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Life and Work with Maggie Zheng

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Zheng.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My first influence was my mother. She had been doing photography in her free time for a few years, and would constantly urge me to try it out as well. She believed the past time would be another outlet for me to express my creative side, “which you inherited from me” she’d say. Back then, I was too preoccupied with senior year of high school, college applications, relationships, and then freshman year at university came around, and my life had even more responsibilities. Frankly, photography didn’t interest me. Then, during my second semester of freshman year, I started getting messages from local photographers asking me to model for them.

To be completely honest, for a college girl just fresh into university burdened with low self-esteem, getting asked model was flattering, and I wanted to have high-quality photos to use for social media. (Everyone seems to have a personal photographer for their Insta photos these days, and that aesthetic is hard to keep up with.)

I’d pose in various places, at the park, downtown, in front of colorful vibrant murals–photographers would take their shots, edit them, and create beautiful images. Which is fantastic, and I loved their work, but I also wanted to tell more of a story. I wanted to take pictures of non-models, of my friends, of what happens in life. So, about a year and a few months ago, I decided to buy a camera. I’d never taken lessons or read up on rules, but I just started taking pictures of what I liked and figuring things out. I’m still working on it, but Instagram recently showed me a picture that I took a year ago, and it’s crazy to see how things are different now. I guess my mom was right after all (as she usually is).

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Getting into photography can be quite intimidating these days because we see so many incredible photos online, and getting to that level feels almost unattainable. When I first bought my camera, I actually didn’t even touch it for months because I thought there was so much for me to learn and too much to figure out. But also buying a camera is such a financial investment, that I felt like I owed it to my wallet to at least try. Of course, my first photos are not as “good” as the ones I take now, but I still liked my photos back then.

For those who want to get into photography whether it’s with a phone, camera, or other devices, just take the picture! Don’t worry too much if it fulfills the rule of thirds or if the composition is right. I love blurry photos. If you like it, then it’s a good one. It doesn’t really matter if others think differently. The purpose of a picture is to convey something, record a memory, or elicit some sort of emotion. If the photo fills some place in your heart, then that’s all it needs to do.

Please tell us about your work.
I’m a photographer and also run a blog. I’m not a makeup expert or fashion influencer (a fan perhaps), but my blog is mostly me speaking candidly about life, travel, and perspectives. We put the best side of ourselves online, that it’s difficult to remember the struggles that everyone inevitably faces.

There was a time when I had to delete my social media because I was constantly comparing myself with the people I saw online, their parties, social lives, outstanding achievements. I was miserable and felt like I was the only one not having a blast in college. I started my blog partly because I wanted to write more, but also because it’s so important for us to share the bad along with the good. That’s also what I’m working towards with my camera too. Telling more stories and not just pretty pictures. I have a lot of things I want to share, but still just working up the courage to do it.

What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
You are enough. Never doubt that you can’t do it because you are smart enough, capable enough, and strong enough. Work hard, don’t undersell yourself, and know your worth.

I used to give away photo sessions for free because I didn’t think I was good enough for people to pay me. But then, I saw other people with low-quality photos and charging people extremely high prices AND GETTING GIGS. Be confident, and don’t undervalue the work that you’re doing.

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