As most of you know, I took a three week break in September and went back to Taiwan. As always, the trip was filled with adventures that nourished my soul and opened my eyes even wider to the wonders of the world. I've decided to split my trip into two blog posts: the first one more thoughtful and focused on family and lifestyle and the second one visually showcasing my travels. Enjoy!

When we think of Taiwan, the first things that often pop up in our minds is its cuisine and local attractions. My friends and I often express our mutual appreciation for this country and our personal experiences that excite us whenever we plan our next visit there. For me personally, I am always beyond excited whenever I have the chance to go back. It's quite odd, however, because despite being raised in Texas, Taiwan's not exactly foreign to me. Starting when we were only a few months old, my mother made sure to take my brothers and me back every year to familiarize us with the other half of our culture. After all these years, it warms my heart to know that I can still call Taiwan my second home. 

In my previous trips, I normally arrive in Taiwan at late hours of the night, when the lights are speckled colorfully throughout the city. It was a nice change to be greeted by the morning haze and lush clouds that framed the backdrop of my view.

Before I saw such a glorious view, however, I remember marveling at the midnight sky that glittered with the biggest and brightest stars that ever shone. It was personal and fleeting, yet I can't help myself from sharing it to others. I initially tried to photograph it, but I eventually decided against doing so as I knew that my pictures wouldn't have done it any justice. Instead, I enjoyed it as it was, with humility and recognition of life's grandeur. 

Gradually, the sun began to peak out of the horizon. A rainbow gradient boldly swept through the sky before fading into the clouds with shades of lavender and musk. 

It's a shame that such moments as this come and go so quickly. The sky faded away into an overcast and the clouds opened up to the familiar sight of Taiwan's farmlands that extend throughout the country. On the edges of the island, its harbors were lined with boats that were preparing to set sail for their morning catch. 

It was a comfortable sight, and although this country isn't necessarily "home" as I am from the States, I very much consider it one because it's deeply rooted with the histories of my childhood, culture, and family. 

family

Sometimes, small means everything. Despite having only known so few members of our entire family, we were able to cultivate an intimacy that only grew stronger throughout the years. My immediate family is the only one in the States so I often crave the rowdiness that can be experienced at family reunions. There's nothing more special than the feeling of closeness and family warmth. More importantly, family time creates opportunities to hold aimless conversations, which are ironically quite powerful in the way it shapes how we live and understand life. 

I love to share about my American life with my cousins, banter with my aunts, and play battle of wits with my uncle until one of us admits defeat. All the while, my mom is in the kitchen cooking dishes with Taiwanese and Chinese, specifically Fuzhou, influences. The smell itself can bring me to tears because they remind me of my childhood.

food

Speaking of food....

I recently joked that if I didn't do anything else in Taiwan besides eat, I'd be just as satisfied. There's no denying that Taiwan's food is a huge attraction to its visitors, but it's so much more than just "yummy food" for me. I feel so much nostalgia whenever I get to indulge in delicacies that are reminiscent of my childhood. Back when my grandpa was still alive, we'd often have our family dinners outdoors, next to his little house (He was a colonel in the army so we lived in a military district), and we'd always share huge meals together. It was humble, authentic, and joyful. In fact, our family valued family dinners so much that it was a requirement to eat together every night no matter what. 

Aside from my love for the taste, I find myself particularly attracted to the authenticity and love that is put into the food. When I purchased food anywhere along the streets, I always found it quite endearing to regard the owners as "auntie and uncle" or "grandma and grandpa". They, in return, served us with smiles and converse with us with a tone of familiarity. It brings people together and cultivates a sense of intimacy that can be shared with anyone, even strangers! 

Beef Noodle Scoup. A classic
. 

Grilled Squid at a Night Market

Sugar Apple

Oh-ah-misua: Oyster & Pig Intestine Vermicelli

Mi Fen: Taiwanese Fried Vermicelli and Cuttlefish Soup

Beef Soup Dumplings

Pork Soup Dumplings

Typical Taiwanese breakfast: Egg Pancakges and Soymilk

Dou Hua:  Tofu Pudding with Peanuts and Ginger Syrup

Egg Tarts

Beef Wonton Soup 

Taiwanese Tempura

Seafood Hotpot (who cares that it's 80 degress outside, right?)

