Meet Alicia Kuo | Photographer

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

Hi Alicia, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
As a full-time college student, my work-life balance is something that tends to fluctuate. Balancing the work I need to put towards school and the work I need to put towards my photography is something that I’m still working on. I think this balance is fluid because what works for me one month might not necessarily work for me during the next month. Overall, being able to balance everything I need to do comes down to being organized and maintaining a good level of flexibility with everything else in my life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I like to believe my editing style reflects the spirit of the environment but amplifies it with a personal touch to highlight our world’s true beauty. I got to where I am today through a lot of trial and error on Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, along with hours of Youtube tutorials about the different functions of each program. I’m most proud of the fact that I launched my print store a few weeks ago, which is something I’ve been working towards for a long time. Some challenges that came up were definitely scheduling issues between my school classes and other responsibilities. Overcoming these challenges just boiled down to keeping myself organized and using a planning system that worked for me. One of the lessons that I have learned by going on this photography journey is that going at your own pace is the key to success. Constantly looking at what others are doing and comparing yourself to them is only going to make you feel worse about yourself.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am currently a student at UCLA so I would show them around the campus and around Westwood Village. Some great food spots include Diddy Riese (their ice cream sandwiches are amazing and easy on the wallet!) and Junbi (their teas and soft serve are super delicious!) Other great places we could go would be The Getty, which is a nearby museum with gorgeous views and art pieces, or a little further to The Original Farmer’s Market, which has a variety of food options as well. Going to college in LA has its perks because anything they would want to do is easily accessible — the options are endless!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d love to give a shoutout to my close friends who remind me that no matter what, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. From helping me come up with caption ideas to providing moral support, they are always there for me, and I wouldn’t be here without their guidance.

Website: https://akuo.darkroom.tech

Instagram: @akuophoto