You are important to us. But don’t expect high salary.
Photo Source： Wikipedia
Nowadays, finding a job is difficult. Even worse, some companies are taking advantage of this situation to exploit fresh graduate and those who are eager to enter the workplace.
This is my friend’s personal experience. She urged me to share this story warn other potential applicants, so here it is.
Last week, my friend attended an interview arranged by an international NGO in Hong Kong. The interviewer was amazed by her skills sets and international working experiences. The CEO even talked to her in person, promising that they were planning to train her to be the successor of the company.
However, there was a sharp turn when my friend asked about the monthly salary. Despite claiming to guarantee work-life balance, they said they could offer no more than 2,297 USD (approx. $18,000 HKD) per month.
It looked so creepy.
Two days later, on Saturday, the hiring manager sent my friend an email with the date and time for a second-round interview. My friend intentionally ignored the email, but the CEO of the company messaged her directly via LinkedIn on Sunday 😂.
“Where is the work-life balance? “, she asked.
At last, my friend rejected the interview invitation.
One month ago, I was having lunch at a Vietnam Style restaurant near the public library. The food wasn’t bad, but something caught my attention.
I saw a man that bore the resemblance of the local photography maestro I saw in a documentary video.
“Is he the photography maestro that turned into a taxi driver? “, I thought.
(For people who don’t know me, I have a special skill – I am extremely good at recognizing human faces. )
Not wanting to make any mistakes, I waited and kept observing the gallant man sitting in front of me.
After a while, I was very sure he was the person I was looking for. I stood up and walked to his table. He was shocked when I mentioned his name.
“Are you Dick Chan? I watched the documentary and I love your work very much! The one in the Chai Wan fire station. “
He looked extremely nervous. It seemed like he didn’t like to be called as a photographer.
“Yes. I took the photos from the little window of my small studio. But I rarely do any photography job anymore.”
Sensing the awkwardness in the air, I returned to my seat. When he left the restaurant, he greeted me, and his large figure disappeared from my sight.
The cruel facts of being a professional photographer/videographer
1. Many people underestimate how much work it takes to become a professional photographer
In the eyes of outsiders (including myself before writing this post), photography is an easy job that only requires expensive equipment, a fancy portfolio, strong networking skills, and experience. They believe that anyone can make a living with a SONY A7 III (including a flashlight) or IV after 3 to 6 months of “training.”
With this mindset, clients without prior experience often set very low rates to hire a photographer. Without any knowledge or idea about quotations, novice photographers use these opportunities to build their portfolios; sometimes they even lower their rates to get the offers. Soon, the novices discover that they don’t enjoy photography anymore, as there are so many changes and demands from clients.
In one sentence: when you turn your hobby into work, it is not fun anymore—unless your “hobby” is “work.”
2. Professional photography and videography are for tough people with excellent physical strength, especially videography
Cameras are heavy. Lenses are heavy. Everything is heavy in this industry.
According to my own experience, some photographers bring a suitcase to a professional photography event (usually, they will include a small chair if they are short).
Apart from the weight of the tools, without good physical strength, a photographer won’t be able to endure long hours of shooting or deal with the accidents and drama happening at the events. An experienced video producer told me that he made a lot of documentary videos when he was young, but he can’t do it now that he is old.
“Documentary production is extremely exhausting.”
Also, one point is overlooked by many people: the post-production process requires photographers/videographers to spend long hours in front of the monitor. Obviously, this will cause significant damage to their eyesight, but the changes suggested by clients will also drive photographers crazy.
(Still, we haven’t mentioned delayed payment in the industry, but it exists in other industries too.)
In my case, since I knew that if I became a videographer, my eyesight would get worse (I have eye floaters already), I decided to treat it as a hobby only.
3. Actually, photographers don’t earn a lot of money in Hong Kong.
Out of boredom, I used Apify to collect data from a Facebook group designed for hiring freelance photographers. Then I asked Gemini to calculate the average hourly pay of each job. Here is the result:
Although the platform itself might be biased regarding the hourly rate, I was surprised by the result. On the surface, $257 HKD (equal to $32.79 USD) doesn’t seem too bad. However, if we include the time needed for adjusting the light and color of the photos, the actual rate is lower than $257.
Meanwhile, a photographer won’t work like a 9-5 worker every day. Even if you become a photography assistant, the hourly pay is quite low in Hong Kong. Veteran photographers in Hong Kong say that apprentice photographers can’t even make enough money to support themselves for the first 10 years of their careers.
No wonder people say it is a perfect career for nepo babies in Hong Kong. OH, I nearly forgot how pricey professional cameras are (but you can rent a professional camera).
Wait… You may wonder: Should I still pursue my dream and step into this field? To be honest, if you are not scared by my words and are strong, healthy, have good eyesight, and don’t need to worry about money
go for it!!!!!!
Even though it is going to be very tough, you will see a lot of interesting things and people on this journey. During different events, I could see a lot of photographers, and they were like black panthers waiting for their prey in the corner. Their adaptiveness and concentration in the setting left me in awe.
Most importantly, rarely could I find the same kind of passion and energy in the eyes of a white-collar worker, regardless of their position or salary level.
PS: Now I have a new hobby, or you could say a calling from somewhere unknown 😂. I want to learn everything about freelancers, the freelance market, and the gig economy. I will share insights and latest trends in the market. Hope my audience will not disappear. 😂 I will continue posting my photos and life updates on this website. Hahaha.
While I am practicing to be more self-aware of my emotions, I reflected on the events in my life, and I discovered a lie I’ve heard for a long time.
For a long time, we’ve been told a simple lie:
The Academia Path📚: Slows down your development and makes you prone to a life crisis.