Taro Cakes (best translation I can do)

Sweet Potato

lifestyle

It was a great feeling to step out of the ordinary for a little bit and be inspired again. The simplicity in Taiwan's lifestyle paved way for emotional and mental rest as well as a rejuvenation of my mind to learn and explore again. It was magical to wake up to sunrise every morning and start each day in anticipation of the journeys that lie ahead.

However, this created a conflict in me. On one hand, I'm in love with the simplicity and slowness of Taiwan's lifestyle. It brought forth a happiness that I haven't felt in a while, and I loved listening to my relatives' stories about their childhood from the 60's and 70's. To them, this was their way of life, but I saw it as a unique form of freedom. 

On the contrary, now that I'm much older, it felt odd to see life conduct itself so simply, and I often found myself wondering if the people there were content. Of course, Taipei itself has developed quite impressively throughout these years, but in the outskirts outside the city, such as where I live, it lacks the luxuries that I am often blessed with in the States. When I pass by quaint villages that have housed little cottages and communities for decades, I can't help but wonder if the people there have experienced a world bigger than their own. 

It wasn't long until I realized that perhaps by questioning their contentment, it was actually a reflection of my own heart. I mean, why shouldn't they be content? They have what is essential to their lives and it's held together by family, tradition, culture, and love. True, perhaps many of them aren't able to see and experience the rest of the world in their lifetime, but they've managed to turn their quiet lives into a treasure of its own. Something a foreigner can appreciate and perhaps even long for. 

It was a humbling revelation to realize that perhaps I haven't been prioritizing what is actually essential to my life, and instead, I've been focusing all of my attention, desire, and identity on what is only fleeting.  

I hope by the end of the this blog post, your mouth will be sore from smiling. That's how mine certainly was when I photographed this beautiful couple from start to finish. I've known Josh and Meagan for a few years now since we've all attended the same university, and it's  been fun getting to know them. They seriously couldn't be any funnier!
The morning commute to San Antonio was very much needed, and as soon as I arrived, I could already feel the warmth and coziness of Josh and Meagan's family. Everyone wore such welcoming faces and created an energy that kept the wedding joyful and full of celebration. 

Josh and Meagan, you two are truly the best. Thank you for allowing me to experience such love and kind-heartedness and trusting  me to capture a wedding that reflected your love so perfectly. I hold this experience as one of my most favorite moments in my working career.

Love,

Photography: Victoria Liu Photography | Assistant Photographer: Alison Chang | Venue: Noah's Event Venue | Bride's Dress: Essence of Australia | Floral Design: Cheryl Lam | Cake: Sam's | Bridesmaid Dresses: Etsy | Bride's Shoes: DSW | Hair: Stephanie Gee | Make up: Carol Kong | Groom's Attire: Bar III, Express, The Tie Bar, Daniel Wellington | Groom's Shoes: Cole Haan

Huge apologies for being so quiet on the blog lately. These past two months have served as stepping stones in my transition, and while it's been difficult at times, I am starting to adjust quite well. Which means... I can finally emerge from hiding under my rock, haha. 

To make up for my absence, I have good news to share with everyone. To start us off... after much patience, paperwork, and prayers, I am officially Victoria Liu Photography! I have decided to be based in Austin for at least two years and see where life takes me from there.  Words cannot even express the joy and relief I feel towards the start of my business, and while nerves may get the best of me at times, I still feel an overwhelming peace that eases my doubt and confusion. On top of that, I've finally got around to creating an official Facebook page to share my works and thoughts. If you're interested in staying in touch, go ahead and "like" my page. Be excited because I have some goodies lined up to share with you all in the next few months. 

More importantly though, I want to share about my experience as an assistant wedding planner, which I believe may clarify the confusion that some of you may have about me. To give you all some context, I've always been a lover of styling, design, and photography. Growing up, I could spend hours in my room playing with tulle and plastic flowers just to create a perfect shot for my pictures. This combination couldn't have been a better match so with this fueling my curiosity and desire to explore, I gathered my courage and gave it shot. Since January, I have teamed up with one of best event stylists and coordinator, Nita Teng, and have been walking alongside her as she teaches me the ins and outs of a perfect wedding day. At first, it seemed quite odd that I'd invest my time and energy in two equally important roles of this industry, but the more involved I got, the more I realized how much these roles overlap each other. When teamed with the right people and vendors, the synergy of everyone's teamwork is what contributes to a wedding's uniqueness, charm, and energy.

