Janice

My name is Janice Luong. Wow that was literally so cliche, but how else do I introduce myself. :) I am a daughter, sister, partner, photographer, and LOVER of cats and dogs (most pets are cute don’t get me wrong.) I guess for the longest time in my life I have always wanted to help people. I have always had this weird feeling that I was put on this Earth to do good and spread love. So the question is HOW, how do I help people?

At first, the obvious answer was to go to school and become a doctor. That way I can save people’s lives, but the monetary commitment was something I was not prepared to do. I also sat and thought in depth to figure out what are other ways I can “help” people. Saving someone’s life medically is not the only path to reaching that goal. So HOW? Become a counselor? Become a social worker? Work at a non-profit? These are all questions that have crossed my mind. It’s partially why I became a photographer. I think in the culture that we live in now, life is always about moving to the next best thing and having the newest and greatest thing. Photography taught me to actually slow down in my day to day life and appreciate small moments such as a flower after it rains, or the smile on someone’s face when you tell them they’re beautiful.

Now why did I get into photography? It goes back to my reason for being, I want to help people. How does photography help people? Well, today’s culture has also molded this perverted image of what beauty looks like, but through my photography I want to show people that your beliefs of beauty do not necessarily fit into a box. There have been so many times that I have taken a picture of a friend or a loved one, and they look at me and say “I didn’t know I could look so good!” Well honey, you best believe it.

Photography is also such a versatile art form because in addition to capturing raw beauty, it can capture vulnerability, raw joy, pain, tears, and most importantly history. I think that’s partially why I picked up photography because I get to choose the stories that I tell and the moments that I capture. I can create my own brand and my own definitions for what beauty, love, pain, and vulnerability looks like. If at the end of my life I could only use five words to define who I was, I would hope that people remember me as a loving, altruistic, patient, bubbly, and empathetic person. I want the world to know that I am working hard everyday to make the world a better place. It does not need to take a grand gesture or a donation of ten million dollars to make the world a better place. Sometimes it is as simple as putting the shopping cart where it belongs, or holding the door open after you. The world does not change for the better with occasional grand gestures, it changes over time because of small acts of kindness here and there.

I hope the world can remember that sometimes life is hard, but you’ve got people in your corner, and it’s much easier when you reach out to your friends or family for support. I know our society has also taught us to be more independent and to not rely on others, but trust me, going through life’s struggles and triumphs are so much sweeter and easier to go through with people by your side. I hope whoever reads this finds a bit of inspiration to be kinder, to slow down and appreciate the beauties in everyday life, or to take some time to think about who you are, and who you would like to be at the end of your life.

Life’s an adventure y’all. Don’t let it pass you by and wonder where the time has gone in 70 years.