Entertainment Photographer: Virisa

1. Introduce yourself - who you are, what you do, and how people can connect with you.

Hi, I’m Virisa! I’m a freelance photographer from the Bay Area and I’m currently based in Los Angeles. You can check out some of my work on Instagram @virisayong and @virisayongphoto!

2. As a photographer, do you ever feel that there is gender bias in the industry? Have you personally been affected by gender bias?

I definitely feel that gender bias exists in the industry, but sometimes it can be beneficial to female photographers. For example, I’ve had some female models prefer to work with me over a male photographer because they felt more comfortable with another female taking their photos. Although this can be a good thing, I have been personally affected by male photographers who felt the need to make me feel less than them. Whenever I photograph red carpet or music events, I’m usually surrounded by male shooters. I’ve had instances where they would approach me and say things like, “do you even know how to use that camera? You look like someone’s assistant, who are you here with?“ I don’t let it affect me though. I know I was hired for a reason!

3. How are you currently navigating gigs/projects with the pandemic? Do you have a tip you can give to others in a similar position?

Most of my work before the pandemic involved shooting large events. I didn’t have any gigs for a while, but this summer, I was fortunate enough to begin working with artists one-on-one, as well as creating content for Puma from home. I don’t know what I would have done without these opportunities! I’m very grateful. It’s been a rough year! I had so much anxiety when the pandemic started, but I reminded myself that it is possible to create opportunities for yourself. My tip would be to get creative with what you can do with this time, adapt to the current circumstances, and find ways to fulfill your passion while staying safe and staying sane.

4. Being self-employed/freelance means that you have to hustle for what you want. What are 3 things you personally did that helped you get to where you are?

1. I physically wrote everything down in a planner. One thing I do is research when a concert, festival, or event that I want to photograph is taking place and note it in my calendar even if I’m not officially confirmed. Writing it down is my way of manifesting it!

2. I worked for free a lot just to get my foot in the door. I’d message artists, labels, managers, and event organizers and offer my services for free in hopes that if they like my work the first time, they’ll end up hiring me for something in the future.

3. When I was in college, I accepted a lot of nightlife photography gigs just to make some money and network with people who work in the club and music scene. I definitely tired myself out by going to class, shooting an event late at night, editing at 2 am in the morning, and going to class again the next day. Thankfully, I was still able to get my schoolwork done and find a balance. Looking back, it was honestly worth it to get to where I am today!

5. You also have a presence on IG, occasionally doing impersonations, which are so good! At what age did you start and was there a reason why you did?

Thank you! I started doing cartoons and accent impressions when I was 11. I’ve always been a silly character! I lived with my grandparents during my childhood and as an only child growing up, I didn’t have anyone to play with. To keep myself entertained, I imitated comedian stand up routines and cartoon characters. It’s fun and I love doing it to make people laugh.

6. How do you decompress after a stressful day?

I enjoy taking baths, playing basketball, listening to music, watching The Office, and dancing in my room. These activities are all so therapeutic for me!

7. What inspires you & what keeps you motivated?

I’m inspired every time I come across a beautiful image. I just want to keep creating and elevating my craft! I truly love what I do and I never thought I would be in this position. I started taking photos in high school for fun and the first time I ever thought about becoming a photographer in the music industry was when I went to The Weeknd’s concert in San Francisco in 2014. I had won tickets from the radio and got to be in the front row! I noticed how there were photographers in the pit and I thought to myself, “how do I get there?” Fast forward to today, I’m one of those photographers! I can’t believe it. What keeps me motivated is knowing that the possibilities are endless. I have my foot in the door, but now I want my body in the room.

8. Who has been your favorite person to work with (celebrity wise) so far & why?

This is a tough question. I’ve enjoyed working with so many celebrities! But so far, I’d say Ty Dolla $ign. I love his music so much! I’ve had the chance to photograph him at several festivals, but when I got the chance to officially meet him and photograph him one-on-one, it was such a dope & surreal experience. I appreciate his personality, his music-making process, and how humble he is. On top of that, he’s so photogenic which makes it easy to get a nice photo of him!

9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I see myself as a photographer that people trust with their vision and are comfortable working with. I see myself having my own studio space. I see myself checking off a list of artists I’ve always wanted to work with. I see one of my photos as an album cover. I see myself becoming confident, not only in my work but in myself. I hope I’ll get there someday.

10. What is one thing you wish you could change about the industry and why?

At times, I honestly feel like photographers are undervalued. People often ask me to work for free because they think it’s as simple as snapping a photo on a smartphone. I understand that it may look easy from the outside looking in, but there’s so much that goes into it. You’re not just paying someone to take pictures. You’re paying for their time, their vision, their work ethic. Many photographers invest a lot of their money into camera equipment, purchase photo editing software, take time to brainstorm ideas to satisfy a client’s needs, provide customer service, and more. Even when they have finished taking photos, their job isn’t done! They still need to edit the photos and make sure their clients are satisfied. I hope people can learn to appreciate photographers for what they do!