My Story
Hiya! You found me. I’m Jing. I’m here to meet romantic and nostalgic souls living in a modern world… (Copy)
Tiger Mom & Film School (Copy)
The plan was to get a PhD and become a professor, but I said: “mom, MFA is like the PhD in fine arts. I can still be a professor.” The MFA program in Film/Media Production at UT, Austin were my best years in school.
Around the world, but not me (Copy)
“What are you gonna do with your two Master’s?” My parents asked. I never went back to academia. A good story makes my heart race. My short narrative and documentary films traveled to film festivals and won awards. One of them, a film with an all child cast, screened around the world, while I remained a “barely not starving artist.”
"Jingaling, Jingaling..." (Copy)
On a film set, some good friends in the crew started to make up nicknames for each other. “Jing! Jingaling, Jingaling…” We sang each other’s nicknames and laughed.
Wedding Photographer by Accident (Copy)
Becoming a wedding photographer was a fluke. Photography was my side fun, while I was competing in swing dancing and working on films. One day, a dancer couple came to me, “Jing, we like your dance photos. Will you take our wedding photos?” Another day, a filmmaker asked, “Jing, can you take our wedding photos the same way you shoot documentaries?” Heck yeah.
Around the world, then Jingaling Photography (Copy)
There were many things I felt passionate about: filmmaking, photography, dancing, travel, food, the wellbeing of women and children… yet I felt lost. I took a break and traveled around the world to visit old friends, make new friends, learn from the wise, resilient, and loving people from all over the world. Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, back to the US… I shot two more weddings, one in Ghana, and the other in China. I found my love for wedding stories. In 2015, Jingaling Photography was officially born.
Film Festival Director (Copy)
One foot of mine never left the film world. I became the festival director for a regional film festival. At the same time, Jingaling Photography captured many timeless love stories in Austin and beyond, with our unique cinematic storytelling approach. I still often tear up in joy witnessing weddings.
That Film Itch Though (Copy)
A win-win solution to scratch my filmmaking itch? Wedding films is the answer. We’ve been offering selective film services to our wedding photography clients – couples who want their individual love story to be told elegantly, by a filmmaker.
"BE YOU. WRITE YOUR OWN STORY." (Copy)
With my lovely family of four, and in the midst of a pandemic, I try to find a balance between life and work. Storytelling is where my ultimate passion is, and my tween daughter still thinks I’m cool for doing what I do. She loves taking photos, learning filmmaking, and acting. Unlike my childhood, she has the freedom to explore her own passions and dreams.
YOU ARE LOVED THE WAY YOU ARE. WILL YOU SHARE YOUR STORY WITH ME?