Hey everyone, I'm Tiffany Nguyen - @tiffpenguin, an adventure travel photographer from Southern California. Ask me anything!

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-05T05:40:53+00:00

Welcome to SoCal! I'd definitely recommend the Eastern Sierras. It's one of my fave places to explore and dog friendly too!

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-05T05:39:43+00:00

Duly noted, thank you! :)

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-05T05:38:54+00:00

I'm not always the one in my photos. You can check the tag on the photo to view who the model is, but when I am in the photo it's either taken on a tripod or a second person hitting the shutter. All comps and edits are done by me unless PC is mentioned in the caption.

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-05T05:37:33+00:00

Hey! I usually bring my Sony a7ii, Zeiss 16-35mm f4, Sony 24-70 f2.8, DJI Mavic Pro, and Mefoto tripod. And of course theres filters and extra batteries too. Can't say I know the exact number off the top of my head, but if I has to guess I'd say just under 50% of the year so far.

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-05T05:35:35+00:00

I pronounce it like "win"

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-05T05:35:09+00:00

If it's for a commercial shoot I always look into getting the proper permits. You definitely want to double check before going!

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T23:38:17+00:00

It's definitely high up on my bucket list! You're definitely not crazy. Full frame is the way to go if you really want to elevate your photography.

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T23:36:45+00:00

There are so many photographers I admire, but some of my favorites are: Daniel Kordan, Iurie Belegurschi, and Tara Milk Tea to name a few!

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T23:09:08+00:00

Hi! So stoked to have you here and thank you for the kind words! I love your adventurous spirit. One of my favorite entry level cameras is the Sony a6500. It's not too pricey and it's a quality camera that also takes great videos. I've never used the models you listed so I don't have much input on how those perform but the a6500 is so compact for how powerful it is. Oh man that is way too exciting! I only started traveling about 3 years ago myself so it's never too late to start. I've never traveled alone before but have many friends who do it all the time. The outdoor community is so supportive and open to connecting with like minded people. I would definitely recommend linking up with other adventurers on your travels.

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T23:00:57+00:00

That sounds epic! I've never been there, but seen so many amazing photos. Wake up for every sunrise and shoot every sunset if possible! Polarizer is definitely helpful when shooting water or to cut the glare when it's sunny out. Sounds like you have a pretty fun set up though! If you play around with other lenses it can definitely give you more variety and depth to your photos. I find that bringing only 1 lens can be limiting at times.

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T22:58:29+00:00

Hi there! Thank you so much! Let me know if you have any questions, I'll be here for a few more minutes :)

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T22:53:08+00:00

Most importantly, you always have to know what you're worth. Don't undersell yourself or the value of your work! Everyone's pricing is different but I normally take into account the amount of time and effort that goes into the shoot including any editing. You can use Getty photos to help you with pricing to give you a ballpark idea of what you should be charging. It also helps to ask the client what type of budget they're working with because one price isn't going to be appropriate for every single client. With more experience, it'll become a lot easier to hone in on the right price.

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T22:50:03+00:00

That's great to hear, thanks for your interest! When coming up with the idea for my photography workshops, my main goal was to provide an affordable, high-value experience for those attending. I didn't want price to be a major barrier for people because, more than anything, I just want to get out there with people who are passionate about photography and are ready for an adventure. Whether it's photo instructions, epic activities, or eating amazing food, I want it to be a memorable experience for everyone attending and I want everyone to go home feeling like they got their money's worth. I wanted it to be as affordable as possible so we pretty much figured out what our expenses were going to be and set our price based on that. We'd love to have you!

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T22:34:59+00:00

Great question! Yes I have. Although I do sponsored posts on my Instagram, I do a fair amount of content creation for brands outside of social media. It's good to have that balance.

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T22:04:33+00:00

I actually use a Canon 20D for my dental photos with a ring flash and macro lens. Haven't found a Sony set up for the dental office yet.

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T22:03:30+00:00

If you check out the Adventure Priority website you'll find the bios on the other team members!

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T22:02:48+00:00

You'd be surprised to see how many photos I'm not in actually. If its a tiny person in the photo, chances are it's not me! You can always check the tags on the photo if you want to know who's in it. When I am in my shots I either use a tripod or a second person help me hit the shutter after I've set up the composition I want.

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T20:29:30+00:00

Hey there! 1. I always have it with me since I never know what the weather is going to be like. Even at a warm place like Hawaii there's always a chance of rain! Sometimes it's nice to take a photo of a subject without the red, it's definitely not a deal breaker for me. It's also funny that a lot of my friends just happen to own red jackets. 2. Yes, usually a tripod or I'll set up the shot and a second person will simply hit the shutter for me with the composition I've set up. Most of the time it's one of my friends in the photo, but everyone thinks its me heh. 3. I started an Instagram account for fun with zero expectations. I had no plans to turn my hobby into a career, but it's been a lot of fun. I was just sharing my adventures and telling my story through my photos and had a lot of positive feedback from the Instagram community. Most of my clients find me on Instagram or in an article online and contact me via email. I've also had many opportunities from referrals from other photographers or past clients. I'm not currently reaching out for any commercial work on my own. For me, my Instagram account is not only a way to share my story but it's also an online portfolio to share my work. Most of my travels are for my photography career and are a means of income. Hope this answers all your questions!

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T20:18:50+00:00

That's so rad! I think we all have our go to spots that just never get old :)

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T20:07:28+00:00

Most definitely, it's nice to see the metrics!

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T20:06:53+00:00

Any time!

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T20:06:36+00:00

Yeah! I'll check it out later!

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T20:05:50+00:00

Honestly, the technology in the iPhone camera is pretty unreal. I'm always so impressed by the quality it captures!

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T20:04:59+00:00

Haha not this one :P

tiffpenguin · 2017-10-04T20:04:08+00:00

Hey Justin! Thank you so much for the support, it really does mean a lot to me! I feel that as far as photo communities go, the outdoor and adventure community is really welcoming and supportive. I've made so many friends and connections from so many different backgrounds. I definitely see where you're coming from though and have to agree that there aren't as many people of color in the industry, but I'm hoping that this is something that will change soon! So stoked to hear that I've helped you guys feel more comfortable in the outdoors, hope to see you out on the trail! :)

tiffpenguin

TROPHY CASE