Meet Huy Khiem | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Huy Khiem and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Huy, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Why did I pursue an artistic career? Because from a young age, I was drawn to it. As a kid, I loved to draw, take photos, and do anything related to photography. I was always observing the world around me—watching how light touched faces, how emotions played out in small moments, and how beauty could be found in the everyday.

I found joy in capturing happiness, emotions, and the feeling of a moment through an image. That natural curiosity and passion for visual storytelling never left me. It’s what inspired me then, and it’s what continues to drive my career today.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My photography work covers a wide range of styles and specialties—I have the ability to capture everything from weddings and portraits to commercial shoots and full-scale advertising campaigns. This versatility allows me to adapt to each client’s unique vision while bringing creativity and consistency to every project.

I’m incredibly proud of my work and the journey I’ve taken over the past 25 years. From weddings to commercial campaigns, it’s been an amazing experience to grow alongside the clients and community that have supported me. I’ve had the honor of capturing countless love stories and creating impactful visuals for brands. Today, I see my images everywhere—on billboards, bus stops, websites, and across CD and DVD covers featuring some of the most well-known Asian celebrities and artists.

Getting to where I am today professionally has been a journey built on passion, persistence, and a deep love for visual storytelling. I started with very little—just a Nikon MF2 manual camera, a vision, and a strong desire to create meaningful images. In the early days, I said yes to every opportunity I could, and I had the chance to work with many talented Asian singers and performers. Through those early experiences, I learned how to capture genuine expression, how to highlight personality through fashion, and how to bring out the beauty and confidence of each subject. Those moments helped shape my eye for style, emotion, and storytelling—skills that continue to guide my work in both weddings and commercial photography today.

I feel very lucky in my career. One of the most important turning points came when I was working as an assistant for a professional photographer. One day, he became very ill and couldn’t make it to a shoot for a CD cover featuring a well-known Asian singer. The timeline was tight—they needed the images immediately—so I stepped in to help.

I took the photos and submitted them to the producer, not knowing what to expect. To my surprise, the producer loved my work. That moment changed everything. It gave me the confidence, visibility, and opportunity to move forward on my own, and from there, my career truly began to take off.
For me, every photograph tells a story. When I share my images with the public, I want people to ask themselves why, when, and how. I believe it’s this curiosity that makes an image more engaging and memorable. My goal is not just to capture a moment, but to make viewers reflect on it, to evoke emotion and wonder.

I’ve always considered myself fortunate to learn from every experience in my life. I believe the key to success is not just in celebrating victories, but also in learning from others’ failures and using those lessons to improve. For me, it’s about constantly evolving—day by day, step by step.

Each day brings new ideas, new concepts, and new ways to see the world. I collect inspiration from everything around me—whether it’s a moment in daily life or a concept I’ve yet to explore—and use that to fuel my creativity. Over time, this process has allowed me to refine my vision and continually strive to be better at what I do.

I want my images to spark questions in the viewer’s mind and leave them with a lasting impression. The story behind each image is what makes it unforgettable—it’s that narrative, that emotional connection, that turns a simple photo into a memory that lasts forever.

Each photograph is full of vibrant color and emotion, inviting viewers to look deeper and find something new every time. Recently, I’ve had the honor of working with pageant contestants and beauty queens—each with their own unique titles and stories. Every image I create showcases not just their beauty, but their success and the journey they’ve taken to get there.

I believe that each photo tells a larger story, one that will be remembered long after it’s viewed. Thank you for taking the time to experience these moments with me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Whenever a best friend or family member visits my town, I love showing them the beauty of my city—what I call my “wonderful ANGEL CITY.” I want them to experience everything it has to offer and create unforgettable memories. Every place we visit offers a unique opportunity to capture a special photo, turning those moments into lasting memories that they can treasure forever.

Santa Monica Pier- LACMA “Urban Light”-Griffith Observatory-Walt Disney Concert Hall-Hike Behind the Hollywood Sign-Elysian Park-

Urth cafe- Hang out restaurant- the GROVE PLAZA

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a special shoutout to Thuy and Thi, the amazing owners of Paris By Night Productions, for encouraging and inspiring my inner creativity. Their belief in my vision has played a big part in my journey.

Most importantly, I want to thank my family and friends who have always believed in me. Their unwavering support has helped me pursue my dreams and grow into the artist I am today.

Website: https://huykhiemphoto.com

Instagram: https://huykhiem.com

Facebook: huykhiemphotographystudio

Yelp: huykhiemphotography

Image Credits
Paris by night 75A0066 ( PARIS BY NIGH 128) THUY NGA PRODUCTION

Harpers-Bazaar-vietnam–single.jpg ( KY DUYEN ARTIST MC)

T_80A7199FINAL.jpg ( TIFFANY CHANG MISS ASIA USA 2024)

16 IMAGE ( PORTRAIT THANH HA SINGER )

HO NGOC HA ( HO NGOC HA SINGER )