The Practical Path (Work)🗃: Accelerates your socialization and helps you find your “direction.”
That is to say if you choose work, you are “safe” from the existential dread that scholars face. But this is a trap.
Two weeks ago, I spoke with an alumna of my UNV program.Two weeks ago, I talked to an alumnus of my UNV🇺🇳 program in Hong Kong.
Despite our conversation lasted for 50 minutes only, her honest sharing was enough stress me out.
Our only intersection was the program I joined. Unlike me, she was graduated from a competitive university and had been working for UNFPA for a year. Also, she won the Chevening scholarship. And her secondary school gives her the greatest networking opportunities in Hong Kong.
Now, at 31, she’s a senior officer at an INGO.
During our conversation, although she didn’t always express herself clearly, her answers were very honest.
“Do you like your job?” I asked.
“I just do the work,” she said.
Then I asked another question.
“If you were financially independent, would you stay in your current position? “
“How can I achieve financial independence? I have to work for so many years! I can’t achieve financial freedom. If I am financially independent, I can do things I want. “
“Have you found your direction→?”, I asked.
When I asked about her direction, she said, “I’m still exploring. I’m not that old!”
I had to laugh. 😂
Even though I am not sure whether I will meet her again, she gave me a valuable lesson💎.
I don’t want to play her game at her age…A life without passion and financial stability. If I don’t want to play the same game, I have to make different decisions.
At the same time, she also proves that degrees from great schools and brilliant working experience can’t guarantee a satisfying life.
When I shared this story with another friend, who is the same age of the alumna, she said she feels the same. But she just got her PHD.
It is clear that a PhD and work experience cannot give you a sense of stability in life. And if there is no stability in life, then why do we need to worry about it?
Feel free to drop your comment below to share your thoughts and opinions!😄
There is no one-man fits all solution or life path.
Panasonic GH5 P(Programe AE) mode, outside of the free hotel room I got
I have a new goal: Moving out before the end of 2026.
The story behind
Soon after returning to Hong Kong from Lao PDR, I realized that I couldn’t endure the stress and tension in my family anymore. Compared to the freedom I had living in a foreign country, I suddenly felt trapped at home. I don’t even have my own bedroom or any real personal space. Deep down, I know very clearly: if I keep living like this with my family, I’ll go crazy.
That’s why, despite all the real-world challenges staring me in the face, I’ve decided to move out before the end of 2026.
Challenges:
It can be a daunting challenge due to the expensive living cost in Hong Kong. But there are two ways to view it.
There is a famous saying in our culture:
“If a problem can be solved by money, it is not a problem.”
In fact, it is true. If I have enough money, I can move out at any moment, or even hiring professional delivery people to bring my stuff to my new home. But what’s the problem?
I am just a fresh graduate with 6 months of experience at a UN agency, a loads of unrelated working experiences/internship, and a translation and language studies degree that is going to be useless in this AI-driven era.
And of course, I don’t have a pair of supportive parents.
Meanwhile, the job market is stagnating. The number of job openings are cutting back, and people rarely resign from their jobs. Basically, getting a job is difficult as well.
(Until this moment, I am still jobless 😅. But I have already foreseen myself living alone in a comfy house in Hong Kong. Yeah~)
Every Cloud has a silver lining
The external environment make things look gloomy and hopeless. However, since I have already known my strength and weaknesses, it will make things easier.
I may have potential to become a good short video/documentary videographer. And I have just joined a sports coach training program for game sports. At the same time, I am trying to see if I can use my writing skills to get more job opportunities.
Even if none of these turn into my “ideal” career right away, I’m ready to take whatever job comes to make sure I can save enough money to move out.
What will happen?
Starting today (February 26, 2026), I’ll post every day, sharing real progress, discoveries, failures, and breakthroughs. Job hunt updates, side-hustle experiments, money saved (or not), mindset shifts, and rental scouting tips in Hong Kong.
If you’re reading this post and find it relatable, please leave a comment.😁
How to find an expert? Very simple: you just need a 3-letter word—H O W.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by a deadline, you’re not alone. We’re taught to hustle but rarely taught to strategize. This is the key realization that separates academic success from real-world expertise. How to find an expert? Very simple, you just need a 3-letter word – how.
In my academic life, I often felt that the emphasis on “using the right methods for planning” was sorely lacking. We are encouraged to plan ahead, but rarely did anyone teach us the most effective strategy to achieve our goal.
I used to believe that working “Fast, Hard, and Accurate” was the definition of capability.
But the professional world changed my mind completely.
I’ve discovered the truth: a true expert starts by thinking about how to approach the task. They choose the most efficient path to reach the goal instead of rushing forward blindly.
Just two months into corporate life, I realized my former mindset was completely wrong. Poor planning ensures you lose half the battle, regardless of the plan on paper.
📉 The Cost of Poor Planning
When a project is not properly planned and structured, it typically spirals into predictable chaos. This is what usually happens:
Budget issues start to surface.
Manpower or resource allocation proves insufficient.
Work assignments become messy and disorganized.
The deadline gets extended, then extended again.
Ultimately, you may not even be able to deliver the final product 🥶.
Once you reach this point, no amount of hard work can miraculously save the project.
♕ Chess, Life, and Project Management
It reminds me of a game of chess. If you make the wrong move in the opening, every subsequent move will be an uphill struggle. Life is similar, but more complex and forgiving than a chessboard.
A single misstep won’t sink the ship, but it’s the cumulative effect of consistently failing to plan that creates an irreparable, return-impossible scenario.
Success isn’t about how hard you work; it’s about how smart you start.
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