I had the honor of photographing @kaity.wong and @danieljunghahn ’s wedding—a trust they placed in me despite my lack of wedding experience. I’m starting with the reception portion because they’re especially sentimental to me.
11/08 will always hold a place in my heart. Congratulations, K&D. You guys are truly the best!
🇻🇳 Slidell, Louisiana • After the fall of Saigon in 1975, tens of thousands of Vietnamese refugees who came over to the US by boat were intentionally resettled to the Gulf Coast states, especially Louisiana, because the climate felt familiar to Vietnam. Catholic relief organizations in New Orleans were actively sponsoring families. NOLA and Slidell are unique because these were NOT your “model minority” suburban resettlement. The people here represent survival, labor, faith, and tight family units.
Down there, Vietnamese identity blend with southern life, and it’s like nothing you’ll find anywhere else. Not in Houston, not in SoCal, not anywhere. Less “enclave based” than other cities, Louisiana Viets are more interwoven with white Southern and Black communities. Even the way they talk is different. The conversational rhythm feels slower, warmer, and more polite. People know each other. Parents know your parents. You carry your family name with you.
After Katrina, Vietnamese families return to Louisiana earlier than most others. They rebuilt homes, churches, and business almost over night. They organized collectively when government support failed.
My time in Slidell alongside my best friend and his family taught me that southern Vietnamese folks are self-reliance, hardworking, easy going, family focused, and deeply grounded. Love to the swamp Viets.
Dedicated to Stevie. JohnJohn. Phil. Nancy. 🤍 #bayoulife
(I did my research and wrote this myself and didn’t use AI)
