From a banking professional to a photographer, this devoted mother, Huệ Minh, made a bold decision to follow her heart—establishing a photography studio named after her son.
Born in 1985, Huệ Minh graduated from the Foreign Trade University and later worked at a state-owned bank, primarily handling finance and corporate analysis. Yet she surprised many when she revealed her side passion: being a children’s photographer. Two seemingly incompatible worlds—one analytical and dry, the other creative and whimsical—somehow coexist in her life. But as the young mother says, “Photography isn’t just a job—it’s a passion.”
To date, Huệ Minh has taken over 2,500 beautiful portraits of children and opened her own studio named after her son: Pipi Photography.
Amid the busyness of work, family, and raising a child, she still makes time on sunny weekends to grab her camera and capture the joyful, mischievous moments of her little clients.
In our conversation with Huệ Minh—a truly multi-talented mother—we uncovered the delightful stories behind the magical portraits she creates.
When a Banker Becomes a Photographer
What inspired a full-time banker like you to turn to photography?
I’ve been passionate about photography since my university days. Around 2006–2007, I often joined photography groups on offline trips to shoot landscapes or would head out on my own to explore and capture scenes. Later, while studying for my Master’s in the U.S., my camera became a visual diary of my daily life. I used it to record moments of joy, student life, and the stunning landscapes that stole my heart.
Ironically, I wasn’t interested in portrait or children’s photography. But one day, a close friend asked me to photograph her family to mark her child’s first birthday. I agreed, just to try it out, not expecting much. But once I started, I realized how wonderful it was. It was fun, relaxing, and creatively fulfilling. And so, quite naturally, my studio was born—named after my son, Pipi Photography.
Your life is already packed—with a banking job, a young child, and now a photography business. How do you manage your time?
I schedule photo shoots on weekends, which doesn’t interfere with my full-time job and also works well for clients—parents are usually only free on Saturdays or Sundays too.
Post-processing happens on weekday evenings, after my child is asleep. In the beginning, editing would take a lot of time. But over the years, my skills and workflow improved, and now I usually finish everything within two days. Honestly, I really enjoy this part of the process. It allows me to revisit the joyful smiles I captured and piece them together into a cohesive visual story for an album.
I also understand that clients are eager to see the results quickly, so I do my best to deliver the finished photos as soon as possible. My typical timeline—from shooting to photo selection, editing, album layout, and printing—is about five days.
Many people ask how I manage everything. My answer is: Yes, it’s more demanding than usual, but to me, photographing children is not just a side job—it’s a deep passion. When you love something and pour your heart into it, you stop feeling tired.
“In photography and videography, two of the hardest subjects to capture are animals and children.” Do you agree? As an amateur photographer, how do you ensure a smooth photoshoot with kids?
Photographing children is both easier and harder than shooting other subjects. I had 1–2 years of experience shooting weddings, so I can compare a bit. Some photographers who enjoy working with models, still life, or street photography may not find photographing kids very appealing—honestly, it’s quite demanding. You can’t just say, “Sweetie, smile here,” or “Stand in this spot and do this for me.” Kids don’t like being told what to do.
A typical shoot with me is just like a fun outing with their parents. I stay close to the child, observe their natural moments, and work with the parents to help capture them authentically. Children are always adorable in my eyes—whether they’re laughing, crying, frowning, or just sitting there doing nothing. That’s the easy part. The hard part is “going with the flow,” following their lead and building a natural connection so that they feel comfortable and safe enough to let me into their “safe zone.”
Nothing is harder than trying to photograph a child who is scared and trying to avoid the camera. Thankfully, I haven’t run into that problem yet. Maybe it’s because I’m a mom myself—I understand kids’ psychology to some extent and can bond with them naturally. That’s one of the reasons I love this job so much.
“The hardest part of photographing kids is gaining their trust and being allowed into their ‘safe zone’.”
It seems like you’re also following a modern photography trend that many young parents prefer: natural, candid shoots instead of the typical “studio setup” with cookie-cutter poses.
That’s right. These days, with growing access to information and cultural exchange, parents’ aesthetic sense has become more sophisticated. Many moms no longer prefer the uniform, stiff poses of traditional studio photography. Instead, they’re interested in hiring freelance photographers to shoot at home or in natural outdoor settings.
The advantage of working with a freelance photographer is the assurance that your child will have a one-of-a-kind photo set. Plus, being in a relaxed, open space helps children feel more at ease—they’re not scared or restricted. The downside is that this kind of shoot may cost a bit more than a studio session. Ultimately, it depends on each parent’s preferences and priorities.
Tips for a Successful Baby Photoshoot
As a photographer with years of experience shooting children, what advice would you give parents to get the best possible results?
Here are a few tips I often share with parents:
- Timing: Morning around 9 a.m. or afternoon around 3 p.m. is ideal—after a good nap, children are less likely to be cranky or fussy.
- Location: I often suggest open, beautiful parks in Hanoi like Nghia Tan Park, Lenin Park, or even a charming café or themed photo studio. Simpler concepts, like a family outing to buy books or eat ice cream, can also work beautifully. To me, the location itself isn’t what matters most—it’s whether the child and parents feel comfortable there.
- Outfits: Light, solid colors with minimal patterns are best for girls—white, pink, or lavender work well. Matching outfits for mom and daughter are ideal. For full family photos, color coordination is key. I usually give personalized suggestions after seeing what each family plans to wear.
- Props: Bring along the child’s favorite toys, headbands, bows, balloons—anything that makes them happy and relaxed during the shoot.
You’ve taken countless photos for other families and children—do you have any special photo sessions with your own child, little Pipi?
To be honest, I still don’t have a photo set with my son that I’m truly happy with (laughs). But I’ve been planning to do a special shoot with him soon. My cousin, who’s also passionate about photography, will probably be the one to shoot the session for us.
Thank you for the lovely conversation!
(By H. My / photos by Pipistudio.com, Khampha.vn)
Original link: http://hoasymanhquynh.org/chau-gai-noi-hoa-sy-manh-quynh-ngo-hue-minh.html
