Photography Lens Kit
Theory Lens
You probably won’t meet too many photographers with a Ph.D. in the social sciences, but maybe it’s time you did. So much of my community psychology and social justice academic background informs my intentional approach to photography.
Practice Lens
My 10+ years in domestic and international community development work has made me highly attuned to the ethical needs of the humanitarian and photojournalism sector. It’s time there’s a new norm for ethical and human-centered photography.
Storytelling Lens
I’ve worked in personal branding and do freelance web design and copywriting. I’ve also facilitated storytelling workshops for both youth programs and undergraduate classes. Basically, I’ll make sure your images are more than just documentation.
What You Can Expect
Consultation
Whether it’s for your nonprofit branding, next fundraising campaign, or research assignment, I can help you use visual storytelling to its full potential. I’ve worked with a range of professionals: from the not-for-profit and social enterprise sector, to academic researchers in higher ed. We’ll share and align visions before we take action.
Professionalism
I’ve worked in communications, so I know how frustrating it can be to work with an unreliable and unresponsive person or agency. No more waiting around for the photographer to show up or waiting weeks for the final, processed images – I’ll make sure our communication lines are wide open and the expectations are transparent.
Affordability
Trust me- I know how it feels to work for a small non-profit. My sliding scale rates model is meant to tackle this “equity over equality” issue and make sure that a) the most under-resourced professionals can still gain access to quality services, and b) the most deserving stories can be respectfully seen and heard.
Portfolio
Testimonials
– Julian Cadena, Asheville, NC
– Nghi Phan, Oakland, CA
– Elizabeth Green, Boston, MA
Featured Blog Posts
Forest Bathing and Mountain Airing for the End of an Era.
I have a video recording of my doctoral defense and that moment my advisor welcomed me back into the room and said, “Congratulations, Dr. Hy Huynh.” The moment happened so fast in real-time though, so I’m grateful I can go back, slow it down, and savor that moment, frame by frame.
“Find a cause where your heart doesn’t feel inactive.”
It’s been a while since I’ve written anything leisurely, and you know what? I completely and unreservedly blame this dissertation. For the past few weeks, it’s been academic writing, research, statistics, and analysis *every day* for as long as I physically and possibly can. On the bright side, I am happy to share that the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and closer. I’m starting to squint, reaching around aimlessly looking for the sunglasses I dropped on the floor. Come April, I’ll finally be finished with this dissertation:
Portraits In The Valley.
One of my favorite memories of my recent trip to Colombia was photographing Julian and his abuelo on a hike at Cocora Valley. The day before, his abuelo had asked if he could join us, even expressing interest in hiking with us. He wanted to do it all. It wasn’t until later that I learned he hadn’t been back to Cocora Valley in more than twenty years.