Meet Linda Nguyen
Today I am starting a series that will last the whole month. In this series, I will be featuring women in business. I have quite a few interesting women lined up for you to meet. But I wanted to start it off by introducing you to someone who got me to do something I have never done before – be a foot model. So without further ado, meet Linda Nguyen.
Tell me a little bit about you.
My name is Linda! I’m a Texas native and now I split my time between North Carolina and Texas, my home base being Carrboro, North Carolina. I’m a food, travel, lifestyle blogger and portrait photographer. I’m obsessed with noodles, matcha, and tater tots.
Tell me about your business.
My photography business came along with the help of my food blog. As my photography improved on my blog, I started to get inquiries about photographing people. The first time I photographed a newborn, my then coworker said, “well my baby is about the size of baked potato…” Which made me laugh so hard. Now I can’t imagine my life without photographing people and helping them preserve their memories and tell their stories.
What struggles have you faced in your business?
Moving from Texas to North Carolina was hard. Breaking into a new market and only knowing one person in the area was hard on business.
How have you overcome those struggles?
When I moved here, I made it my mission to build up a network and find a community right away. I set up lunch meetings and went to events and the goal was to go at least twice a week. Twice a week I’d had to either go to lunch with someone I don’t know or go to an event and meet someone. Now over two years later, it’s hard to keep up with maintaining the friendships I’ve found with such limited time!
Who were your mentors growing up?
I didn’t have mentors growing up. I went to a well-to-do high school and I was on a scholarship. I’d see other girls in my class take photography classes and I’d drool over the opportunity. I couldn’t bear to ask my parents to let me take these classes but it would require buying an expensive camera. So I just put that in my mind as a far-away dream. While I didn’t have an official direction or mentors growing up, I always admired the work ethic of my parents. They worked 7 days a week for 10-12 hour days. They worked on holidays! I definitely see their influence on me in my work life now. I don’t work back-to-back 10-12 hour days for years on end, but I do grind it out.
If you were to give advice to a woman going into the field you are in what would it be?
Just keep going. It’s really easy to get distracted by other people’s successes but when you find yourself in the comparison rabbit hole, try to work your way out of it and focus on what you can do at the moment to get on their level.
Have you found that being a woman in your field is harder or easier? Tell me about the advantages and disadvantages of being a woman.
The advantages of being a woman as a photographer are you are more approachable. Especially when doing boudoir photography, I think it gives me a competitive edge to be a woman. Disadvantages include the typical disadvantages of being a woman. Sometimes not being taken seriously or assumed to be the second shooter when you’re lead. It doesn’t bother me too much because I just choose not to focus on it.
Have you ever have to overcome a hostile work environment?
Luckily, I’ve been really blessed with the clients I’ve worked with. Knock on wood!
As mentioned before, it was a pipedream of mine since high school. In my early thirties, one of my dearest besties gifted me her DSLR and that was it for me.
Anything else you would care to share.
Thank you so much for letting me share some of my story with you and your audience! I can’t wait to see all the other women you feature.
Linda Nguyen is a content creator and photographer who splits her time between North Carolina and Texas. She goes stir-crazy easily so she clocks a lot of miles both by air and by land. She can eat noodles every day and is addicted to caffeine. Find her on the gram at @lindaeatsworld and @curiousnotionsphoto.
Check out her sites Girl Eats World and Curious Notions Photo.
Thank you so much for including me! Can’t wait to follow along the rest of the month.
Love her story and especially talking about her dream and the work ethic of her parents.
Truly inspiring for sure. I cried when she told me her story.