bryan Xiong

musician / photographer

BIOGRAPHY

Yufeng Xiong, who goes by Bryan, is a Hmong-American creative and entrepreneur born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Growing up in a large family shaped his collaborative spirit and deep appreciation for community. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Minnesota, where he studies human behavior, cognition, and patterns of decision-making. His academic interests inform both his creative work and his long-term goal of supporting others through education, mentorship, and leadership.

Alongside his studies, Bryan works as a life insurance agent with Freedom Equity Group, where he focuses on financial literacy, protection planning, and long-term wealth building. In this role, he leads and mentors a growing team, helping others develop professional skills and financial awareness. His work is grounded in the belief that access to knowledge and opportunity can strengthen families and communities across generations.

Creatively, Bryan is a multidisciplinary artist whose interests span photography, videography, music production, songwriting, and instrumental performance. He was introduced to In Progress through a friend and was immediately drawn to its mission of mentorship, artistic access, and community learning. Since becoming involved, he has pursued opportunities to expand his technical and artistic abilities, viewing creative practice as both personal expression and a tool for community impact. His projects include wedding videography, short-form video production, original music, and commissioned photography work. He is actively developing his professional portfolio while building a creative business centered on storytelling and celebration.

Bryan is especially passionate about capturing meaningful life events, particularly weddings, where he combines visual media and music to document emotional milestones. Having previously worked as a wedding DJ and emcee, he aims to grow a collaborative team of creatives who specialize in multimedia wedding production. More broadly, he aspires to use his skills to mentor youth — particularly those from low-income and underrepresented communities — by providing access to artistic education and entrepreneurial tools that encourage confidence and long-term opportunity.

Outside of work and study, Bryan maintains a wide range of interests that reflect his energetic and relational nature. He enjoys athletics, outdoor activities, creative collaboration, and community gatherings. Faith, humor, and interpersonal connection are central to his worldview, and he approaches both life and art with curiosity, warmth, and a desire to uplift others. His long-term vision centers on leadership, service, and creating spaces where people feel empowered to grow.

Qualifications

Bryan has professional experience as a photographer, creating portraits and event-based visual storytelling. He performs as a singer and songwriter, developing original music across multiple styles. Bryan is proficient in music production and audio editing using GarageBand, Logic Pro X, Ableton, and Adobe Audition. He also applies Adobe Photoshop and related software tools to support visual editing and creative production.

skills

  • photography

  • singing

  • songwriting

  • software applications: Garage Band, Logic Pro X, Ableton, Adobe Audition, Adobe Photoshop, etc.

links