Capturing Diversity — The Multifaceted Journey of Photographer/Videographer Jiayi Liang
“In the professional realm, individuals often focus exclusively on either photography or videography, resulting in a gap where proficiency in one doesn’t translate to the other. However, I stand out by excelling in both disciplines at a professional level. This dual expertise allows me to seamlessly handle tasks across both domains, providing a significant advantage. Clients benefit from my ability to deliver high-quality work in both areas, effectively achieving double the output with the same effort. This efficiency maximizes results and streamlines the process for everyone involved.”— Jiayi Liang
As an experienced photographer and videographer, Jiayi Liang has collaborated with professionals from a whole range of fields, including journalism, filmmaking, glamour/fashion, eclectic artists, apparel brands, and all sorts of event venues. Along the way, Jiayi has developed a versatile set of skills and strengths, including: being both the photographer and videographer for annual campaigns for a leading eyewear company, Mott and Chinatown Optical Group; and, also working as an executive director for the 100 Idioms — Educational Short Films project, responsible for conveying the chief director’s vision, achieving the desired filming and performance effects, and coordinating communication among all departments.
Indeed, Jiayi has also created two separate studios, Moza and JYL, in one location to handle the variety of “visual” services she offers to better support clients and realize the visions of producers.
With an MFA in Filmmaking and Cinematography from New York Film Academy, Jiayi is obsessed with telling stories through visuals. She continues to be in inspired by such modern-day storytellers as writer/director Christopher Nolan, whose recent movie Oppenheimer won seven Oscar Awards, including Best Picture and Best Cinematography. She offers, “I am a fan of old movies and believe they have a unique charm. Nowadays, many filmmakers are pursuing grand special effects, but sometimes excessive technology can overshadow deeper meanings. Nolan is one of the directors who balances both elements well. For instance, last year’s Oppenheimer was one of the most impactful and moving films I’ve seen in recent years. His storytelling and visual expression remain as captivating as ever.”
Jiayi Liang talks to us about the key to collaborating/interacting with clients; about digging deeper into the Idioms project; and. also about an ongoing visual project on immigrants.
— What are your strengths?
— My extensive shooting experience, combined with the challenge and enjoyment of collaborating/interacting with people from different industries, allows me to continually gain new knowledge, culture, and perspectives from different projects. Each challenge is a fresh experience, and this is one of the reasons I am passionate about this industry. Throughout this journey, I have constantly refined and honed my skills, staying up-to-date with the ever-evolving technology and concepts in our field. Keeping abreast of the latest industry trends keeps me motivated.
— With your two new studios (Moza and JYL), explain how you can better service your clients and your personal projects?
— First of all, having one’s own style and unique perspective is key to any type of visual creation. Whether it’s for commercial shoots or artistic projects, it’s important that people can immediately recognize a piece of work as belonging to a specific artist. Now, for commercial photography, it’s crucial to accurately understand the client’s needs and the characteristics and selling points of their brand products. This involves extensive communication with the client in the early stages and creating corresponding design drafts. I then blend these insights with my own style, finding the right scenes, props, and styling to create suitable works. This approach maximizes the expression of the product’s concept and attracts more customers’ attention. And, for artistic creation, a stylized approach allows for maximum expression, providing the freedom to creatively convey any theme. However, there are times when one must be cautious in showcasing their style. For example, in news photography or live event coverage, the focus should be on capturing the events as they unfold, serving a documentary purpose rather than highlighting the photographer’s style. In these instances, the skill of capturing the essence of the moment becomes paramount.
— What is your role in the “100 Idioms — Educational Short Films” project, and what is its objective?
— This is a cultural project initiated jointly by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and the Center for Language Education and Cooperation. Its overall goal is to bridge cultural differences and to strengthen international cultural exchanges, allowing a broader audience to gain a comprehensive understanding of China. It involves 100 short drama films based on idioms (expressions) like “advance with the times,” and these idioms have been passed down from ancient times, each representing a story or allusion. In fact. Chinese idioms often acquire new meanings as times change, reflecting a dynamic and evolving culture. As executive director on this vast project, my background as both a photographer, videographer, and filmmaker greatly enabled me to better understand the director’s intentions. In many complex scenes, I occasionally stepped in for the chief director to lead the operators in finding the most suitable shooting effects, essentially acting as the lead cinematographer. Additionally, my editing skills allowed me to quickly identify issues in post-production and propose reasonable modifications for future shoots. Furthermore, because the on-site requirements necessitated proficiency in both Chinese and English, as well as a deep understanding of the filmmaking process, I was the natural choice for the role. I’m incredibly proud of helping to promote the fostering of friendly cooperation between China and other countries in politics, economy, and diplomacy.
— What are some upcoming projects?
— This summer I plan to start creating a series of photographs and videos about new immigrants. I am focusing on immigrants coming to the U.S. from anywhere, and I will address individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicities, and age groups. Given the complexity of current immigration systems and policies, immigration has become increasingly challenging. I am curious about the experiences of those currently undergoing immigration and the challenges they face. This new series of works comes under the JYL Studio umbrella, and I hope to participate in more competitions and exhibitions to showcase my work to a wider audience. Additionally, I aim to engage with more artists and individuals passionate about art. I want people to see my unique perspective, and I look forward to showcasing it.
Check out Jiayi Liang on her website and on Instagram.
