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Jingna Zhang

Forbes 30 Under 30 photographer and art director

Jingna Zhang, also known by her online persona "zemotion," is a prominent photographer and the founder of Cara Project, an innovative social media platform designed specifically for artists. Born on May 4, 1988, in Beijing, China, she later moved to Singapore at the age of eight. Zhang has built a notable career in photography, with her work featured in prestigious publications such as Vogue, Elle, and Harper's Bazaar .32

Career Highlights

  • Founder of Cara Project: Launched in 2023, Cara aims to provide a safe space for artists by filtering out AI-generated images and protecting artists' rights. The platform has gained significant traction, growing from 40,000 users to over one million in just a few weeks following concerns about AI companies using artists' work without consent .13

  • Photography and Art Direction: Zhang has worked with high-profile clients including Mercedes-Benz and Canon. She has also held solo exhibitions and received numerous awards for her photography, including being named in Forbes Asia's 30 Under 30 list in 2018 .32

  • Advocacy for Artists' Rights: Jingna is actively involved in class-action lawsuits against AI companies regarding the unauthorized use of artists' works. Her advocacy efforts are reflected in the mission of Cara, which seeks to prioritize human artists over AI-generated content .13

Educational Background

Zhang pursued a degree in fashion design at LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore, where she developed her passion for photography. She transitioned to full-time photography in 2008 after gaining recognition for her work .3

Personal Achievements

In addition to her professional accolades, Zhang was also a competitive air rifle shooter during her youth, representing Singapore at various international competitions and earning multiple awards .3

Through Cara Project, Jingna Zhang continues to influence the art community significantly while advocating for artists' rights in an increasingly AI-dominated landscape.

Highlights

Aug 2 · linkedin

Been 5 years since I decided to walk away from fashion—an industry I tried to quit time and again and somehow didn't quite.

Told myself then that "this is only a sabbatical", "it's temporary"—yet here we are 5 years later, with life taking me down other paths and I haven't returned.

I still think there's a chance I will go back in the future, but for now, it just feels surprising how often times, such a big part of our work/life can change even though we may feel that it's inseparable from our identity. We survive without it in the end.

I wish strength to anyone who needs to face change and that it will work out ok. ❤️

Can't believe it's already August, let's make the best out of the remaining 5 months in 2024!

(We added albums to Cara, now my photography work is organized alongside my social posts in one place! https://lnkd.in/gKk5JjX4)

Jul 16 · linkedin

1 million users on Cara! This last month has been a wild ride.

A lot has happened, but I finally wrote up a post about our financial situation and plans for what's next. It's a long piece, but I wanted to share my thoughts on common questions and suggestions around subscriptions, ads, fundraising, etc: https://lnkd.in/gEetYz_z

Incredibly grateful to our team and coffee supporters for seeing us through this past month. Thank you so much ❤️

I'll start going over my email backlog and hope I can get through as much of it as possible, appreciate everyone who reached out! 🙏

Related Questions

What inspired Jingna Zhang to create Cara?
How has Jingna's background in photography influenced Cara?
What are the main challenges Jingna faces with Cara?
How does Cara ensure that only human-created art is posted?
What impact has Meta's announcement had on Cara's growth?
Jingna Zhang
Jingna Zhang, photo 1
Jingna Zhang, photo 2
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Experience

Founder at Cara Project (Dec 2022 - Present), Photographer & Director at Zemotion Photography (May 2006 - Present), Art Director & Set Designer at Relica Studio (Jan 2014 - Present), Instructor at Learn Squared, Inc (Dec 2015 - Present)
Creative Art Director at Phuong My (2013 - June 2019), Freelance Writer at Profoto (Apr 2014 - May 2015), Founder/CEO at Infinity Seven (Feb 2011 - Nov 2013), Photographer at Suzy Johnston & Associate at Singapore Shooting Association (Jan 2002 - Jan 2008)

Location

Greater Seattle Area