{"id":1715,"date":"2019-01-09T17:39:31","date_gmt":"2019-01-09T22:39:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/the6rightest.com\/?p=1715"},"modified":"2020-07-13T19:57:07","modified_gmt":"2020-07-13T23:57:07","slug":"capturing-happiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/the6rightest.com\/en\/capturing-happiness\/","title":{"rendered":"Capturing Happiness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

W<\/span>hat makes the world go \u2018round? Is it money? Or is it love? Surely money is essential in meeting your fundamental needs, but if you want to climb to the top of Maslow\u2019s pyramid, it will not suffice. You also want your career to be a perfect fit for you, and one way to achieve that is to be your own boss. If you\u2019re flirting with the thought of becoming an entrepreneur, follow your heart. Pursuing your idea in the right way might just lead to lasting self-love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Alex Banman<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Phetmany Phaxay (Pep)<\/a> always knew she wanted to have a business of her own, but it wasn\u2019t until she embraced her passions that she discovered what it would be. After finishing aGraphic Design program, Pep was working in her field at a small boutique firm for four years. She enjoyed her job, but working on similar projects for conservative brands wasn\u2019t allowing her much creative freedom. Craving new flavours and seeking other creative outlets, she pursued her interests outside of work and took cooking and photography classes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was always like a fantasy\u2026doing photography as a career, and [making a] living off of it. It seemed kind of glamorous.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Later that year, at work, Pep became very involved in arranging photo shoots of recipes. She was hiring photographers and working closely with them. Pep soon realized she was enjoying the photography side of her job much more than the graphic design. Although she had always been fascinated by photography and enjoyed it as a pastime, she never thought of it as a career. \u201cIt was always like a fantasy\u2026doing photography as a career, and [making a] living off of it. It seemed kind of glamorous,\u201d she says. Inspired by her long-time hobby, and endowed with editing skills she learned at the firm, Pep was ready for something new. \u201cI just felt like I kind of outgrew\u2026my position there, and I also needed a bit of a change,\u201d she says. So she took a chance and turned her talent into the career of her dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In early 2012, Pep left her agency job to embark on a career in photography. Pep knew it wasn\u2019t going to be easy, but she was up for the challenge. \u201cDon\u2019t listen to people when they tell you that it\u2019s gonna be hard\u2026you know it\u2019s gonna be hard!\u201d warns Pep. Working from home, she started with freelance food photography, and supplemented with graphic design projects when she needed to. Using her background in graphic design and marketing, Pep skillfully created a website and established her brand on social media. She learned what she needed to know about running a small business by taking online courses on CreativeLive, watching videos on YouTube and reading advice from entrepreneurs she admires. Meanwhile, she continued to take some photography classes to improve her technical skills. The following year, she was also planning her wedding and the search for her own photographer sparked an interest in shooting the big day for other couples. Although she enjoyed food photography, (and still does) the work was always indoors, shooting in a studio, or editing on her computer. The allure of working outside, discovering new places around the GTA, and meeting new people drew Pep in and she decided to give wedding photography a shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Alex Banman<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pep began by shooting sessions for friends, and they recommended her to others. She built a reputation and her client base grew steadily from referrals, allowing her to officially start Pep Studios<\/a> in 2016. \u201cI feel happy when I\u2019m doing it\u2026I\u2019m not working hard for someone else. I\u2019m working hard for me,\u201d she shares. It\u2019s been rewarding for Pep to see her business grow from a few small projects to a full-time career. Today she often hires a second shooter to get more coverage on wedding days, and hiring an in-house associate will be the next big step. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not about how fast you go. \u2026Are you improving every day? \u2026Are you better than what you were last year?\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Even as her business grows, Pep admits it\u2019s hard not to compare herself to other people sometimes. When she has moments of self-doubt, she puts it all in perspective by reminding herself how much she\u2019s accomplished so far. \u201cIt\u2019s not about how fast you go. \u2026Are you improving every day? \u2026Are you better than what you were last year?\u201d she says. She always tries to stay positive and focus on what she can improve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pep keeps an open mind and likes to experiment with marketing strategies. She has tried wedding shows and dabbled in some advertising, but ultimately she found that putting time into building relationships with clients and showcasing her work on Instagram have been her most effective strategies. In an industry with an overabundance of available vendors, a word from a trusted source is the best form of promotion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Pep\u2019s photography skills hook viewers on Instagram, it is her charm that wins couples over. Pep compares meeting potential clients to dating. The three of them need to chat a few times to see if they mesh well. Since Pep is in close proximity to the couple all day, it\u2019s important that they like her. After all, when they say yes to her, they are inviting her to be an important part of their special day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pep\u2019s personality is also the right fit for the job. \u201cI\u2019m pretty easy-going and chill,\u201d she says. These are important characteristics for couples looking to reduce stress during their wedding. Meeting so many guests and members of the wedding party in one day can be overwhelming, but Pep handles it well. When she has to ask people to give her space to work or direct them in a shot she says it firmly, but with a big smile. She didn’t realize how patient she was until she started Pep Studios and clients mentioned it in reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Alex Banman<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pep found happiness in capturing love. She likes the variety that wedding photography offers \u2013 every couple is unique, every celebration is different, and every wedding is somewhere else. \u201cI get to meet a new couple, and hear their story, and take photos where people are the happiest\u2026on their happiest day, which is awesome!\u201d she shares. She enjoys documenting the relationship and the couple\u2019s connection with family and friends. She feels honoured to be present and capture the beginning of the married couple\u2019s life together. Although a wedding for Pep means she\u2019s working all day, the smiles are contagious. \u201c…The energy just bounces off. Like if I\u2019m happy, then they\u2019re happy, and they\u2019re happy, I\u2019m happy, so everyone\u2019s happy!\u201d exclaims Pep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo one cares as much about your business as you, so you have to care. [People say] you need to love yourself before somebody else could love you. It’s the same thing…\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The challenge in wedding photography is that it doesn\u2019t yield too many recurring clients, so Pep has to work constantly to find new ones. However, because she is personable and sweet she builds friendships with couples easily and they hire her later for other milestones. Being a wedding photographer allows her to connect with people in a unique way. She sees relationships evolve and families grow, from engagement, to wedding, to maternity, to babies\u2019 birthdays. She is present for their most precious moments. That\u2019s what makes her role so special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A glowing reputation starts with self-love. When you work hard and provide excellent service, your passion shines through and people notice. Pep advises, \u201cNo one cares as much about your business as you, so you have to care. [People say] you need to love yourself before somebody else could love you. It’s the same thing – you need to work really hard, and people need to see you work really hard, and that you\u2019re hungry for [success. When they] admire how hard you\u2019re working\u2026people are more willing to lend a hand.\u201d If you want your livelihood to come from a labour of love you need to follow your heart, believe in your mission, give it your all, and people will love it too. When you send love into the universe, it always boomerangs back to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For some creative inspiration, Pep recommends following Jasmine Star<\/a> and Caroline Tran.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Alex Banman<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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What makes the world go \u2018round? Is it money? Or is it love? Surely money is essential in meeting your fundamental needs, but if you …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1728,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[50518566,50518561],"tags":[50518540],"class_list":["post-1715","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-compassion","category-creativity","tag-featured"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/mltyh8w83q6i.i.optimole.com\/cb:tv33.231\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/the6rightest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Pep-4.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9EHbH-rF","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/the6rightest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1715","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/the6rightest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/the6rightest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the6rightest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the6rightest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1715"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/the6rightest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1715\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3810,"href":"https:\/\/the6rightest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1715\/revisions\/3810"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the6rightest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/the6rightest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the6rightest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1715"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the6rightest.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}