Vinny's Images

06/02/2026

Congratulations to Sou Supryze Vajncuabntxhoos and Becky! Wishing you both the best!

05/07/2026

Vinny's Viewpoint: For what it's worth

As I was looking for a place where there's cherry blossom trees for my next photoshoot, I came across a photo on Facebook where I shot my first engagement shoot.

When I first started taking photos, I took my camera almost everywhere, at any event. family picnics, birthdays, hang outs, hu plig, etc. It's just fun to capture expressions and moments of friends and family to me. Whether it's serious moment or not, I love going back during post editing and analyzing all the people in the photos from the events.

One day, my buddy Xiong asked me if I could take their engagement photos, and that he will pay me for my service. That was a big deal. I took photo for them a few times at their events but this time it was a real service. I thought about turning it into something more than just a hobby, but I was also the guy that hesitated on big decisions. I didn't know where my work stand compared to others. What was my based cost? Do I give them all the photos, edited? He's a buddy so I shouldn't charge too much, right?

Xiong, being the good friend and great business owner, he is, he gave me some advice along the lines of "Set the price you want. Base it off of what you think it's worth. Be honest with yourself. If they like your work, and think it's worth it, they'll respect your price." I'm sure it was better worded, but this was a while ago. Xiong has always been supportive to friends and other business owners with sound advice.

That day, at this location, we arrived right before golden hour. Got a few shots at the bridge, walking while they held hands, face close up, her hands on his chest, him facing one way, while she rested her head on his shoulder, arms around him showing the ring. On the field, we got a few shots from sitting on the grass, wide angle, front facing. A shot of both of their foreheads touching while eyes are closed, sun setting in the background. Another shot of a blurred background, eyes drawing you from there face, down the arms, to him holding her hand up, presenting the ring on her finger. A lot of great photos. This session is still one of my favorite sessions I've done.

My biggest challenge I had during this time was having my settings on my camera and my strobe set properly for the best lighting. I tried this a few times in the beginning, and it just didn't go as planned. At the time, my shutter speed was still way too low, which made each photo even brighter when using the strobe light. Later on, during blue hour, I tried one more time with different settings and by luck, I had the settings just right. Because so, we had to take a few more. Even though we went past our set time.

This session taught me a lot. Trying out poses, settings on camera and strobes, being professional during a session, even if it's with friends and trusting your worth and value. That one time, that one advice, that one more try, can push you into the direction you need to go.

To grow, be around people that not only support you but also challenge you to be better. Take the chance and try it.

Thanks again to Xiong and Nancy for always supporting me.

04/29/2026

Vinny's Viewpoint: Season of Renewal

My cousin Hannah was the youngest out of the 6 cousins when we were younger. We're from the first group of cousins. There's 15 of us now.

Hannah, my brother, my 3 other cousins and I use to always see each other over at our grandparent's house. Our hangout spot was the upstairs living room. We did what all 90 kids did, played hide and seek, movies nights on Disney Channel, hangout with grandma in the kitchen or see what the uncle or auntie were up to. If we were ever making too much noise upstairs, grandpa would yell at us from the bottom of the stairs, "STOP MAKING SO MUCH NOISE!". That was our cue to sit down and chill out for a bit. You never want to see grandpa come up the stairs.

Two years ago, Hannah reached out to me to be her photographer at her wedding. I was honor. No way I was going miss out, even if I wasn't the photographer. But this wasn't going be a tradition Hmong wedding, so I was excited yet nervous. It was going to be my first non-traditional wedding as the photographer. I had to be on my A game.

The day of, my family and I drove a few hours out to their place. We dressed accordingly to the theme, pastel palette. They live in a secluded area with a forest and a river in the backyard. It was also a housewarming moment since they had just moved in a few months prior. Beautiful, cozy home with a large backyard. Three sections to it, a deck view of the man-made pond, trails covered by trees, leading to a long dinner table set up in the forest, and beyond the forest, was led to an opening by the riverbank where the ceremony would take place. The setting and decor really enhanced the theme. An enchanted spring and summer wedding.

When we got there, I got to reunite with everyone I grew up with. It's never a dull moment. My family has a loud, warming presence. A lot of jokes and a lot of laughs.

As the day began, I got to work on my list of must-have shots, the wedding dress, the groom and bride getting ready, the decorated dinner table along the trail, the riverside opening, the shaded ceremony space under the trees. Every location had something worth capturing.

Some of the most anticipated shots for were the processional and the final walk. The entrance of the groom, groomsmen, bridesmaids, ring bearer and the flower girl. My son happened to be the ring bearer that day, which brought me back to my own time as a ring bearer for my uncle. And we had 4 flower girls, my daughter and my three nieces. Lastly, the bride, guided by her father. It's a beautiful, full-circle moment, reflecting on your life and just how far you've come.

Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. So, for this week's Vinny's Viewpoint, I wanted to share something that matches the energy of this season. something softer, airy, and full of life. A little different from what you usually see from me.

Vince | Vinny's Images

04/13/2026

Vinny's Viewpoint: New Ventures

I got to meet a nephew of mine during a wedding event, just a few weeks before this photo was taken. The last memory I have of seeing him was over 20 years ago, still a toddler. Drinking milk.

We grew up differently but had a few similar interests. We talked about watches, Marvel figure collections, and photography. Now this was around the time I was just learning about photography, and when he mentioned that he took a course during college, I was excited. I invited him to go downtown Minneapolis with me some time to do some street portraits. Something I always wanted to try. Never really explored downtown either.

