This AAPI Female-Run Startup Pioneers Accessible and Affordable Photography

Stories

July 19, 2024

Photography is not just about capturing images. For some, it can be about preserving memories, telling stories, and expressing emotions.

In today’s visually-driven world, high-quality photography has become more important than ever, yet it often remains out of reach for many due to its high costs.

Enter Shoott, an AAPI female-run startup co-founded by Jennifer Tsay and Jennifer Yeh, redefining photography with an innovative, affordable approach. Their pay-per-photo model offers free 30-minute sessions, allowing clients to pay only for the photos they love, creating a win-win situation for both photographers and clients.

Jennifer Yeh (left) and Jennifer Tsay (right) co-founded Shoott after recognizing the financial struggles many photographers face in the gig economy.

In June 2018, they tested this idea in New York City, and it worked. Clients loved the convenience and affordability, and photographers appreciated the improved logistics and reduced travel time. The company grew rapidly during the pandemic, expanding to over 60 cities in the US and increasing revenue from $807K in 2019 to $9MM in 2023.

In an exclusive interview with Asian Hustle Network, Jennifer Tsay shared Shoott’s inspiring journey, the challenges they faced, and their vision for the future.

The Inspiration Behind Shoott

As an actor and creative, Jennifer Tsay saw firsthand how most artists struggle because their lives are gig to gig. You may have one gig a week, two in totally different places, or sometimes none at all. This led them to develop a business model with two complementary goals:

Goal #1: Improve logistics for the photographer.
Goal #2: Create a hard-to-resist offer for clients.

This blossomed into Shoott’s unique model which offers free photo sessions with clients only paying for the photos they want, and photographers benefiting from Shoott handling all marketing, scheduling, and logistics on top of a minimum hourly rate plus commissions.

A joyful family of four poses together, captured by Shoott

Early Challenges and Indicators of Success

Starting Shoott came with the typical hurdles of first-time entrepreneurship. The team had to learn quickly, constantly test hypotheses, and maintain strict alignment on goals. They also faced skepticism from photographers who feared exploitation. Shoott navigated this by ensuring transparency and creating a model where photographers’ earnings were directly tied to the company’s success. Positive client feedback and growing demand confirmed they were on the right track, with Shoott maintaining a 4.8 star rating on Google and expanding to over 60 cities in the US.

Staying Relevant in a Changing Industry

Shoott stays ahead by engaging with photographer communities, reading industry trends, and listening to feedback from clients and photographers. This constant evolution helps Shoott remain relevant and meet the changing tastes and demands of its clientele.

According to Tsay, “It’s also crucial to always stay sharp on what’s trending on social media in terms of tastes and demand. What do people like? What do people value? What are people trying to convey about themselves? This has so many implications for what we provide as a service and also how we approach our brand as a whole – to run a brand is to be continually evolving!”

Community Impact and Contributions

Shoott’s mission is twofold:

To support freelance photographers in the community by providing a reliable source of supplemental income so artists can stay artists if they so desire; and
To help people in the community capture their life moments both big and small with a beautiful and affordable photography service.

“We truly hope our offer creates more demand for professional photography – anything we can do to promote and normalize the habitual support of artists is a major win in our book!” Tsay shared.

A Memorable Client Story

One touching story comes from Lydia, a solo parent who praised Shoott for capturing authentic moments with her daughter. Despite financial constraints, Shoott’s affordable model allowed Lydia to obtain high-quality photos that she otherwise couldn’t afford.

Diversity and Inclusion

Shoott is an AAPI female-run startup that prioritizes diversity and inclusion. They ensure varied representation in their marketing and hire team members from diverse backgrounds. Understanding the different personal commitments of their team, Shoott offers a flexible work environment, accommodating various needs while ensuring dedication to the job.

Personal Rewards

When Shoott started, their primary goal was to see if they could create a business model to balance all parties and create an ultimate win-win-win for clients, photographers, and staff. “We didn’t know if we could do it, but we had to try,” Tsay shared.

