We’re looking forward to introducing you to Isacc Yi. Check out our conversation below.
Isacc, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Photography has always been my source of creative expression, and for me, that made it hard to imagine monetizing photography as a business. I have always been proud of my work, but I was never confident that I could help grow others’ businesses with my work. The past couple of years, I worked as an in-house photographer on a marketing team, and through that experience, I have come to learn the value of photography and how it affects how consumers view the business. Apart from products and services, every business is telling a story, and I was pretty damn good at telling it. My goal has always been to fully freelance and work with all sorts of businesses, but it was a terrifying idea. With the recent economic hardship, I was laid off from my job and was thrusted into the position of fully freelancing. As bitter as the situation was, I have come to dawn that this was a sweet opportunity to pursue building my photography business and taking it as a sign to reach for my dreams.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Isacc Yi, and I am a commercial photographer under the name Unlucky Rabbit Studio. I began as a portrait and fashion photographer, but when the world shut down in 2020, I started doing work in product, food, and beverage. Initially, this came as a necessity because it was difficult to meet and take photos of people, but I came to fall in love with the creativity and challenges of still life photography. I have become known for building little worlds for the products that I shoot, showcasing the brand’s personality as well as telling a story. Although I have and still do shoot bright pop-style work, I have also built a reputation for being the moody guy, utilizing shadows as much as I do light.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Growing up, I believed that I had to fit in and try not to cause friction with those around me. This might have come as a result of both being born to immigrants who were also trying to find their place in a new country, and growing up within the church. I struggled a lot with my social identity and went through a lot of phases growing up (car guy, to skateboarder, to emo kid, to hip hop kid, etc). I was also a kid who played by the rules and did what was expected of me. As I have grown older, I have learned how constraining it is to the soul, and through the people I have met throughout my life, learned that there is no greater freedom than being able to express who you are, despite the uneasiness it might cause the world. This world needs to be shaken up a little bit (actually quite a lot), and there’s no better way than being true to your soul and being yourself.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I almost give up at least once a month. There is always a struggle when it comes to building a business as a creative, from believing in your abilities, landing clients, executing projects, and so forth. And I think that everybody should and does go through these motions, and I believe it’s a necessity to achieve your dreams. It’s only when you’re in a time of doubt that you sit and evaluate what you want, how far you have come, and what it is that you should do next. Believing in yourself is a constant ebb and flow that tends to get chipped away by experience. Kintsugi is a Japanese practice of taking broken ceramics and putting them back together with gold, silver, or platinum, making them stronger. It celebrates imperfection and resilience. In the same vein, it is our time of brokenness that we become stronger and truer to who we truly are.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie that I was ever told was that I had to shoot what people wanted to see. It’s that idea that convinces photographers that we are in the business of selling photos. Photographers are in the business of selling a perspective. Every individual is a mosaic, and their interests, experiences, and values shape the way they view the world. Photographers take that viewpoint and materialize it as an image. Photographers should own the way they shoot and how they want to shoot because it’s a reflection of the soul behind the camera. Not everybody will be into your perspective, but the people who believe in your vision are the people that you want to work with.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. I believe the biggest fan you should have is yourself. As long as I am proud of the work I have done, then I will believe it to be a success, from a big project to the best PB&J sandwich I ever made. We only have one life and it would be a waste to halfass it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.unluckyrabbits.com
- Instagram: unlucky.rabbits