That day I picked him up, and we parked in a lot near Fogo De Chao. No real plans, no destination, just exploring whatever was there that may make for an awesome shoot. We went through a few indoor lobbies with big open areas, went up the Foshay Observation Deck, took city scooter rentals through Stone Arch Bridge, explored Mills Ruins Park, and ended the day at Gold Medal Park next to Guthrie Theater.

I've done a few one-on-one portraits like this, where we explore the city or area we're in. What I value about these sessions are the conversations throughout. It's usually more than just taking a photo; it's connecting with the person you're taking a photo of. In one of our conversations, he mentioned why we probably never saw each other much. Because of his parents' separation, he stayed with his mom most of the time during his younger years. I can relate to that from my own upbringing.

When I got home to go through our shoot, I noticed this shot of him with a sparrow flying over his head. I don't even remember seeing the bird nearby. The sparrow wasn't there when I was focused on him. It just showed up and flew right over him like it belonged in the frame.

Now, I chose this photo mainly because of the timing with the sparrow, I thought it was cool. But when I started to write this post, I realized that there were a lot of new experiences that day. That whole day was full of firsts. First time really knowing my nephew. First time exploring downtown Minneapolis on foot. Foshay Observation Deck, riding city scooters through Stone Arch Bridge, Mills Ruins Park and Gold Medal Park. Places I’ve always heard of but never considered to visit.

The sparrow was probably about that. Representing the new ventures from that day. New places. New memories. A new relationship finally formed.

There are places you've always meant to visit and people you've always meant to reconnect with. Never really a right moment, just make one when you have the opportunity.

04/06/2026

Vinny's Viewpoint: Yawm Txiv

Something about going through an old photo album, your eyes always find the familiar face you no longer get to see in person. Like your brain is rebooting, going through old files, trying to upload what you can remember about that person.

This is my grandpa. My “yawm txiv”. He passed away in 2024. I was at a concert event as the photographer when I got the call that he had just passed.

This photo was taken on a cabin trip with my cousins and their families. I converted it to black and white because I think it's the only way it could have been presented. Color can be a distraction. In black and white, all you see is him, every line on his face, every year lived, every story untold.

Grandpa was a fascinating person. A shaman, tending to others on the spiritual side. A craftsman, building fences and crossbows out of whatever materials he could find around the house. A musician, playing his handmade violin and flute in his room. A politician of sorts, going on about things I could never quite follow. And through all of it, just a grandfather. Loving, respected, and wise.

One thing we always shared was a love for animals. Grandpa was an old school rooster guy, enough said. When I got into pigeons one summer in high school and brought a few home, he lit up. Surprised at first, then genuinely interested. We'd spend time in the backyard together, watching the homers fly or just admiring them in the loft. If I was out, he made sure they were fed and the loft was shut tight.

I have regrets not sitting down and recording his story. Before uploading this, I remembered a story my auntie once told me ...

Me:
Hey auntie Mee, could you tell me something about grandpa? Maybe a story you remember.

Auntie:
Well … there was this one morning your grandpa and grandma got into an argument. Your grandfather wanted to take his rooster to the next village with his brothers and your grandma wanted him to stay home. During the argument, your grandpa told her that she never lets him do anything and that he wants to go find a second wife that would. Your grandpa grabbed his prized rooster and left with his two brothers, leaving your grandma with me and my siblings.

As dawn broke, one of grandpa’s brothers rushed into the house and said “Hey older sister-in-law, get the table and food prepared! Big brother has found a second wife, and they will be here shortly!” Grandma was lost for words.

As she shuffled through the house, preparing the table and a meal for the night, she muttered “How could he do this to me? What have I done to deserve this? I only wanted him to stay home, and he left to find a second wife?”. Your grandma was upset, sad and confused.

Then grandpa's brother burst out laughing, “Older sister-in-law, I was just kidding you! When we left for the next village this morning, that idiot husband of yours was moping around so much, we never made it to the next village. He decided to turn back halfway because he felt so bad about what he said to you this morning. He’s walking slowly, ashamed and embarrassed. That idiot is holding his prized rooster in one hand, and flowers in the other!”

Paying homage to the elders who held us together without us always realizing it. The ones whose presence kept the door open and whose absence reminds us just how much they meant.

If you still have grandparents around, go see them. It's a simple gesture. One that makes our elders feel loved and seen.

Honor them while they're here. Remember them when they're not.

04/02/2026

Going through some of these photos I've taken, and it always has something for me to think about ...

Every photo I've ever taken has something living behind it. A moment, a feeling, a reason I even picked up the camera that day. And I realized... y'all get an insight of what I see.

So, I'm starting something new. Vinny's Viewpoint. Once a week, I'll be sharing one image and a short story or explanation on the photo. Could be the story, the memory it brought back, what I love about the shot, what led up to it, what happened after, or what came up during post edited. Every week will be a different photo.

A photo without a story is just a pretty picture. And I'm not in the business of just pretty. I want to give photos more meaning.

First Vinny's Viewpoint drops Monday.

— Vince | Vinny's Images

02/22/2026

01/24/2026

MINNESOTA STRONG ✊✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿

01/11/2026

01/01/2026

Sneak peek to some photos from BBD Entertainment's "Holidizzle" Event!

More to come so stay tuned! Tag that person you see!