Today we’d like to introduce you to Thuan Ton.
Thuan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have been into the art of photography since middle school. In fact, after taking an aptitude test in 8th grade which revealed that Photography was the top of the list in professions that most suited me, little did I know, that this would come full circle to where I am now. I continued my photography interest by becoming the school’s yearbook photographer in 9th grade and again in my high school senior year. In my college years, I started out studying Structural Engineering but later realized that I needed to utilize the right side of my brain, so I decided to get my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Illustration and went on to graduate studies in Architecture. Photography during these years was just a hobby at most and after being in the corporate world as an architect for 18 years, I finally made the decision that it was time to realize my passion for photography. So a few years ago I immersed myself in the education of the business of photography which has led me to where I am now. I consider myself still at the infancy stage of my photography career and plan to spread my wings in the communities that surround me. I find myself very lucky to have a supportive family and hope that one day I will be in a position to give back to those who have helped me along the way.
For me, photography has started out more as an art form but as I age and experience life, photography has become much more. I realized that what I do will help individuals and families capture and store precious moments in their journey through life and that the photographs I take will not only document but celebrate their uniqueness and ultimately their legacy.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road to entrepreneurship can be a lonely one. A path that can lead to many struggles. You start to question who you are and why you’re doing what you set out to do. Overcoming obstacles such as self-doubt, self-worth, and motivation can be challenging. It is a difficult road to travel but I’ve realized that just like anything in this world, you cannot do it alone. Surrounding yourself with family support as well as positive, like-minded people will not only break that loneliness but will also give you a network of experts in various disciplines that will help guide you in the right direction.
Please tell us about PortrArt Creations.
PortrArt Creations believes in the importance of the printed photograph. Photographs help us remember who we are, where we’ve been, and where we come from. They provide us with memories long forgotten as we get older. They trigger emotions that we once had “at the moment.” They give us a sense of permanence and legacy as we pass our heirloom albums down to our children and to their children. Most important, photographic prints are the first thing we run to when our loved ones become ill or have passed away. This is when our photographs become far more valuable than any price we assign them. We live in a digital age where every image that is created, exist for only a fraction of a second on social media and then we move on to the next, and in doing so, we’ve lost the timelessness of our precious moments. PortrArt Creations treasures these moments and brings back their significance through the preservation of prints. It is important that everyone exists in photographs, not only for our children, family, and friends but also for ourselves. Photographs truly are amazing! Something as simple as an image on paper can document our existence, preserve our memories, and from time to time…bring us together to rejoice, to embrace, and to remind us of how much we love and how much we are loved! Other than the written word, there is no other graphic medium that gives us so much. Photographs are priceless!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is to start off on the right foot by building a network/community that can help support each other in our struggles. Implementing Systems into your workflow is another important lesson…it can make or break your business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.portrartcreations.com
- Phone: 858-231-4619
- Email: thuanton@portrartcreations.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portrartcreations
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/portrartcreations
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thuan-ton-895b30168
Image Credit:
Thuan Ton (PortrArt Creations)
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