May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time for us to celebrate and honor the achievements, contributions, and experiences of fellow AAPI community members. 

As the Asian female co-founders of Shoott - we’re proud to run a company that captures a moment of our clients’ unique stories, no matter what their background is. It’s an honor and a privilege to work with and for people from all walks of life; so whether we’re interacting with our photographers, our clients, or our own team - we believe inclusion and diversity make our world a kinder, better, more beautiful place.

We also recognize the importance of uplifting and amplifying other AAPI-led businesses, which is why we’d like to take a moment to highlight a few other AAPI-led businesses that we personally use and love:

• The Sill is an online plant store that offers a wide selection of indoor plants, pots, and accessories. Founded by Eliza Blank, who started the company in her apartment in 2012, The Sill offers plants that are beautiful, healthy, and easy to care for, making them perfect for anyone looking to add some greenery to their home or office.

• Omsom is a food company that makes it easy to create authentic Asian dishes at home. Sisters and founders Vanessa and Kim Pham wanted to make it easier for people to cook Asian food without having to compromise on flavor. Omsom offers a range of Asian cooking kits that include all the ingredients you need to make delicious meals at home.

• Paper Culture is a company that creates high-quality eco-friendly cards, invitations, and stationery. Led by Christopher Wu, Paper Culture uses 100% post-consumer recycled paper and plants a tree with every order. They offer a wide range of designs for various occasions including weddings, baby showers, birthdays, holidays, and more!

• Lunar Seltzer is an award-winning hard seltzer brand that offers unique Asian-inspired flavors that use real fruit and premium ingredients to create its delicious and refreshing beverages, which include Yuzu, Lychee, Plum, and Passion Fruit. Founded by Kevin Wong and Sean Ro, Lunar has won numerous awards for its innovative and delicious flavors.

• PerfectDD is an apparel brand that provides sustainable, flattering tops for women with a large bust, small to mid-frame, an overlooked demographic. Led by Alice Kim, PerfectDD focuses on body positivity, boldly celebrating curves and marrying comfort and fit without sacrificing style. 

These are just a few of the many AAPI-led businesses out there so we encourage everyone to take the time to support and uplift these businesses. As small business owners ourselves, we know it would mean the world to them!

Jen Tsay & Jen Yeh

Shoott is an AAPI female-run photography startup operating in 60 cities across the US! A company by creatives for creatives, our business model strives to make professional portrait photography more accessible by improving the gig economy for freelance photographers! Want to know how our local, free session model works? Click here...