I had the incredible privilege and honor of photographing Lynn Pina during the Washington, D.C. leg of our 2022 Road Show.
I asked Lynn if there was an event that transformed her life. She replied, “Yes, where and how I was born.”
“My parents met during the Vietnam war – my dad is Black and my mom is Vietnamese. It was a very important moment in my life because of those circumstances. There have been many parallels throughout my whole life – from being between countries and cultures to having an immigrant mother who grew up in a country at war and myself being born during a war.”
With her father in the military, Lynn moved around a lot during her childhood. “I had a lot of experiences showing up at a new school for the first time with my mom and people being confused about who she was because I look more Black than Vietnamese. After my parents divorced, I grew up mostly with my mother and her culture at home while living in a mostly Black neighborhood. I grew up with people asking me, ‘what are you?’ my whole life. My mom told me to answer ‘human.’ It was clear she was telling me not to put myself in a box and be myself.”
“Looking back now, I think she was also figuring it out. As an immigrant, she wasn’t aware of the racial dynamics in the U.S. She came to the U.S. in her 20s without knowing the language. I had to help her navigate, which is typical for the children of immigrants. I was never trying to be a leader but was thrust into situations where I needed to step up and lead.”
“As a result, I’ve developed a great fluidity and the ability to step into different kinds of environments as my authentic self, even if it wasn’t the cool thing to do. I have always been very globally-minded and good at being a bridge, seeing things from multiple perspectives. I believe nuance is really important and I have a hard time dealing with people who see things as black and white.”
I asked Lynn to share a key takeaway from her journey: “Don’t let people put you into a box – even yourself. Being yourself is not a reason not to change—you are always evolving. The stories we tell ourselves can be very limiting or it can be reframed. Even more so today than ever, it’s important for people to be bridges instead of going to extremes. If we had more of that there would be more understanding and connection between people.”
Lynn, thank you for sharing your story – and wisdom – with me.
About Alissa
Alissa Randall is a portrait photographer based in New Jersey and New York City, known for creating images that feel both elevated and deeply personal. While professional headshots remain a cornerstone of her work, her photography has grown to include personal branding, women’s empowerment, family connection sessions, and expressive portraits of dogs and the people who love them.
Her approach blends editorial artistry with empathy and guidance, helping people feel comfortable enough to be fully seen in front of the camera. Whether photographing an executive, an entrepreneur, a family, or a beloved dog, Alissa creates photographs that reflect more than appearance. They reflect presence, personality, connection, and story.
Alissa photographs in NJ, NYC, and on location beyond the tri-state area. Explore more of her work on the homepage and discover stories behind the images on the blog.