Within a few short weeks after 2015 started, I found myself buried under olive branches and eucalyptus berries, remnants of flowers and ribbon, stickers and papers, and I couldn't have been a happier camper. While design is not the only aspect of wedding planning, it's certainly one of my favorites, especially when we are creating the bride's bouquet. It teaches me that often times, the most beautiful things are created by what we often ignore or throw away. Sometimes, an unopened bud can add more character to a bouquet than a blooming garden rose. Very quickly, I discovered that while everything we do must have a purpose, our job isn't one that fits a cookie cutter mold. It requires a certain degree of intuition, sensitivity, and vision. 

However, this job isn't just full of sunshine and giggles. Often times, I'm confronted with situations that challenge me both professionally and personally, especially coordinating the wedding day. Being new in this industry, it's expected that I make mistakes and when I do, my pride shatters. I often strive for perfection so when I make a mistake, big or small, I easily panic and shut down. Too bad there's very little room for me to do that in this job, haha, but I love that it challenges me to grow in humility and learn how to bounce back in stressful situations. One particular moment that reflected this was when I made a mistake that slowed us down during set up, and I spent the entire evening fearing that my team, especially Nita, was disappointed in my abilities. To my surprise, while the wedding guests prayed for their dinnertime, I felt Nita wrap her arms warmly around my shoulders, and she didn't let go until after the prayer. This simple act spoke volumes to  me, and it quickly dissolved my disappoint and frustration with myself. Everything was okay, and the show will go on, whether I wanted to let it or not. 

Anyways, as much as I want to continue, I think we've reached a sweet stop. Below, I've also shared a few of my progress so far. Until next time, my loves. 

To start us off, Happy First Birthday to my website! It's been a year since I created it with Elfrey and Rosanna's proposal as my first blog post, and speaking of which, they just got married! Can time pass any faster? 

More importantly, though... Happy New Years, my lovelies. This blog post is dedicated to every single one of you for supporting and watching me grow these past few years. While I'm quite tempted to write an obligatory end-of-the-year post, I decided to forgo it and instead feature some of my favorite photographs from this year. As I look back at these, I can't help but reminisce all the stories and laughter that come with them. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

To conclude this post, I wanted to share a segment that couldn't be written any better. 

"Thank you, 2014, for the tears that have made us stronger, the laughter that has made us deeper, the people who have made us truer versions of ourselves, and the glimpses of God in the monumental and mundane alike. And here’s to you, 2015. May you be wild and wonderful in the very best of ways, filled with the kinds of stories only God can write." - Rebekah Hall

Cheers. 

"I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world."
— Mary Anne Radmacher

Traveling is a huge part of my life. Secured in my mind and heart forever are the endless stories of my adventures from one country to the next. From the humble villages (and wild monkeys roaming the beach!) in Malaysia to the dark quiet ramen alleys in Sapporo, I remember it all. Traveling is one of my favorite things to talk about, and if I'm not careful, I could easily talk away three hours. 

I value storytelling, especially when we get to share our stories in person, because it's one of the most captivating things we can experience and I know it will never die away. From my experiences as a growing photographer, I've learned that not everything needs to be captured and confined in our cameras, phones, or whatever we use to "remember a moment". Don't get me wrong., photography is a wonderful way to share a story, be it mine or someone else's, but even a camera can become a distraction when you're in the presence of something beautiful ("Beautiful things don't ask for attention.") Sometimes, it's better to just stay in the moment and soak everything in. I've learned to let life teach me about itself while I humbly and curiously learn with my senses and process everything with my mind. Even if I return home with only a few pictures, I'd be okay with that because it's better to have a compilation of rich stories in my memory that are worth sharing than pictures with blank contexts. 

You know how we always proudly come home with little treasures that we find during our travels? Well, I guess stories are my most prized souvenirs. 

The best part of traveling, though, is ultimately how it grows us as a person. It pushes us out of our comfort zones, and it's up to us to determine how we want it to shape our adventures, our memories, and our character. I truly think if we let our childlike faith guide us through our adventures, we will return home with a little more humility, compassion, and wisdom. 

