I am seriously a wedding, photography, blog, and wedding photography blog addict! Does that make sense? I have featured magazines, like Ceremony and Destination I Do, stationers (Wiley Valentine), bloggers (Grey Likes Weddings), floral designers (JL Designs), and wedding cake & desserts (Sweet & Saucy Shop), and I have been holding off on featuring a photographer... until now! I am so pleased to be featuring the wonderful work of Bonnie Tsang, whose work I adore and whose life I admire. Bonnie's tweets are delightful, and her work speaks for itself - amazing! Bonnie was a doll and allowed me to find out more about the lady behind the lens, and I am truly grateful!
What is your background? What did you do before photography? I studied Art History and Graphic Design in college. My first job was as website designer for a company called Safesearching, founded by Alyssa Milano and her mom, Lin Milano, where I designed official sites for celebrities. After that I worked as an admin for a few different small companies. One of the most interesting job was working in collections. It wasn't a fun job, in fact, it was depressing, but it pushed me to pursuing a career that's satisfying and meaningful.
How long have you been doing photography full-time? What motivated you to just do it? I started pursuing photography professionally in January of 2008. The biggest motivation for me to "just do it" was (& still is) my daughter. When I first started photography I was also struggling with a full-time day job. My idea at the time was to make extra income, so I could provide a better life for my daughter. I knew I wasn't happy with the day job, and it was very tiring juggling two careers at the same time. But being a single mom, I had to have a steady income to provide for the little one, so I couldn't easily quit one and start another. With my daughter being my main focus, I was able to keep going without losing faith and patience. There were times when I felt like giving up, but as soon as I put my focus back on I just kept going. Thankfully, that stage had passed and I'm happy to tell you that two months ago I became a full-time photographer!
How do you balance your family & work? That is the ultimate question I constantly ask myself and other working parents. The fact is... there's no real answer to that. No doubt your family will always be first, but I also learned that no matter how you prioritize everything, someone will be unhappy with you. If I spend extra time in the morning having breakfast with my daughter, a client might wonder on his end "why isn't Bonnie answering my email?" Or if I work a little extra time on editing photos, my daughter would be sad by saying, "you're working again?" No one is ever satisfying, but the one person that gets effected the most is YOU. So now I tell myself that it is ok to leave the desk to have lunch; it is ok to go watch TV with Venise; it is ok to leave home on a Saturday morning to shoot an engagement... For as long as I know my duty as a Mom or as a photographer is fulfilled, then I'd feel balanced. (Sidenote: I totally get you on that. Doesn't it suck when you feel guilty for working, and just as guilty for not working?)
Where do you get your inspiration? I watch a lot of foreign films, visit art museums, read fashion magazines like Vogue. Listening to stories from family and friends; feeling their happiness and sorrow. Imaginations.
How would you describe the style of your photographs? How is it different from or similar to your personal style? Other than the word "lifestyle" I couldn't think of anything else. I would say there isn't a lot of differences with my personal and professional work. I love capturing life. Life is a combination of happiness, anger, sadness... I want my audiences to "feel" and want to live in my pictures.
Where is your favorite location to shoot? I love the city. I love where there is a lot of people on the streets. But for Engagement or Wedding photos wise, I love a lot of open space where there's quietness.
What do you love most about your job? The moment when the bride walks in and she looks at her groom, as if they've fallen in love with each other all over again.
What do you hate most about what you do? Price negotiations. It's so not "art", and I'm not good at it.
What is your pet peeve when shooting? Oooo... This will change life if I say it out loud. Well, this is what usually happens... I point at my subject (bride/groom, usually), set my exposure, and right when I am about to press the shutter, someone from behind me with a huge camera and huge flash take a shot. My shot is ruined and I would feel extremely sad. Seriously.
Advice to any couples when selecting a photographer. Connection and trust is very important. Be open and up front about your needs, then get a sense of how the photographer responds to you. Best to choose a photographer that matches the style you want versus your budget. If a particular photographer is out of your budget, but you absolutely love his style, then let him know your situation and discuss openly.
Do you notice any trends when it comes to wedding photography? If so, what is it? What wedding trend are you loving right now? Vintage color style editing seems to be everywhere. Clients and photographers start using a lot of props, such as balloons or lollipops. I'm not a trendy person, so I think I'll stick with "naturalism". However, I really enjoy seeing the current wedding photos from an art point-of-view. As for a wedding itself, I really love the whole new DIY idea. Most brides take more time and thoughts into designing invitations or a centerpieces, and it's always so much fun shooting photos of them.
What describes you & your style the best:
: signature drink I'd say... a 2007 Riesling - refreshing and light, with a hint of sweetness lingering on the taste buds.
: song Has to be something from Feist, Keren Ann or The Cinematic Orchestra, but I'll have to say Just Like Heaven with Katie Melua's version (click on link to listen to it).
: color palette Pink, orange, sky blue, green, cream... I used to love black, where everything had to be black, but I love girlie colors as I've gotten older. Go figure.
What are your thoughts about the bride & groom seeing each other before the ceremony? Traditionally, I love it when a couple wants to keep that tradition. Wedding is a serious matte,r and it is great to know that a bride and groom are serious about it too. Photography wise, I have more and more of my clients see each other before the ceremony because for practical reasons. If the formal portraits can get done beforehand, then my clients will have more time to spend with their family and friends during cocktail hour.
What are your hobbies & activities, aside from your family & photography? Road trips and eating. Best things to do in life is to explore.
What inspired you to start Bonnie Eats? (I think I'm as addicted to your photos as I am to food!) Started a food blog mainly because I don't want my food photos to mix with my wedding photos. Kind of like mixing personal life with work is a no-no to me. Besides that practical reason, I think it'll be cool to connect with a whole different group of photographers, the foodie ones.
This was a treat to read––thank you for sharing! I'm a huge fan of Bonnie's work!!
(And what a cute blog, good grief!! I'm glad I saw her tweet about this, I'm totally subscribing! ;)
Posted by: Deborah (Figgie) | August 28, 2009 at 01:22 PM
I'm a big fan of Bonnie's work so it's great to learn a little more about the person behind the awesome photos. Being a mom and a photographer myself, it's nice to hear how other mommies keep a balance. Thanks for sharing. :o)
Posted by: Dana Goodson | August 28, 2009 at 01:35 PM
I just love Bonnie...she is not only talented, but such a sweet person!
Posted by: My Sweet & Saucy | August 30, 2009 at 11:19 PM
LOVE bonnie and LOVE this interview! great job jo! xoxo, c
Posted by: JL_DESIGNS | September 15, 2009 at 03:27 PM
Beautiful work by Bonnie and I enjoyed reading the interview. Women like her are an inspiration!
Posted by: Preeti | September 29, 2009 at 02:34 PM