We were lucky to catch up with Justin Kim recently and have shared our conversation below.
Justin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?
I started photography for a reason that’s common to almost every dad: after my son was born. Before that, I didn’t even own a camera, and I had never taken a photo before. Back in 1998, when smartphones and digital cameras weren’t as common as they are now, I hesitated to spend a lot of money on a camera. But, since it was my first child, I really wanted to capture those moments. So, I bought a camera to take pictures of my son, and I also used it occasionally when we traveled. As I took more photos, I found photography to be really enjoyable, and it became my hobby.
When my son was about three years old, I upgraded to more professional equipment. Not long after, I attended a friend’s wedding and took some candid shots from the back. The official wedding photographer saw my photos and encouraged me to work part-time as a wedding photographer at their studio. That’s how I started working part-time at a wedding studio.
Fifteen years later, while browsing the Yelp page of the studio where I worked part-time, I noticed several positive reviews about my work. That’s when I decided to start my own business. So, while keeping my main job and continuing my part-time work at the studio, I launched my own wedding photography business.
About three years after that, I realized I could no longer balance both jobs. At the age of 52 in 2000, I made the leap to become a full-time wedding photographer. Now, my son helps me with wedding shoots.
If I have the chance, I want to keep doing this work as long as I’m able to walk. Even when I get older and it becomes harder, I don’t plan to put down my camera. I came to the United States when I was 24, and sometimes I still have trouble communicating with clients because of language barriers. Despite that, I’m truly grateful to have this profession. I feel very fortunate to be able to share and capture the happiest moments of my clients’ lives, and that makes me really happy with my job.
Thank you for reading my long story.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
About a year before I started wedding photography as my main profession, one of my clients had their wedding at The Vintage Rose in Orange County. My client was really happy with the photos and recommended me to the venue’s owner. After an interview, I became a preferred vendor for the venue, and since then, more than 50% of my wedding shoots have taken place at The Vintage Rose in Orange County.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
As a wedding photographer, the most rewarding moment is, of course, when I send my clients the photos they wanted and receive a happy email from them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://justinkimphotos.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinkimphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justinkimphoto
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/justin-kim-photography-irvine-4?osq=justin+kim+photos&override_cta=Request+quote+%26+availability
Image Credits
1. Natalie & Harrison’s wedding @nataliejoumblat @harryv.od
Venue- @hyatthuntingtonbeach
2. Tricia & Julian’s Wedding @tricialisciouss, @jsm00th777
Wedding Venue- @paduaweddings
3. Emily & Phinix’s Engagement session
4. Traci & Daniel’s Wedding @laicart @dmah_mc
Wedding Venue- @@thevintageroseweddings
5. Traci & Daniel’s Wedding @laicart @dmah_mc
Wedding Venue- @@thevintageroseweddings
6.Amy & Jonny’s Proposal @amypairavi @jonnyahdoot
@pelicanhillresort
7. Florentina & Craig’s Wedding
8. Nina & David’s Wedding @shaninaross @dvtran82
Venue/Coordinator/Catering/Photobooth
@thevintagerosevenue