Meet Vinh Pham | Unit Stills Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vinh Pham and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vinh, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Seven years ago, I took a huge risk: I quit my job as a web developer to pursue a more creative life. I’d gone to school for computer science and had only begun dabbling in photography as a side hobby. Still, I knew I wanted a more hands-on, interactive lifestyle, so I went for it!

It remains one of the best decisions I’ve made about my career. Taking that risk got me “unstuck” from a “typical” job that was safe and stable, but ultimately unrewarding. It also helped me stop defaulting to desk jobs.

Since then, I’ve worked hard to become a professional photographer. It wasn’t always easy, and I was particularly proud when I was able to support myself as a full-time creative. At that point, I was doing mostly real estate photography and videography with editorial and commercial work on the side.

Then, in the fall of last year, I discovered unit stills photography. Unit stills or film stills photography involves going on film location to capture scenes of a movie that tell a good story. These photographs serve as “first looks” and sometimes promotional posters for the films they represent.

I was immediately intrigued since it seemed to bring together my love of photography, movies, and editorial-style shooting. I decided to shift my photography career in this direction. Even though my photography skills are well-developed, I had to learn more about the process, the industry, and the etiquette involved with being on a film set, etc. It’s been challenging and exciting, and everything I’ve learned has reinforced how well suited I feel for this style of photography. It’s also been a lot of fun, and I’ve loved every minute of working in this niche.

It was a big risk to “start over” again, but I am constantly driven to pursue what I want to do and to live a life that excites me. I know that to get this far, I’ve had to push myself and learn to adapt creatively to new challenges and opportunities that come before me. Taking risks has helped me create a life that truly excites me. Now, I am more excited about this sector of my career than I’ve ever been.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
No matter what type of photography I am doing, I strive to remain true to my creative visions and process. I think of photography as co-created work, so I strive to make the people I shoot feel good about how they’re presented. This is true in my unit stills work and in my editorial and commercial photography. I especially love when the people I am shooting feel as invested in the outcomes as I do because then both our ideas come to life and create something more powerful. I also want to make the scene – no matter what it is – interesting.

Within my photos, I also excel at capturing genuine expressions. For example, on one of the first sets I worked on, I captured a grieving father’s story with his restrained, intense stare at the person responsible for his wife’s death. I purposefully shot tight to focus on his eyes and the pain and fear in his expression.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Since I split my time between the Miami area and Los Angeles, I’ll give you my ideal long-weekend visit in each city:

In Miami, set aside a half-day to explore iconic South Beach. It’s a scene, but an important one for South Florida. Go to the beach to enjoy the sun and warm water. Then, walk down Ocean Drive ad take in the lights, sights, and sounds. Stop for a 2-for-1 cocktail at one of the restaurants if you dare.

Make your way to Rooftop Cinema Club South Beach for a modern twist on drive-in movies. Enjoy a drink or some bites as you wait for the sunset and the show to begin.

I’m LA-born and raised, so my first pick for food is Mexican – even though we’re exploring Miami. Go to Uptown 66 Taqueria in the MiMo District for some legit delicious tacos, nachos, burritos, etc. The backyard/patio area is super cute at night. The other spot I’d make sure to save some room for is hot pot at Da Tang Zhen Wei Restaurant in the Four Ambassadors Hotel near Brickell Bay. It’s pricey, but the food quality is top-notch, and the taste rivals some of the best I’ve had in LA.

On the West Coast, I’d recommend checking out Redondo Beach Pier during the daytime. I grew up coming here for fresh seafood, and it remains one of my favorite places in SoCal. Go to Quality Seafood and hand-pick what you want, and they’ll steam it up right there for you to enjoy.

One of my favorite restaurants is Hotpot Hotpot in Monterey Park. This is my go-to spot because the flavor in their broth is unbeatable. I usually get beef, white fish, napa cabbage, enoki mushrooms, and baby bok choy. It’s fully customizable to your preferences, but all delicious. And it’s open late!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First off, I’ve got to mention my girlfriend. She encourages me to explore, take risks, and live up to my fullest potential – however I define that. We actually quit our jobs together – her from law and me from web development – and were able to be in that confusing, scary, important transitional period together. It made us stronger as individuals and as a couple. Because of this, she also understands why risk-taking matters in career changes and personal fulfillment, and she fully supports me in everything I do.

Professionally, I want to give a big shoutout to the Film Stills Academy. This is an innovative community of photographers doing exactly the type of work I want to do. The founder wanted to create a space for mentoring, learning, encouragement and sharing – the type of community she wished existed when she started working in this field. In this group of like-minded and similarly-motivated photographers, we share jobs, tips, and encouragement. It’s a wonderful resource to have, especially as I am restarting in this new field.

Website: www.vinhpham.com

Instagram: vpham21

Other: https://unitstillsdirectory.com/find-a-photographer/vinh-pham/

Image Credits
Headshot by Justin Bettman