Finding Beauty in the Unscripted: Photography Beyond Perfection with Iris Hu
03/20/25 • 38 min
Today I’m chatting with Iris Hu from Light by Iris - She is an Award Winning Documentary and Lifestyle Photographer based In Portland, Oregon who is Ready to travel anywhere. Iris is also an educator - she teaches an online class with Illuminate and in person weekend retreat called Finding Heart.
In this episode, Iris shares her unconventional approach to capturing authentic, meaningful images. She prioritizes spontaneity, shooting in dynamic environments and embracing the imperfections of real life—whether it’s changing light, unpredictable weather, or everyday surroundings. Rather than relying on location scouting, styling, or golden hour perfection, she lets the environment and the natural light guide her creative process.
Iris reflects on her introverted nature, favoring gentle direction and observation over staged, high-energy sessions. Her goal is to create images that evoke emotion and nostalgia, valuing subtle, quiet beauty over perfectly polished aesthetics. She celebrates the raw, unfiltered moments—like light streaming through dust or a neon fridge glow on a child’s face—believing that these fleeting, imperfect details tell richer, more genuine stories. Throughout the conversation, she encourages fellow creatives to embrace flexibility, trust their instincts, and find inspiration in the ordinary.
You can find all the information on her photography & workshops below!
Iris Hu WebsiteIris Hu Instagram
You can follow along with the podcast and Allison Jacobs on Instagram.
Today I’m chatting with Iris Hu from Light by Iris - She is an Award Winning Documentary and Lifestyle Photographer based In Portland, Oregon who is Ready to travel anywhere. Iris is also an educator - she teaches an online class with Illuminate and in person weekend retreat called Finding Heart.
In this episode, Iris shares her unconventional approach to capturing authentic, meaningful images. She prioritizes spontaneity, shooting in dynamic environments and embracing the imperfections of real life—whether it’s changing light, unpredictable weather, or everyday surroundings. Rather than relying on location scouting, styling, or golden hour perfection, she lets the environment and the natural light guide her creative process.
Iris reflects on her introverted nature, favoring gentle direction and observation over staged, high-energy sessions. Her goal is to create images that evoke emotion and nostalgia, valuing subtle, quiet beauty over perfectly polished aesthetics. She celebrates the raw, unfiltered moments—like light streaming through dust or a neon fridge glow on a child’s face—believing that these fleeting, imperfect details tell richer, more genuine stories. Throughout the conversation, she encourages fellow creatives to embrace flexibility, trust their instincts, and find inspiration in the ordinary.
You can find all the information on her photography & workshops below!
Iris Hu WebsiteIris Hu Instagram
You can follow along with the podcast and Allison Jacobs on Instagram.
Previous Episode
Motivation and Mindset for Photographers with Evelynne Gomes Greenberg
For today’s episode, I’m talking with Evelynne Gomes-Greenberg who is a Portland, Oregon based family photographer. Her goal is to photograph families in a natural and authentic way so they can revisit the beautiful moments in their lives and her work has that dreamy PNW feel to it. We are going to chat about motivation and Mindset for photographers today along with a little about what drives her to family photography.
You can find all the information on her photography & workshops below!
Evelynne Gomes-Greenberg’s Website
Evelynne Gomes-Greenberg’s Instagram
You can follow along with the podcast and Allison Jacobs on Instagram.
Next Episode
Embracing Creative Evolution in Photography with Cindy Cavanagh
In this episode of the Creative Frame Podcast, host Allison Jacobs reconnects with Cindy Cavanagh. Cindy reflects on her journey in photography, focusing on themes of nostalgia, motherhood, and personal growth. She shares insights on navigating creative winters, the importance of trusting the process, and finding her niche without confining her creativity. Cindy also discusses her innovative mentoring programs and recent projects, like the Spilled Coffee portrait sessions and a new venture combining flowers and portraits. Through candid conversation, Cindy emphasizes the significance of following one's intuition and the freedom to evolve artistically.
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
01:51 Navigating Creative Seasons
07:05 Defining Anchor Words
23:07 Creating an Exhibition
37:19 Balancing Business and Passion Projects
40:19 The Land of Comparison
46:34 Finding Inspiration and Personal Growth
51:17 The Power of Personal Projects
56:12 Trusting the Creative Process
01:02:01 Journaling and Visualization Techniques
You can find all the information on her art and her workshops on her website or her Instagram.
You can follow along with the podcast and Allison Jacobs on Instagram.
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