“What’s been personally rewarding is to see that we could start with this really ambitious goal and actually make it a reality. It sounds nuts to be able to make a business that offers free photo sessions work, but we just achieved profitability last year for the first time. It’s so gratifying to see that when we put our minds to something, we can make things work. And on top of that, we provide a service that is fundamentally about gratitude and love – how many people can say that?”

Shoott co-founders Jennifer Yeh (left) and Jennifer Tsay (right), celebrating their journey from an ambitious goal to a profitable reality, provide a service centered on gratitude and love for all parties involved.

Message from Jen and Jen

In addition to our free 30 minute consumer offer, we’re so proud to be building out our headshot and branding offer for teams, organizations, and conferences. We realized how many people hate having their photo taken and we wanted to provide a fun and empowering experience for folks while delivering high quality photos to support their endeavors. If your team is in the market for new and affordable headshots, please let us know!

Connect with Shoott

IG: @shoottphotos

TikTok: @shoottphotos

Facebook: Shoott

LinkedIn: Shoott

News

The Price of Perception: What You’re Paying for in Luxury Goods

What makes a luxury product cost so much? The short answer is perceived value. But perception is a fragile thing: it shifts, it evolves, and when it does, things begin to get complicated.

Take a luxury handbag, for example. Whether it’s Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, or Hérmes, many of us are willing to spend thousands for that one beautifully crafted accessory. Why? Because we associate these brands with European sophistication, centuries of artisanal craftsmanship, and impeccable quality. We buy more than a bag; we buy into a story.

Now, imagine buying a bag labeled Made in China. If it’s affordable, you might not care. But if it has a luxury price tag? You might pause. The label alone could influence how you value the item.

The kicker is: Remember the bag you treasure from your favorite luxury brand? Based on the claims of factory workers and viral TikTokers, many high-end luxury products are manufactured in China, then shipped to Europe, to be relabeled and sold as European-made.

This controversial debate has sent the internet into a tailspin, asking: Are we paying for craftsmanship or the illusion of origin?

This is where soft power comes into play. It shapes how we see the world. We look at Hollywood movies and see the U.S. as a place filled with great dreams. We see the beautiful K-pop stars and K-drama idols, and we want Korean beauty products to fulfill our desire to be pretty like them. Customers don’t crave an expensive handbag because it’s objectively better; they buy it because of what luxury products emotionally and symbolically mean to them.

But in the wake of trade wars and rising consumer awareness, people are beginning to question the true value behind the price tag. Is it about where the product is made, or where we believe it’s made?

Whether this TikTok trend is a fleeting controversy or a wake-up call, one thing is certain: when perception changes, so do buying habits. And that could reshape the entire future of an industry.

https://www.tiktok.com/@sen.bags_/video/7494196205917097262?q=made%20in%20china&t=1745296877126

Apr 18, 2025
2 min read

Stories

How Deena Kong Is Rewriting Representation in Children’s Literature

Growing up Cambodian in North America, Deena Kong often felt invisible—a feeling that followed her from Canada to the U.S. and ultimately inspired her to write Grateful Being Me, a book to help children understand representation matters.

Deena Kong with her book Grateful Being Me (Photographed By: Jamie Sutera) — Deena Kong with her book Grateful Being Me *(Photographed By: Jamie Sutera)*

Seeing Herself in Stories

Growing up Cambodian in North America, Deena often felt invisible.

“I truly believed as a child that no one else could relate to these feelings I was experiencing,” she shares. “That’s why I wanted to share my story with others.”

Raised by supportive parents, Deena became a passionate reader, ultimately leading her to create a book that would help children from similar backgrounds see themselves represented.

“Representation matters,” Deena explains. “When a child wanders through a library or bookstore, they should be able to find themselves in the stories and pictures. I hope Grateful Being Me encourages self-acceptance, celebrates diversity, and promotes inclusion by empowering children to connect with one another.”

