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

Hi Nam, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I believe the largest factor behind my success has to be my wife and kids with believing in my dreams, sharing my work and encouraging me to push boundaries as an artist.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m not going to say I take the best photos or I go to every motorsports event; however what I will say I am really proud of is that my photography helped ignite relationships and life-long friendships with some awesome people I never would have dreamt of. At the end of the day, there will always be cars, products and beautiful locations but its the people that are involved on the other end of the lens that drives me to capture moments no one has ever done before.

I always loved photography and was always an entrepreneur at heart. It wasn’t until the birth of my first daughter, Liliana. She became my muse and I enjoyed every second of it. That’s when I knew I wanted to be a photographer.

Throughout my journey, one of biggest obstacles was how do I juggle with a full-time job in the marketing industry while being a photographer outside of my full-time job. The majority of stuff I read online, youtube videos and just people in general always promoted this idea of quitting your 9-to-5 and go after your passion as if the full-time job is a place that has never provided anything positive. I thought long and hard about that notion and it just didn’t sit well with me. So, I shifted that perspective to treat my 9-to-5 as large paying client and a place where I could network with my co-workers. The moral of the story, take everyone’s chatter with a grain of salt and for you to create your own path of success.

One more tidbit I want to share: you can be the best photographer, painter, chef or whatever but people don’t want to work with you just for your excellent craftsmanship. Majority of the time, your potential clients want to work with individuals that they can get along with. That’s why I cherish the friendships that started out as clients.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
That’s so tough as there is so much to do in Denver.

I love to share my favorite restaurants such as Angry Chicken, Domo and New Saigon Bakery. After waking up from the food coma, it would be a great time to for a quick road trip visiting places like Rocky Mountain National Park, Glenwood Springs, Great Sand Dunes National Park and if we time it right, hit up the track at Pikes Peak International Raceway.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wife/life partner of 20+ years, Sharonne Whittaker-Phan and my four beautiful kids.

Website: namphan.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/namphan813/

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/namphaninc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/namphanphotography/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv8YoIW0bAgdYHMn4BNCV7Q

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.