Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Ngo.
Hi Kelly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
There wasn’t ever really a moment where I knew this was going to be my “thing,” it’s just been *the* thing that’s always stuck with me. I’ve got a curious mind; I love learning and trying new things. It’s been that way ever since I was young. I can’t even behind to name all of the “hobbies” I had that lasted just a few months: guitar, painting, drawing, animation, collage art, the list goes on. But photography has always stuck with me. There was just something about capturing moments that appealed to me. I was always casually taking photos of everything. But I wouldn’t say I took it too seriously until college. I went to film school and was surrounded by creatives who inspired and collaborated with me. I would shoot portraits, events, concerts, weddings, BTS of film sets, whatever anyone asked me to, in order to make some extra money and grow my portfolio. I ended up getting really into music photography. I loved the fast-paced energy of it all, and the thrill of getting that perfect emotion-filled action shot. I quickly realized that I had a knack for capturing the energy, emotion, and atmosphere of concerts. I had the honor of shooting big festivals, and even some of my favorite childhood artists. This gave me the confidence I needed to take my hobby even more seriously.
So, I worked at learning more and more. I was determined to learn new skills and techniques, experimenting with making photos and videos, so that I could be versatile and take any jobs that might come up. I never truly had an exact plan for myself, other than my dream of being able to do creative work full time. I wasn’t sure *what* I wanted to do creatively, and honestly; I still don’t think I know. That’s why I always found myself trying to be good at everything – so that whatever opportunity comes up, I would be prepared. When I graduated from UT Austin, I got a full time job editing photos. Then, I moved onto another job doing video editing. Fast forward two years after college, and COVID hits. I lost my job. And it was just what I needed to try and start freelancing on my own. But I had no idea how to start. What was going to be my “thing” within the photo/video world? I never really had a niche. I was just happy to be able to do my “thing” and now I felt like I needed to figure out my “thing” within this “thing”?! So overwhelming. And music photography wasn’t happening in the pandemic.
After some thought, I decided to just go for it and hope that I could still find work without a niche. I started with a rebrand. I created a new website, a new name – Chromatone Studios – and figured I would start the company anyway, and hopefully figure it all out along the way. And if it didn’t work, well, at least I tried. Now, I find myself happily doing all kinds of work in both photo and video for all kinds of companies. It’s been an interesting journey so far. I still haven’t figured out what my “thing” would be within all of this, but I kind of like it that way. I can create high quality content for anyone, and it’s always an interesting time on shoots. In any given week, I can go from styling and shooting pretty plates of food, to wearing a hard hat, safety goggles, and shooting industrial content — and everything in between. All of this to say, my story is still being written. This is how I got to where I am today, but hopefully in ten years, I can look back and see how far I’ve come since then. I know I will continue to get better at my craft every day. It’s only just the start.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think any creative person can say it’s been a smooth road. The biggest thing that I struggle with is self-doubt. That paired with my perfectionism has always made it difficult to be content with my own work. Honestly, it’s both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it drives me to work harder and be better; a curse because I never feel like it’s ‘good enough.’ It’s easy for me to get burnt out. I tend to get kind of ‘obsessed’ with working, always trying to improve, to get to the next milestone. It’s hard for me to take a step back and allow myself a moment to be proud of all that I’ve accomplished. It takes a long time to learn how to trust your own skills, and to believe that your work actually has worth.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I do photography and videography. Similar to a jack of all trades, I don’t have any specific thing that I focus on. That term doesn’t have a great association with it though – people think that if you’re only doing one thing, that’s the only way you’ll get really good at it. But I have spent my life trying to get really good at everything camera-related. Photography + videography are not only what I do for work, but it’s what I spend my free time doing as well. I like to think that I am the *queen* of all things that can be created with a camera. And I’m proud of that. I’m able to be versatile and create elevated imagery for any clients, and I think that sets me apart.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love the community. Specifically, the community within the music industry. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the community and friends I’ve made along the way, and many of those I found after I started photographing music here in Austin. The worst thing about our city has to be the way that we’ve just let our local venues down after COVID started. Many of the venues that are core to Austin’s vibrant local music scene have closed or are struggling. It’s just sad and disappointing to see Austin call itself the Live Music Capital, yet doing nothing to save it.
Contact Info:
- Email: chromatonestudios@gmail.com
- Website: chromatonestudios.com
- Instagram: @kellyngos // @chromatonestudios
Image Credits
Kelly Ngo
