From Kyoto to Now: Gratitude, Full Circles, and Being Nobody (On Purpose) - Los Angeles Custom Portrait Photographer

Ten years ago today, on Thanksgiving 2015, I published a blog post titled "May You be Surrounded by the Warmth of Family." It featured an image I captured at Eikan-do Zenrin-Ji temple in Kyoto - warm light glowing through a doorway as autumn colors painted the historic grounds.

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I never imagined that this photograph would find its way back into my life in such an unexpected, full-circle way.

This week, as I sat down to write another Thanksgiving message, I discovered that this very image, the one that remains one of my Assistante’s favorites, was recently featured in an article celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) visual creators.

Under the section titled “Audience Connection Through Authentic Representation,” my work was placed alongside the extraordinary photographer Jingna Zhang, whose fashion and fine art photography has graced major international publications.

Being featured in this context serves an affirmation of something I've always believed: that our truest work comes from honoring who we are. When we create from that authentic place, we contribute something genuine to the larger conversation.

This Thanksgiving, my heart is full of gratitude for the relationships that have made this journey not just possible, but deeply meaningful. Today, I'm grateful to say that I have been blessed, not just by biological family, but by the family of clients, supporters, and fellow creatives who have made this journey beautiful. You've surrounded me with warmth in ways that image could only symbolize. I am grateful for every person who has stepped in front of my camera, trusted me with their stories, and allowed me to create images that honor who they truly are.

May you, too, be surrounded by warmth and may you have the courage to create and/or express from the truest part of yourself.

And as my creative journey unfolds, I carry these full-circle moments with me. They remind me that beauty doesn’t appear all at once; it gathers, it deepens, and sometimes it returns to us in ways we never expect.

Thank you for being part of this journey.
Thank you for allowing me to create with heart.
And thank you for the joy, purpose, and connection that you have brought.

Wishing you a warm, meaningful, and beautifully ordinary Thanksgiving.
🧡
Jean

P.S. If you wonder why I’m a nobody, drop a line below in the Comment box and I shall follow with a story.

🌟The Radiant Women Transformer 🌟
Jean Huang Photography
+1 (626) 314-7004 (text/call)
jean@JeanHuangPhotography.com
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Let There be Light at the Edge of Darkness - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

Dark clouds rolling,
angry waves crashing,
making every sound louder than the last one.

The bright daylight that was omnipresent a second ago rapidly diminished, receding farther into the horizon. Only glimpse of rays peeked from time to time through the cracks that the clouds occasionally failed to seal up.

I remember this scene vividly as if it was yesterday. We were on the west coast of Noto Peninsula in Japan, en route to Wajima city.

The recent earthquake on the New Year’s day in Japan brought unfathomable devastations to the area, Wajima being the hardest hit - roads ruptured, buildings toppled, houses reduced to debris, and lives, lives that were forced to come to a screeching halt, alive, lost or unaccounted for …

My heart aches for the many that are displaced, not knowing where their loved ones are and dealing with no water or power, and no shortage of harsh winter weather.

I pray that this image would offer an ounce of comfort in that there is light at the edge of darkness, because with light, there is hope.

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
— Desmond Tutu

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I Wish you Joy and Wonder in 2024 - Jean Huang Photography

What happens when the door that’s been locking you from the world for years all of sudden opens? I don’t know about you. In my case, I ran out, clumsily got myself together and started exploring. The wheels that’s supposed to churn the world are ready to start swirling again. And yet, the new norm is not the same as the old. For someone that’s pretty communicative (ehem, talkative), I found myself at loss for words on more occasions than I would like to admit.

Nonetheless, in 2023, my partner-in-crime and I started traveling the world again. The plethora of emotions that we experienced in lock-downs and social spacing must have gotten us deep. We went even more further away from the “roads well-trekked”. As if we were trying to make up for the 3 years that were lost, we are making friends in more incredible ways.

On the west coast of Sicily, we crashed the party celebrating twin sisters Adele and Giovanna’s 75th birthday. The cake and champagne that were brought over from their table completed our lunch perfectly.

God sent Tamara over to help us (she was dining at the table next to ours) when we struggled with our choices in another local restaurant. Sicilian hospitality saw us being taken on a tour of amazing dessert shops (Sicilians have sweet teeth) after dinner, followed by caffè at her home.

On a road-side in Tamba, Japan, I had a “deep” discussion about some farming practices and the kind of crops grown with a lady that was working in her field. Had I not have two more temples to visit for the day and the heat I was sensing from my Assistante’s stare piercing through the car wind-shield, I would have ended up in her house, sampling the prestigious Tamba kuromame (black bean) that she had just harvested. Before parting our ways, I didn’t forget to have her smile forever saved on my phone, despite her weak protest of being an obasan and hence not appropriate for camera. I should have reminded her of what I do professionally with camera, and women. ;-)

The list goes on and on. I wish I have more space and time to share. But the post has already gotten long and it’s already 2024. :P

No worries, put in a request/reminder, and I shall write more about the disbelief on people’s faces when they realize where we are from, or the lady with a dream to open a B&B, or another lady that’s working to preserve a historical house.

As I’ve added three more rings (as in tree rings) to my life, I found myself being more unapologetically myself (weird at times) and true to my values. It’s long been my goal to have a business with a soul and to instill humanity in what I do. In 2023, I started gifting people photographs of themselves on our travels, be it a group of friends on top of a hill being surrounded by clouds, or a lady in the setting sun next to a medieval town, or a young Japanese couple that just wanted some photographs of themselves with the momiji (maple leaves in fall colors) and was totally not ready for a mini portrait session. :D Oh, I still owe a mature Japanese couple photographs of them in the beautiful fall colors, hand-in-hand.

All these photographs commemorated unique, beautiful and/or fun moments and I think it’s important that they have those memories.

Speaking of memories, many of you know that I started a journey of “transforming” more mature and wise women in 2022 (see also here). Inevitably, I was again reminded brutally how fragile life is and sometimes we don’t have the time or chance to say good-bye (I also shared about losses here and here). Even the most beautiful palm tree in the whole Southern California is not there to grace the mountains in the background anymore. I’m grateful that they now have left traces of their beauty in photographs.

As the first light of 2024 is looming near, I wanted to present this image made on a frigid morning of Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park. The early light in crispy air gives off an aura of hope. And I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you lots of joy and (or of) wonder in 2024. I hope our paths will cross in our wanders. :D

Ciao!

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