Love,

"Your best work will always be ahead of you. It’s true now, and it’ll be true in 25 years.
We never “arrive.” There is only the winding, beautiful journey as we chase our changing vision
and the muse that’s always a few steps ahead, just disappearing around unexpected corners."

DAVID DUCHEMIN

My dearests, 

By now, most of you have seen the recent post of my first wedding (photographed, of course. Not MY wedding haha!). I sincerely hope you enjoyed them and experienced the love and humility that emanate from the start of Jonathan and Cathy's marriage. When I created this blog, I had only intended for this to be a place where I could share my works with everyone. While personal posts were considered, I never really found the words and courage to create one yet... until now. Growing up, I have always been a quiet person. My presence, my thoughts, my actions. However, this quiet solitude is what I often need so that my words can slowly develop and come out of hiding. I wrote this post so that I could share with everyone a glimpse of my personal journey through photography and remind myself again why photography means so much to me. This is a huge step for me to share my thoughts with you all so I'd love to extend an invitation for each of you to spend the next few minutes with me. 

I recently stumbled upon a blog post that shared wise words from David Duchemin, renowned world & humanitarian photographer. Throughout this post, much of his writing stood out to me, but I couldn't help going back to the one quote that caught my eye.

"Take risks. Take more risks. Be heartbreakingly vulnerable with the world and your art. Don't take yourself too seriously."

For those who know me, I am the opposite of every sentence in this quote. I am not a risk taker. I constantly fear the thought of sharing my work, not knowing who sees it. And I definitely take myself and every situation I'm in way too seriously. Loosen up much, yeah? 

Of course, I have no doubt that these are all reflections of my perfectionism. It's so scary for me because I have such a huge fear of disappointment and failure. I'm easily discouraged by my mistakes, which becomes a hindrance to the pursuit of my dreams, big or small. I hate letting down those around me, and now that I'm slowly launching myself into the photography and wedding industry, my wrestle with my abilities and talent are heightened. I often return from photographing a shoot with sadness, feeling that I could've done a better job. It's really a vicious cycle. 

For those who are curious how my first wedding gig went, it was extremely fun. I wouldn't trade my experience for another because I loved everyone who was a part of it, and my bride and groom were so kind to take care of me and my well-being throughout their special day. BUT I was also learning lesson after lesson. As a planner, sometimes it's hard to not be in control all the time and let life take the reigns. (I even had a little clipboard with a detailed schedule for my assistant, haha!) Everything can change in an instant. The sunlight, the environment, the time and schedule, my own equipment, everything. I won't lie, the perfectionist in me was freaking out throughout the day. The same time I was tending to my clients and their guests, I also had to make sure I was capturing the shots I needed. I felt like my assistant's job transitioned from second shooting to making sure I breathe. At the end of the day, when I reviewed my pictures, I couldn't bring a smile to my face. I just couldn't let any of my mistakes go.

Thankfully, a week at home relaxed me. I took that week to breathe and discipline myself from throwing a self-pity party. I think that was also the time when God gently reminded me that I will never find satisfaction in my works alone. It was eye-opening for me to realize that I had been so hung up on my mistakes that I didn't even relish in the joy of that day or the fact that He kept me safe from a 10 hour drive between three cities. Heck, I even got to see some of my old friends that came up (or down) for that wedding! When I came back to Austin, I had to make a decision. I could either bury my dreams and goals away because of my fear of failure or... I can try again. And keep trying until one day, I'm called to put down my camera. Just as David has shared, my best work will always be ahead of me. In the end, I realized that while I can never reach 100% satisfaction with my work, I can always take the time to find joy in art and appreciate every little bit of this journey. Perhaps from all of the bad art I make, I'll learn enough to be able to reach a day where I start creating great art. 

To all my fellow photographers, I hope this encourages you to keep going. You and I are both still so young in this craft, and I strongly believe we have great things to expect in the near future. 

To all my loyal followers and clients, thank you for your patience with me. Thank you for all of the kind words you've ever said or wished to me. Thank you for creating a support system that keeps me going and growing. Thank you for making sure I'm still breathing when I freak out (:

All my love,
Victoria