*Grateful Being Me (Photographed By: Jamie Sutera)*

The Making of Grateful Being Me

Finding time to write proved challenging while working full-time as a Government Contractor in Ethics & Compliance and raising a family. Yet Deena’s determination to promote diversity and inclusion kept her going until her book was ready for publication.

“Modeled after my real-life experiences, this book follows a young girl named Rosila on her adventure in an unfamiliar place,” Deena says proudly.

The story chronicles Rosila’s first day at a new school in a new country, where she discovers what makes her unique and learns the power of self-love.

“Rosila’s first language isn’t English, so her vocabulary stands out,” Deena notes. “She brings ethnic foods that seem unusual compared to typical American cafeteria lunches. The story captures her nervousness about how classmates will react as she navigates this new environment and makes friends.”

Through Grateful Being Me, Deena offers a powerful tool to help children understand they belong anywhere. The book thoughtfully explores the complex emotions children face when encountering unfamiliar situations, ultimately showing them that their uniqueness is something to be celebrated.

Connect

Instagram: @bydeenakong

Website: Deena Kong

Purchase your copy of Grateful Being Me on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, or Books-A-Million.

Apr 18, 2025
2 min read

News

‘This Moment Doesn’t Happen for Vietnamese American Girls Like Me’: Thuy’s Words Hit Home for Generations of Asians

Thuy has always been a proud Vietnamese at heart. In April 2024, Vietnamese American R&B artist Thuy made history at Coachella as the first official solo Vietnamese American artist to grace the well-known music festival. This year, a video clip of her Coachella speech has become widespread, sending out a powerful message to young Asian girls out there.

Thuy, a Vietnamese American R&B artist, shares empowering words for Vietnamese American girls. (Image source: PAPER Magazine)

Originally from the Bay Area, Thuy revealed that she grew up in a traditional family, hence, shaping her as a former optometric technician. However, weekend karaoke sessions with her family have brought her musicianship to life, sparking an interest that soon flourished. Taking a leap of faith and moving to Los Angeles (LA) for a music career, Thuy has proven to herself that the leap was a must, especially with the well-liked hit “girls like me don’t cry.”

Beyond her musical talent and captivating stage presence, Thuy’s performance at Coachella stands for something way greater—the well-deserved representation of Vietnamese Americans and Asian Americans in general. Her success challenges traditional expectations within Asian American households, where creative careers are discouraged due to the fear of instability associated with the jobs. Moreover, this is also a significant step forward in diversifying the music industry and amplifying underrepresented voices.

‘This moment doesn’t happen for Vietnamese American girls like me,” Thuy reflected during her Coachella performance. “I am so honored to be here today to be the first official solo Vietnamese American.”

https://www.tiktok.com/@thuyuniverse/video/7492153731891399978

Apr 17, 2025
2 min read

Blogs, Development

Is Your Homepage Welcoming or Driving Visitors Away?

Your homepage is like a party host—it either welcomes guests with open arms or sends them running for the exit. So, how can you ensure your homepage draws in visitors? Here are some tips:

Prioritize Essential Information

Modern users have short attention spans, so your homepage must prioritize essential information. Clearly state what you do, why visitors should care, and how you solve their pain points. The more straightforward this is, the less likely users will leave confused or frustrated.

Keep It Simple

Simplicity is key in navigation, layout, and messaging. While visitors may not convert immediately, an intuitive and engaging experience encourages them to explore further and return later. Avoid clutter, streamline choices, and guide users effortlessly to what matters most.

Build Confidence

Most importantly, your homepage must build confidence. People dislike feeling lost or unsure, so eliminate complexity. Use clear descriptions, trusted testimonials, and logical organization to make visitors feel comfortable and informed from the first click. A confident user is far more likely to stay, engage, and eventually convert.

Create Your Irresistible Homepage!

Why AHN Solutions?

A homepage carries a lot of significance and can make or break your website. Let AHN Solutions be your ultimate wingman, transforming your digital front door into an experience visitors will love to stay for.

Book a FREE call with us

If you want to learn more about our services, visit the AHN Solutions website at asianhustlenetwork.com/services/

Apr 17, 2025
2 min read