Originally released in February 2024, our conversation with Larry Chen has remained one of our favorite episodes of Only The Strong Survive. Now, in September 2026, we’re bringing it back as part of our Best of OTSS series, revisiting some of the conversations that have stuck with us long after they first aired.
Growing up in the center of Southern California car culture, Larry Chen was exposed to everything automotive from an early age. Like many kids in the region, he dreamed of owning and racing exotic cars. Eventually, those dreams started to take shape on a smaller scale as Larry raced what he could and brought his camera along to document the experience.
That decision to photograph those early races would eventually change the course of his career. As his skills behind the camera grew, Larry hung up his helmet and turned to photography full-time, becoming one of the most recognized names in automotive photography.
By the time he joined Dan Kahn on Only The Strong Survive, Larry had built a career that extended far beyond photography, balancing work for major clients with a massive audience across his own channels.
What makes this episode worth revisiting more than two years later is how well the conversation has held up. Larry and Dan talk about what it actually takes to build a creative career, why being easy to work with matters, how constant learning keeps you moving forward and what Larry has learned about avoiding burnout along the way.
The five takeaways below were true when the episode first aired in 2024, and they feel just as relevant in 2026:
Why success as a creator takes time
The importance of continuing to learn
Why your attitude matters
How passion fuels creativity
Larry’s approach to avoiding burnout
Don’t Expect Immediate Success
Many people want to be influencers and content creators, and from the outside, the path can sometimes look easier than it really is. Larry’s career is a reminder that building something sustainable takes time.
It took him years of hard work to hone his skills and become an accomplished photographer. He worked multiple odd jobs while funding his passion for photography, and it was four years before he broke even.
“It took quite a long time for me to get to a point where I broke even by taking pictures. I started in 2004 taking photos of cars,” says Chen. “It got to the point around 2009 where I had to break even somehow. Luckily, that year, I was able to break even. The next year, I told myself that I had to take home $10,000, and I was able to hit that goal. Then it just slowly went up year after year. It wasn’t an overnight thing.”
That part of the conversation feels especially relevant today. The platforms may have changed and the volume of content has increased, but building a real career still takes patience and consistency.
Constantly Learning Is Key
There really isn’t a single guidebook for creativity, especially when you are working at the front edge of an industry.
For Larry, a big part of staying successful has been the willingness to learn as he goes. Automotive photography and content creation continue to evolve, and the people doing the work often have to figure things out in real time.
“I can’t just Google a lot of these things because we are trying to be the first or very early adopters of something,” says Chen. “We have to do a lot of learning as we go. Most of the processes that me and my guys have figured out over the years, we try to do what we can to share it. That is where the education portion comes in. We try to share as much knowledge as possible because it really is elevating car photography and content overall.”
That mindset still holds up in 2026. New tools will keep coming, but curiosity and the willingness to keep learning remain a major part of staying relevant.
Be Easy to Work With
One of the strongest parts of the episode is Larry’s perspective on reputation.
Talent matters, but long careers are also built on how you show up and how people feel about working with you. Being reliable, collaborative and easy to work with can carry just as much weight as the quality of the finished product.
“There are so many good shooters out there, but maybe sometimes they are more difficult to work with. They usually get weeded out,” says Chen. “I try to be as reliable as possible and easy to work with and deliver stuff in a timely manner.”
That point feels even more relevant now. There are more talented creators than ever, which makes the experience of working with someone matter just as much as the work itself.
Be Passionate About What You Do
Spend any time talking to Larry and it is obvious how much he genuinely loves cars.
That passion plays a huge role in his creativity and has helped keep him engaged across so many different parts of automotive culture. It gives him a reason to keep exploring new ideas and stay interested in the work.
“Everyone on our team is very passionate, and I am so appreciative of that. We are all just a bunch of nerds. We love drifting, going to the track and tinkering on our cars,” says Chen. “I am so lucky to be able to do what I do.”
More than two years later, that part of the conversation still feels important. When your career is built around creating constantly, genuine interest in the subject matter goes a long way.
Avoiding Burnout
Burnout is something nearly every creative person has to think about eventually, especially when the lines between work, personal projects and social media can blur so easily.
For Larry, one of the things that keeps him interested is variety. His work spans a huge range of automotive culture, which gives him room to stay curious rather than getting stuck doing the same thing over and over again.
“A lot of people ask how I don’t burn out and stay interested in all the stuff that I do. Luckily for me, I am able to shoot everything. It is not just one thing. It is not just drifting or time attack,” says Chen. “It’s legitimately everything that the car culture world has to offer. If it has four wheels or even two wheels, or if it has some sort of transportation aspect to it, then I am there and interested in it. Honestly, if I did get burned out, I would stop. But I don’t really know what else would keep me interested or what else would keep me so happy.”
That perspective has aged well. Creative careers have only become more demanding, which makes finding ways to stay interested in the work even more important.
More than two years after this episode first aired, Larry’s perspective on creativity, work ethic and building a lasting career still holds up. That made it an easy choice to bring back as part of Best of OTSS.
