. I think that my eye for photography has helped me in growing my page to what it is now.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success can be measured in many ways. I think for me it was when other people started to recognize me for my work. My work is my pride and joy and once people started noticing it, I felt that I was doing something that I truly loved. My whole life, I was lost in knowing what I wanted to do with my life, but I think I found it through photography and videography.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellysimplyeats
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kellysimplyeats
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellysimplyeats?_t=8nL1uy1E6l4&_r=1
