By Junanna Chen & Karen Phan
These people had never talked to each other before. They burned under the Sun, sweaty and irritated, eager to escape to the shade and get to the Homecoming Dance.
But the moment Jenny Nguyen whipped out her camera, they all went silent. She was born to hold that camera; it was a part of her, and they all knew it. She demanded their attention, the camera demanded their attention.
Snap, snap, snap. She was on her knees, tiptoes, rocks. Eyebrows furrowed, eyes peeking through the viewfinder, fingers hugging the focus ring. Move back, move forward, lean closer. They all posed, obeyed, collaborated.
When the sound of the camera shutter died, they let out a breath, looked at each other and laughed. On to the next location. She led the way, and it happened again. More poses, more laughs, more memories captured with a camera.
Nguyen’s interest in photography goes way back, thanks to her mom who often took photos of her as a child. The memories on glossy photo paper are timeless and tucked in the pockets of photo albums. They warm Nguyen’s heart and inspire her to capture life for friends and family to look back on.
“I just like to share my life with others and use photos as a way to look back at memories. I find joy in taking pictures of things I find beautiful and things I love and once again just share it.”
So, she bought a camera in 2018—a Canon EOS Rebel T6i.
“This is my first camera… and I did have to work for it,” Nguyen said. “I did chores and worked for my dad’s store. I was really excited because it was my personal camera, and I could do whatever I wanted with it and I could do anything I wanted on my own.”
Navigating a camera and deciphering a wordy manual can be tricky, so Nguyen, who is a self-taught photographer, likes to watch tutorials on YouTube for tips and use her camera as often as she can.
“I admire how dedicated she is to photography,” junior Beverly Tran said. “Every chance there is, she will grab her camera and take a picture.”
Nguyen’s practice over just two years with her first camera has paid off. She’s her friends’ go-to photographer, and her stunning photos of boys’ basketball games practically make her a member of the team. Recently, she photographed an engagement and a wedding, which she says are her proudest achievements.
“I just never thought I would even have the privilege of capturing one of the most surreal moments of someone’s life,” Nguyen said. “[I was] able to develop more than just a photographer, but as a lifelong person they can depend on for photos. I’m also shooting their baby shower.”
Beyond the countless experiences and opportunities that Nguyen has gotten because of photography, she says the lessons she’s learned and the people she’s met also make it a valuable part of her life.
“It’s taught [me] that there’s no right or wrong way to go about life and that everyone has their unique style or spin on life,” she said. “ I’ve been able to meet new people of different backgrounds… and I can share my personality and life through my camera.”
Although Nguyen faces challenges from time to time, such as when she can’t edit a picture to match what it looks like in her head, the feedback and support from her models and parents are what move her forward.
“I had the opportunity to shoot with her during the summer and although it was my first time, she made the experience super fun and comfortable,” junior Enya Nguyen said. “You can tell she definitely takes her time choosing each and every photo and editing them individually in order for them to turn our in the best possible way.”
Nguyen goes above and beyond for her clients, which sets her apart from FVHS’s many photographers and establishes her as one of the best on campus.
“I wasn’t exactly sure what I was doing, but Jenny helped me feel natural behind the camera,” junior Nelson Boyack said. “She not only gave good direction, but she also incorporated some of my ideas as well.”
Boyack was Nguyen’s model for her first-ever photoshoot. It was a new experience for them both, but Nguyen’s flexibility, creativity and skills created resulted in beautiful snapshots that appeared in Baron Broadcast News’ 2019 winter lookbook.
“The editing and photos created such a nice mood, I wasn’t embarrassed anymore to show it to the whole school,” Boyack said. “Jenny’s kindness and talent made the experience so enjoyable, and if the opportunity ever arose to have another photoshoot, I’d say yes in a heartbeat.”
A one-year couple’s anniversary, baby shower event and photoshoot with TikTok star Kaylee Pereira are a few projects Nguyen has planned. Those who want to book a photoshoot with Nguyen can reach out to her on Instagram at lifethroughjen.
“It’s a two way street for the shoots,” she said. “The planning is more towards me because sometimes models don’t think so much about the little things… like the location. I always think of location as a big thing and I’ll have a few for ground props like leaves or flowers.”
Majoring in photography isn’t something Nguyen has in mind, but it’s a potential minor and something she wants to do for the rest of her now. For now, Nguyen is focused on building her photography business and honing her skills. She encourages others who are interested in photography, or any other hobby, to do the same.
“I think you shouldn’t be afraid to go into something you want to do for fun, and it’s always fun to test the waters and see where it can take you,” she said. “If I look back, I wouldn’t have thought I would be as invested as I am now.”
Contact Nguyen for information about photoshoots on Instagram @lifethroughjen.
This story was originally published in the 2020 RED Magazine.
