Meet Catherine Nguyen | Interiors and Architecture Photographer

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

Hi Catherine, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I started my business in 2008, I worked all of the time. I would go on photoshoots during the day, come home, edit and continue after dinner well into the night. It was running me ragged. Over time, I learned to set some boundaries and stopped working after dinner. As business continued to grow, I realized I needed help, so have hired an assistant part time as well as work with several teams on post production. That has helped me to maintain a work-life balance that allows for time to decompress and reinvigorate the creative juices.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a residential and commercial interiors and architecture photographer based in Raleigh.

I believe what sets me apart from others is my experience with and skill styling for photo shoots. Prior to a shoot, I review images of the spaces and either offer advice on supplemental styling for photography or go to my network of professional stylists if the client needs or wants this option. On shoot day, I collaborate with both the stylist and the client to ensure that object placement is optimal for photography. My clients design unbelievably beautiful spaces for living, however, many do not want or like to style for photography. They are put at ease knowing the stress of styling can be handled by me or my team.

Within the past few years, my work has been published in advertorials in Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair and Elle Decor. I am excited that my work is being seen on a national level and hope that these milestones are just the beginning of what’s to come!

Deciding to go back to school for photography when I was 30 was no joke. I moved from New York City to San Francisco and enrolled at the Academy of Art University with 18-year olds! I often remark that going to art school was the hardest thing I have ever done academically. You are asked to create something unique repeatedly. This is pretty much impossible and fellow students are the toughest critics. That said, I needed to bring my technical skills up to the same level as the creative visions I had in my mind. Once I graduated, I tried my hand at wedding, product, portrait and real estate photography. Real estate photography seemed to stick and before I knew it, I was shooting for one of the premier real estate photography companies. Unfortunately, I graduated in 2008 when the housing crisis hit. I found I had to pivot. My next contract came in February 2009 from a hospitality content creator based in Vancouver. I was on the road covering the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest for about 9 months. At the end of my tenure there, I had been on the road for approaching 3 months straight when I contracted H1N1 in Indianapolis at an extended stay hotel. I had to go home without finishing out the last two weeks that were scheduled for me to recuperate. My contract was not renewed the next year. Getting better was slow going. I don’t think I was fully on my feet again until some time in 2011. (See previous response about entertaining Easter bunny costumes at the mall.)

I think I overcame my challenges because I had a strong network of family, friends and a supportive fiancé. They believed in me when things got tough. They reminded me why I started my journey. I also believe I have learned to be resilient over the years. I am a survivor. I love what I do and don’t believe it occurred to me to quit even at my lowest.

Some lessons I’ve learned along the way: Fight for what you’re worth. There will always be someone cheaper. Don’t let them devalue your work. Always strive to be better: I am always learning and hope I always will! I am currently enrolled in an online interior design class. Not to become a designer, but to better understand the designers I work with. Be gracious and supportive of your professional community. We should all strive for community over competition. This last one is very hard: learn to delegate and ask for help when you need it! Over the past few years, I’ve realized I cannot physically do it all by myself. I have hired an assistant to help with emails, licensing, invoices, receiving, and some light graphic design work. I have contracted a social media marketing agency. I work with a team of retouchers for post production. My team helps me to maintain a bit of sanity, keeps me from burning out, and helps me to provide the best product for my clients!

A thing to know about my brand: Although I am based in Raleigh and have client relationships in San Francisco, I travel for work pretty regularly. I work in Charlotte, Virginia, Maryland, and the North Carolina beaches. If you need me further afield, just ask!

A thing to know about me: I love to connect people. I genuinely enjoy putting like-minded/spirited people together. Nothing feels more satisfying than working with a team of talented people, all bringing their skills together so that we can produce beautiful work.

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?
I absolutely love art. A trip to NCMA would be on the agenda. Although small, the museum is wonderfully curated and has an impressive collection of key pieces from renowned artists. The museum itself has such great lighting: diffuse and soft all throughout because of the many skylights.

I would encourage a stay at Heights House Hotel. What a wonderfully restored and beautiful place to stay! Artisanal drinks at their bar the Parlor, a massage on site, and quiet time in one of their many lounge areas.

Time spent downtown in the Warehouse District is a must: a visit to CAM, the small art galleries, Visual Art Exchange and boutiques on West Martin Street including The Flourish Market (“…while customers were excited to intercede in the life of a woman who has survived extraordinary circumstances, they were also in desperate need of someone to encourage their worth as well.”), Raleigh Denim Workshop, Revolver, Retro Modern Furnishings.

A drive along St. Mary’s Street from downtown all the way up through North Hills is such a great way to see some of the most charming homes in the area.

Once in North Hills, stop at Quail Ridge Books – a favorite local bookstore with great book signing events and a knowledgable staff. Take a peek in the bathroom for the “hall of fame”!

Take a stroll around the corner to the luxuriously designed new flagship for home furnishings store La Maison and their floral boutique Trellis. The solarium is a must-see! You will be transported to Paris in the blink of an eye.

Favorite places to eat: Crawford and Son, Jolie, M Sushi, M Test Kitchen, Sushi Mon, Poole’s Diner, Cucciolo Terrazza, Bida Manda, Lucette Grace, Layered Croissanterie, Fiction Kitchen, Idle Hour, Glenwood Grill, Heirloom Brewshop.

Check out Raleigh Union Station, the Village District, North Hills, Fayetteville St, Fenton.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate my shoutout to fellow photographer and close friend, Sonya Yruel of Sonya Yruel Photography. We were classmates at the Academy of Art University. While we shoot different specialties, it has been wonderful to have someone who understands the industry to talk to about being a woman in this business.

There was a time after the economy turned downward in 2008 when I joked to her that I might need to put on an Easter Bunny suit and get a job at the photo booth at the mall. She was emphatic that would never happen. She reminded me of my goals and the hard work I had put into achieving my dream of becoming a photographer. She is an amazingly supportive Lady Boss!

Facebook: @catnguyenphoto

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