I always introduce myself as a content creator. I love telling stories through travel, people, nature, and the places I explore. Photography has always been an important part of my work, but I never considered myself a professional photographer. So when I arrived at Kando, one thought kept coming back to me: “Do I really belong here?”
The beginning of something new
From the moment I arrived, everything felt exciting. I received my welcome package from SONY and PGYTECH, including a camera, a camera bag, clothing, and other accessories. Opening everything felt like more than simply receiving new equipment. It felt like a small reminder of how far I had come as a creator. I remember feeling really happy. At the same time, I knew the real challenge was still ahead.
I wasn’t there just to receive a camera or attend an event. I wanted to learn something. I wanted to see how other creators worked. I wanted to understand how professionals think about their images and their stories. Most importantly, I wanted to challenge myself.
Meeting creators from different places
One of my favorite parts of Kando wasn’t only the cameras. It was the people. I met creators from different countries and backgrounds, and at first I felt a little shy. Everyone seemed to have their own experience, style, and way of creating. But as we started talking, I realized something. Even though our work looked different, we all had the same curiosity. We wanted to create something. We wanted to tell stories. We wanted to become better. That made me feel much more comfortable.
I also realized that being surrounded by experienced creators doesn’t mean you have to compare yourself with them. Sometimes, you simply need to listen, observe, and learn.
Learning from people I admire
The sharing sessions were another important part of the trip. Listening to Sony ambassadors talk about their careers and creative processes gave me a different perspective on photography and filmmaking. I learned about how they approach their work, how they find ideas, and how they turn their creativity into something professional. There were also discussions about new camera technology, including the Sony FX5, and how equipment can be used in professional video production.
But what stayed with me most wasn’t a particular camera specification. It was their stories. They reminded me that nobody starts as an expert. Everyone has a beginning. And that thought stayed in my mind throughout the trip.
Then came the part that scared me
The photography activities pushed me much further outside my comfort zone. I’m comfortable creating travel videos. I’m comfortable walking through a forest, exploring a new place, talking to people, and documenting my experience. But taking photographs in a fast-paced professional shooting environment? That was different. 
One of the biggest challenges was the car racing shoot. Everything was moving quickly. I had to think about shutter speed, ISO, composition, focus, timing, and the moment I needed to press the shutter.
And I was doing all of this while knowing that other photographers around me had much more experience. For a moment, I felt like I wasn’t good enough. But then I reminded myself why I came. I didn’t come to prove that I was already a professional photographer. I came to learn. So I kept trying. I changed my settings. I watched the movement. I tried different compositions. I took photos that didn’t work. Then I tried again. That was probably one of the most important moments of the entire trip. I stopped worrying about whether my photos were good enough and started focusing on learning how to make them better.
A camera became more than just a camera
The camera I received from Sony became my companion throughout the trip. I used it to photograph the people, the atmosphere, the culture, and the different activities we experienced in Vietnam. I photographed traditional performances and people in traditional clothing. I tried to capture moments that felt different from the kind of content I normally create. The more I used the camera, the more comfortable I became. I started experimenting. I started trusting my eye. And slowly, I stopped thinking so much about whether I was doing everything “correctly.” I started thinking about what I wanted to say through the photograph. That shift was important to me. Because photography isn’t only about knowing every camera setting. It’s also about seeing.
Trying to create while documenting everything
There was another challenge that people might not notice from the final video. I was trying to experience Kando while also creating my own content. I wanted to take photographs. I wanted to film. I wanted to edit my vlog. I wanted to share what was happening. And I also wanted to actually enjoy the experience. At times, it became overwhelming. There were moments when I felt like I was constantly trying to catch up. But I kept going. I think that’s something many content creators understand. Sometimes we are experiencing the moment and creating the story about the moment at the same time. It’s not always easy.
Then something unexpected happened
After all the workshops, shooting, learning, and questioning myself, I submitted one of my photographs. I didn’t expect much. Honestly, I was surrounded by people who had much more technical experience than me, so I wasn’t thinking about winning. Then I heard my name. I won an award for my photograph. For a few seconds, I didn’t really know how to react. I was extremely happy. And emotional. But the tears weren’t only because I had won something. They came because of everything that happened before that moment. The nervousness, the self-doubt, the feeling that maybe I wasn’t good enough. The moments when I struggled with the camera. The pressure of trying something completely outside my comfort zone and then suddenly, I had proof that I could do it. Not perfectly. Not because I was the most experienced person in the room. But because I tried.
What Kando changed for me
Before this trip, I sometimes thought I needed to become more experienced before I could call myself a photographer. Kando changed the way I think about that. Maybe I don’t need to wait until I feel completely ready. Maybe I just need to keep learning. I also realized that being a content creator and being a photographer don’t have to be separate identities. Photography can be another way for me to tell stories. And every time I pick up a camera, I have another opportunity to improve. Kando also reminded me that comparison can make us forget our own journey. Someone else may have ten years of experience. Someone else may understand every technical detail. Someone else may have a completely different style. That doesn’t mean my story has less value. I have my own way of seeing the world. And that is something I should continue developing.
More than a trip
Looking back, my first Sony Kando experience was much more than a trip to Vietnam. It was a meeting with people who inspired me. It was a chance to learn from photographers and creators I admire. It was a challenge that pushed me beyond what felt comfortable. and, unexpectedly, it became a moment where I started believing in myself a little more.
I came to Kando thinking I might not be good enough. I left realizing that I don’t need to be the best person in the room to belong there. I just need to be willing to learn, create, and keep going. For anyone reading this who is also starting their creative journey, I hope you remember one thing: You don’t have to be an expert before you start. You don’t have to know everything and you don’t have to wait until you feel ready. Sometimes, you just have to say yes to the opportunity, bring your camera, step outside your comfort zone, and see what happens.
That’s what I did at Kando. And I’m really glad I said yes.