Ok, everyone, meet Brian. Not just any Brian, but the awesome Brian Khang, the photographer. I’ve only met Brian once face-to-face, and I must say he lights up the room. He’s funny, he’s charming, and not shy at all. I asked Brian if he was okay with me featuring him on Jomygoodness, and he agreed to answer a few of my questions.
Photographed by Jonathan Canlas
Here are his words on describing his background & how he got started in photography {sidenote: I can totally imagine him telling this story word for word}: My background is actually in art and drawing. My life long dream has been to work for Marvel Comics {awesome! I can so see it!} as an artist. In high school I took a photography class that really just taught us how to develop film, but not really be artistic and creative in taking photos, so I was never really attracted to photography back then. I can say that I used my parents film camera my whole life, but it was really for only taking family photos. It wasn’t until about 7 years ago when a friend of mine showed me his digital SLR camera and the rest was history.
It was kind of like walking through a dark forest and then all of the sudden, someone hands you a flash light. It was literally like a night and day experience. After buying my first SLR digital camera, I just was so addicted to taking pictures. I took my camera everywhere I went and took photo after photo of absolutely nothing. I’ve always had this love affair with cars and so I naturally just photographed cars for the longest time. I thought then that I wanted to become a car photographer. It wasn’t until I photographed a friends wedding for fun really and my decision changed to become a wedding photographer instead.
What did Brian want to be when he grew up? Here’s his answer: Besides wanting to be a doctor or lawyer like every other kid growing up, I also wanted to be either a musician or comic artist. My older sister was a talented Violinist, so I would think that was probably why I wanted to be a musician and my older brother was a talented artist as well, so that’s why I probably wanted to be an artist. Yes, so I guess I just wanted to be like them when I was growing up.
Find out what makes Brian love his job so much: Where do I start? I love people and that’s the honest truth. I love being at a couples wedding, anticipating the right moment to photograph a smile, a hug, a laugh, a wink or tears of joy. I love that my job isn’t based on a 9-5 day and that I get to sleep in a bit longer if I choose. I love dressing up on wedding days and my fiance Helen, well and everyone that knows me, can vouch for me on that! I’m sure if I sat here long enough, I can fill up a page on things I love about my job! I honestly do feel that I’ve got the best job in the world!
Oh, my gosh. Here is his photography pet peeve: I think the only photography pet peeve I have and I’m not sure if this is a pet peeve, is when at a shoot or a wedding, my equipment fails or stops working correctly.
Here’s his advice to engaged couples regarding hiring a photographer. By the way, this feature is long overdue, thus his “I’m engaged to be married” sentence… There’s probably a million answers to this question, but in my opinion and as most people know that I’m engaged to be married this June, so we too were searching for a photographer. The best advice I can give a couple when searching for a photographer is, first love the photographers work. Find a handful of photographers that their styles just speak to you and meet with them. Love who they are as a person, as well as an artist. They will be with you on your most intimate day and well before your wedding day and after your wedding. You want to make sure that you click with them. Do your homework on camera equipment and the what ifs’. Make sure you ask questions!
Here’s Brian’s rundown of his equipment: I’m currently shooting with Canon 5D’s. My backup camera is the same as well. In my bag I have the camera bodies, a 16-35MM, 28MM, 50MM, 85MM, 70-200MM lenses. Macro extension tubes, flashes, Pocket Wizards and 2 EOS 3 film bodies. I shoot film from time to time and if there is time. There’s still something so magical about true black and white film that I love! The one thing that I would never be able to shoot without, would definitely be my 50MM lens. I just love the focal length. If there’s a 2nd thing, then it would be comfy stylish shoes!
What inspires Brian? I get most of my inspirations from the movies and tv I watch. Fashion and catalog magazines. Some commercial and fashion photographers. And I can’t leave out living in Orange County. I just love it here!
Where Brian would love to shoot: Oh there’s so many places I would love to shoot, but if I had to pick one, then it would probably be Japan.
Brian describes his perfect day: My perfect day would be getting to sleep in, waking up to a beautiful sunny 80 degrees and hearing the sounds of the ocean, enjoying a nice brunch outside by the beach, playing some afternoon basketball or volleyball with friends, getting a massage, shopping at my favorite stores, having dinner at a delicious hole in the wall restaurant that I’ve never been to with Helen and ending the day with great conversation over tea or coffee with friends around a fire pit. I try to have this perfect day once a year on my birthday!
Brian is such a sweet guy. Guess who his heroes are! My heroes hands down would have to be my parents. They took a risk leaving Vietnam before I was born, in hopes of a better future for their children. I would definitely love to go back in time and photograph my parents wedding. Apparently, the photographer that photographed their wedding in Vietnam lied to them and didn’t really have film in his camera. So there’s no photo of their wedding day, not even 1.
What’s in store for Brian? I’m not sure what the future holds for me, but I am going to be continuing to do what I love and that is being a photographer. I’m currently working on new branding, as well as a new website and blog. I’ve also been pretty busy with commercial work, so that might be an avenue that I’ll be strolling down more often.
What wedding trend Brian is digging right now: The only thing I can think of that I’m happy to see back is the vintage look. I actually love the 50′s and 60′s era so much. The styles and music are something that I really appreciate.
I am soooo with Brian when it comes to what is not wedding hot: Pouffy wedding dress sleeves from the 80′s and wedding cake structures that are connected by bridges.
Brian describes his style as a photographer: My style as a photographer can be described as classically modern, emotional and lifestyle. My personal style can be described as fun, preppy, JCrew. I think the 2 styles definitely overlap. How I live my personal life and style, really reflects in my style of photography and what I like to photograph.
If I were a genie, I would grant Brian these three wishes: My three wishes would be.. to win the Powerball or something equivalent, travel to every place in the world and forever be surround by great friendships!
Considering doing a first look? Here’s Brian’s take on that & trash the dress: I think first looks are such a great idea. It’s such an intimate moment still and on a busy hectic wedding day, it helps with more time for portraits. I’ve never really done a trash the dress session, but if someone wanted to go out and trash their wedding dress, I can see how that can be fun!
Three words that describe Brian are.. confident, emotional, stylish
When Brian is not working, you can expect to find him at a mall shopping, a basketball court, hanging out at a friends place, or eating or cooking. I love to grill food! bowling or laying out at the beach.
Favorites:
Movie: Karate Kid {only the 1st one for me, but the song in #2}
Song: Anything from Chicago {me too!}
Color Palette: Red
Flowers: Tulips
Ice Cream Flavor: Almost anything except bananas
Past Time: Bowling
TV Show: Anything on HGTV
Guilty Pleasure: A very greasy cheeseburger!
Signature Drink: I have to say Caramel Macchiato, I’m not much of a drinker.
Pick:
Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate
PC/MAC: MAC
Nikon/Canon: Canon
Magazine/Blog (Being Published): Blog
Day/Night: Day
Sex & The City or Gossip Girls: I don’t watch either, nor will I admit to watching it {hahaha!}
iPhone or Blackberry: iPhone
Pepsi/ Coke: Coke
