We had the good fortune of connecting with Eric Jaipal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eric, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Work-life balance has always been a tricky challenge for me, especially as a recent college graduate. Juggling classes, assignments, part-time work, and creative projects, I found that creating a schedule and prioritizing what mattered most worked best for me. While this approach wasn’t perfect—important priorities sometimes ended up on the back burner and didn’t get the attention they deserved—not having any schedule or routine would have made things far worse. I always make it a point to set aside time for myself during the week, whether it’s for fitness, excursions, or practicing my art. Dedicating a few planned hours every other day gives my mind a chance to recharge, reflect, and generate new ideas throughout the week.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve always found passion for art, ever since I was little. I loved having an idea or abstract concept and using a form of art to bring it to life. I always messed around with different art forms while growing up; origami, sketching, video content creation, but photography was the one that really stuck with me. It was a great medium for me to express my ideas because I’ve always had experience behind the camera since my teens, so my knowledge helps in creating these ideas more effectively.

In my teens, I was deeply involved in video content creation, particularly on YouTube, where I learned and practiced using a camera. A lot of my “ugly phase” in terms of photographic content is actually hidden in those YouTube videos. Honestly, at the time I didn’t have a real interest in photography, aside from the occasional aesthetic Instagram photo with filters; It wasn’t until my senior year of high school, when I joined a business program board as a historian, that I began to develop a deeper interest in photography. As a historian, I needed to take photos for the program, so I shifted my focus to learning photography in order to create quality content. This experience is where I really grew to love event and portrait photography.

In college, I found myself at a crossroads, which was a challenging decision to make; deciding whether to pursue an artistic career or follow the more corporate business route that many adults advised me to take. It was a tough decision, but I ultimately chose to continue in business because it was unfamiliar to me and I felt it would help me with my own entrepreneurial pursuits. While I believe that pursuing photography more deeply could have helped me further hone my skills, I also think that a business degree has played a key role in building my online presence and understanding the business side of artistic entrepreneurship.

Ultimately, photography is not a chore or a job I dread—it’s a passion and hobby I truly enjoy. So, it was an easy decision for me to continue pursuing it professionally.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live near the border of Orange County and LA County, so I tend to explore all over! One spot I’d recommend is the Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights. It offers a stunning view of the city and a chance to experience and pay respect to Buddhist culture. For food, I’d head to Red Palace 1, a Korean BBQ spot in Cerritos. The food is absolutely amazing and never disappoints! For dessert, I’d choose either Basilur Cafe at The Source OC for their fluffy pancakes or Sharetea for some delicious boba. To end the day, I’d suggest watching the sunset at Laguna Beach. It’s genuinely one of the most beautiful views in the LA/OC area to me personally!

I also have to give an honorable mention to Gypsy’s Mediterranean Grill in Long Beach—it’s some of the best Mediterranean food I’ve ever had!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I need to credit and thank Miyo Stevens-Gandara, my photography professor during my time in college. She has been one of the most influential mentors to me and one of my biggest supporters. She helped me realized the value of my work and helped me gain confidence in my ability as a photographer and artist. She’s also given me numerous recommendations and opportunities which has lead to life long connections and memories which I will cherish for the rest of my life. Thank you Miyo! 🙂

Website: https://www.ericjaipal.com

Instagram: ericjaipal

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericjaipal

Image Credits
Braulio Garcia

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.