Authentically Jay Zhang

WHO IS Jay Zhang?

I'm a Storyteller

I’m a storyteller, I tell stories of couples by documenting them in moments that are unique to them. These moments aren’t always grand gestured moments like having an engagement session where they first met. Sometimes these are moments of remembering the first time you said I love you to each other. Sometimes its re-telling how you first met (I get a lot of really funny/romantic stories this way!). Sometimes, it’s me telling them to hug each other tight and soak in the quiet moment together. Whatever these moments are, they are YOURS and I want to tell your story. How you Felt, how you Laughed, how you Loved.

Out of West Sand Lake NY and I travel EVERYWHERE

I specialize in Wedding Photography full of the good times, and sometimes of the tough times. My style is mainly documentary, focusing on the story that unfolds, or the story you want me to tell. I travel ALL OVER. I’ve been as far out west as Portland Oregon, as north as Montreal, as far east as Provincetown Ma and as far south as Florida - All based out of West Sand Lake NY. Adventure is in my blood, and there are places that I still have not ventured before, so take me with you!

Let me tell your Story

Your story is important, your memories are important, and how I retell your day and chronicle your family history is important. These photos will be the photos your kids will look at, and wonder what it must be like back then when Mom and Dad got married or when you bought your first house or when your first, second, third... fifth...(?) child was born. The little details about your home, and all the adventures you've had in them. I tend to remember a lot of silly details about a certain person, and sometimes it makes people laugh what detail about them reminds me of them, sometimes these little details also pop up right in your photos.

Photos are Future Nostalgia

When my mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer, I started to shuffle through a ton of old photos (while also now taking a ton of new ones), especially the ones with my mom in them. There was a photo that I remember the most but it wasn't a photo where I remembered the experience. It was a photo of her arm stretched out and holding 3 or 4 year old me from falling because I was leaning on her and my mom had the widest laughing smile on her face. I can even hear her laugh in her usual boisterous and infectious laugh. Without photos like this, over time I would just forget about all the little details that were also within the photo if it didn't exist.

We used to live in Chinatown New York City, it was a dirty place and we were really poor, talk about your typical immigrant story right? I was born in the USA but both my parents were accustomed to being in the vicinity of the community. I remembered that both my parents would work everyday except Sundays in order for all of us to survive and to have enough and to have a little bit of fun and spend family time together. That place in the photo reminded me of my first memories, When my brother was finally allowed into the states when I was 4, Where I slept in my own bed for the first time - not without struggle, where I first went to school passing underneath the Manhattan bridge, Where I saw my first New York City Rat inside the dirty apartment, and when the four of us finally moved out to the suburbs to continue my parent’s American Dream. I could go on, but you get the idea. Each part of these stories brings on different emotions, and each of these emotions, are part of the story.

I'm a Dork, and I'm okay with it

Besides doing Photography Here are some of my interests:

I play video games in my free time (Final Fantasy, Rocket League, Minecraft, Mario Kart, Super Smash Brothers, Apex Legends, Overwatch, Sometimes Fortnite with my nephew)

I like to play all sorts of Sports (Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Weight Lifting, Running)

I'm a digital geek and have YouTube obsessions (Hannah Hart, Grace Helbig, Tyler Oakley, Wong Fu Productions, VGHS, Peter Mckinnon, Potato Jet, Andrei Jihk)

I like to read and watch fantasy stories (Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, LOTRs, How to Train your Dragon)

I love watching TV Shows (Altered Carbon, Bridgerton, Downton Abby, Gilded Age, Modern Family, Fresh off the Boat, Black Mirror, GoT, The Last Kingdom, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, Star trek…. you get the point lol)

What Other’s have said about me

The Upstate Creative, an Organization focused on the health and wellness of the Creative Economy and Euntrepenuers in the Capital Region of New York, Wrote a very lovely piece on my work and service in the LGBTQIA+ Community that I am a part of and have pride in providing. If you’re interested in the article you can find it here: https://www.upstatecreative.org/jay-zhang-photography-capny-lgbtqia-entrepreneur

Go ahead and follow me on Social Media!

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ZhangPhotography
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/JayZhangPhotog
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/JayZhangPhotog
Google Plus: plus.google.com/+JayZhangPhotography

Jay Zhang Photography is a Capital District based Wedding Photographer, Family Photographer and Portrait Photographer specializing in Photography that is Photo-journalistic and real, the types of photos that last through the ages and the ones you visit over and over. Jay Zhang Photography is a photographer for the clients who appreciate photography at its core values - capturing moments that transcend lifetimes and generations connecting various cultures and traditions and last for centuries. Jay Zhang Photography is a Licensed and Insured Business that services Albany NY and its surrounding area with limitless traveling possibilities.