Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Tom.
Hi Grace, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was young, I don’t really remember playing with regular dolls or toys. To get my entertainment, I did some things a bit different; I remember grabbing my dad’s family camera bag from the dresser and laying out all the parts and accessories, trying to figure out what this thing was in front of me/how to use it. That led to a love for movies, which led to my found interests in the process of video and photo creation in all aspects. I would bring my camera everywhere with me and when I wasn’t doing homework or shooting, I was in front of my computer either editing or watching YouTube video after YouTube video on new techniques and effects I could learn. I also loved music and eventually found a way to combine the two by volunteering to photograph concerts around me. (at the time I lived in Seattle) Shooting concerts as well as finding my way into other genres of creation like fashion, for a long time, I knew this is exactly what I wanted to do for a living. I graduated high school in 2020 and continued my journey of learning and creating. I moved to San Diego for school, and whenever I wasn’t doing that (or was supposed to be doing that), I would be working, whether it was a concert near my college, graduation pictures, a music video, or a portrait session, I was determined to root myself in the Socal scene and make a name for myself. I graduated with my Associates in Graphic Design and decided to throw myself into the professional world. I quit my job at Nordstrom Rack and went full freelance. This was around January 2023. Still, I am learning and doing new things every day, working my way more and more into the industry and creating a name for myself as an artist.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Of course, it hasn’t been a super smooth ride, but that comes with any job or passion. Constantly trying to keep up, especially with the amount of competition in SoCal it can be super intimidating at times, and I’m sure others can agree the feeling of imposter syndrome can feel impossible to outrun. The struggles come in many forms, being my own customer service, sales team, etc.; I’ve had past clients withhold payments and tax documents. But how would I learn how to effectively avoid/deal with this without experiencing it? In a way, I am grateful for all these bumps along the road; they’ve taught me a lot about my business and how/who I like doing business with!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I would say I specialize in Music and Fashion! Creative photoshoots that stem from an idea I have and build with the artist/stylist to convey a message. Music Videos/Visualizers that are nice to look at but also make you feel something. Concert photos/videos that make you with you were there! What sets me apart is my attention to light and how it conveys the story/concept we are trying to convey. Light can be shaped and manipulated to convey a feeling, and when you get that perfect look in addition to all the other moving parts, it is a very rewarding feeling while you shoot. I am most proud my work in the last year purely because I have been trusting my crazy ideas more not letting my thoughts escape me. As many do, I struggle a lot with my mental health, and these projects, in a way, are a release. I love it. The collaboration and feeling you get creating art. My projects mostly consist of presenting people in a certain way/aesthetic (for branding, authenticity, etc.) and being able to create ideas from basic framework, working with people to bring something they can’t even describe visually to life. It is very rewarding with that in itself. Every project presents a new challenge, and I love it. I love the creative collaborations I get to have with people and knowing I have their trust in my crazy ideas.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risks can be very intimidating especially when it has to do with your personal or professional life. I think the biggest risk I’ve taken is quitting my retail job while I was still finishing college. About 2 months before I graduated, I quit my job at Nordstrom Rack and went full-time freelance. While it was super hard financially, mentally, and emotionally, it was a risk I am so happy I took.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thegracetom.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracet0m/
Image Credits
Grace Tom
