Meet Thu Tran of 2TPHOTO.com in Reynoldstown/Cabbagetown/Grant Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Thu Tran.

Thu, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My name was pronounced like the number 2! I’m a photographer. I specialize in photographing happy people. Typically — it’s people who are doing what they love or are with people that they love, or are in places that they love or all of the above at the same time. It’s a pretty light-filled wuwu kumbaya kind of profession full of joy and joyness. #charlietheunicorn #untilsomeonelosesakidney

I started photography in high school when one of my beloved literature teachers started recruiting for her newspaper staff. I never would have considered joining the newspaper staff but one of the perks was having a pass to leave campus during lunch break, so naturally, I accepted. My teacher handed me a book about documentary photography and a Minolta 35mm camera and I was on my way to being the staff photographer/writer. Never in a million years would I guess that a decision I made in high school would impact the rest of my life.

Once college rolled around, I was convinced that I needed to be a dentist. I was obsessed with people, smiles, and laughter and thought that if I could help people smile more — the world would be a better place. That was the fairytale story I had in my head, but in reality, my parents were the typical Asian parents that wanted their daughter to have a practical, high earning, respectable job and I did a great job brainwashing myself into believing that was my truth. #asianguilt

That idea flew out the window when I started traveling during my first year of college. The feeling of freedom I got from travel was my addiction of choice. From then on, I promised myself that I would make travel a priority and would go on an international trip every year. Planning and researching were just as exciting as the trips themselves. The cultural and landscape photos always drew me to certain locations. I fell in love with exploring vibrant cities and remote destinations that I saw on covers of travel books and websites and I quickly became obsessed with travel photography (sidenote: Instagram or Pinterest did not exist back then). Eventually, I changed my major to International Business — in hopes that one day I would get paid to travel.

Meanwhile, one of my traveling companions asked if I would second shoot weddings with her. She was just starting her business and it was the perfect opportunity to make some extra cash for upcoming trips. Although it seemed perfect — I was actually terrified about the idea and was apprehensive about saying yes. My fiancé, then boyfriend, Alek, had to give me a pep talk before every wedding to help relieve my anxiety. I didn’t know what I was doing, what to say to people, I didn’t know how to make the ideas I had in my head translate into the photographs. It bothered me that I didn’t know how to use manual settings or flash very well. I was a mess.

I knew something needed to change and the only way to overcome my anxiety about photography was to get better. I found that I would panic when I needed to photograph something or someone and it was too dark, or my settings weren’t right, etc. Feeling unprepared and having cold sweats as a consequence is the equivalent of having a double espresso and not being able to find a restroom. Panic — it’s the worst feeling! I had to do something.

Malcom Gladwell says that it takes 10K hours of experience to become an expert in any field. So — I started taking my camera everywhere. I used to practice martial arts, so I started photographing the fights on the weekends. After my yoga classes, I would take my camera to the studio and photograph the yoga instructors. My friends were getting engaged — I would photograph them. Babies, dogs, pumpkins, pigeons, homeless people — I photographed everything I could to get more mileage and gain more experience.

Eventually, I had more questions and needed more inspiration, so I started reading books from photographers I admired, I incorporated different lighting methods so my photos would be more dynamic. I began listening to podcasts about business, I watched online classes about posing and editing. I still attend workshops every year or so to fine tune my composition and lighting techniques. I found that the more I learned, the more prepared I felt. The more confident I became, the less sweaty and nervous I was at these events.

In 2008, I graduated from GA State with a Business Degree during the trough of the recession. Although I value my education, traditional business school equips students with knowledge pertaining to corporate culture. I was in search of a career that would afford me time and freedom and working for the “man” wasn’t going to give me either of those. After a whopping 12 weeks at 2 different office jobs, I decided to dedicate my time and energy to acquiring more photography clients. I served tables to pay my bills and booked shoots on my days off. After a lot of hustling on Facebook and several snowballing referrals from friends and family, I started to earn enough with portraits and weddings that I was able to quit my serving job and run my photography business full-time. That was 10 years ago and I still have nightmares about “being in the weeds” and forgetting drink orders. #wouldyoulikeguacwiththat

My journey was not a direct path. I never would have dreamt that this would be my career. I always wanted to get paid to travel, but I never knew that I was capable of making it happen. I didn’t have any God-given natural talents or an internal compass telling me this is what I should be doing. It took listening people who believed in me, countless hours of hard work, and relentlessly ignoring/fighting my fears and anxieties, because if I had given in to all of the negative voices in my head — I wouldn’t be doing what I love, for people that I respect, on my own terms. #wherethereisawillthereisaway #stubborn

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My current struggle — I love photography with all of my heart. If I won the lottery — I would still be a photographer. However — this industry, like most creative industries, can create high-highs and also very low-lows. I get a rush when my clients tell me they love their photos or when I get positive feedback from their friends and family or a lot of likes on social media. But — if I don’t hear anything after I’ve delivered photos — my brain automatically resorts to the absolute worst case scenario and the negative self-talk begins. I go through a list of things I could have done better. I start comparing myself to everyone on the internet. I start frantically finding ways to better my craft to relieve my stress and anxiety for how I can do better next time. And the next thing you know, I get a text saying they love their photos and then I can finally relax. How’s that for a struggle? It’s manic and if I weren’t somewhat allergic to alcohol, I’m pretty sure I would be an alcoholic. #thestruggleisreal #firstworldproblems

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the 2TPHOTO.com story. Tell us more about the business.
I photograph destination weddings, local weddings, kids, families, babies, maternity sessions, business owners, pets, yoga instructors, yoga retreats, cross fit trainers, athletes, dentists, lawyers, fighters, elephant trainers, surfers, landscape, adventure travel, etc. Basically anything or anyone that catches my interest — I love it all.

I say that I photograph happy people… but I also photograph sad people, insecure people, confused people, lost people, disadvantaged people — people who want to regain their power, people who feel motivated and are looking for a little push in the right direction, people with dreams, people with plans, people without a plan, and all the people in between. My specialty is making all of them feel comfortable — regardless of where they are and what they are doing — and letting them be who they are. I find when my clients allow themselves to be vulnerable – that’s when the magic happens. There is nothing comfortable about being in front of a camera but if they can feel comfortable just being with me — I’ve done my job.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
The fact that I was born in the USA to Vietnamese parents — makes me pretty lucky. Having parents who came from a war-torn country with nothing in their pockets when they arrived on American soil engrained a deep sense of gratitude and positivity — that I am fortunate to be here, alive, and a part of a country that affords me the freedom and opportunities that a female back in Vietnam would never have. I have a sense of responsibility to make the most of my privileged life and to work as hard as I can in order to maximize the benefit of my circumstance.

I’m lucky to be a part of this era of digital technology and social media. Facebook was the main catalyst for how/why my business took off. I got most of my clients from friends of friends who saw my photos and contacted me.

And most importantly, I’m so lucky and grateful to have such influential teachers, mentors, and supportive loved ones who encouraged me to try something new and pushed me when they saw potential that I never would have seen in myself. I would not have accomplished anything without the support and guidance of others.

Pricing:

• 2018 Mini-Sessions for the month of October– $250 for 30 min and 20 images
• Portrait Sessions are $600 (2hr)
• Wedding Coverage Begins at $3600

Contact Info:

• Address: 881 Memorial Drive SE
  Atlanta, GA 30316
• Website: www.2TPHOTO.com
• Email: thuphotography@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/thulegit
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/2tphoto

Image Credit:
Alek Tant — for taking the photo of me, All other images taken by me

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.