Meet Thomas Kim | Wedding Photographer

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

Hi Thomas, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“If you’ve never tried, how will you ever know if there’s any chance?” -Jack Ma.

This is one of my favorite quotes. I tend to find myself surrounded by “comfortable” people. They are comfortable clocking in from 9-5, comfortable with the wage they make, and comfortable for the level of work they put in. They find themselves too afraid to try something new, to take that risk of stepping out of their comfort zone. Many find themselves asking for advice but rarely take the advice they’re given. People want to start something new and reap all the rewards without willing to take the risks involved.

I look back at significant milestones in my life as I am jotting my thoughts to answer this interview question. When I say substantial milestones, I’m not simply referring to successes in my life! Many of them were failed business ventures. And I mean massive failures. Starting new, putting in all my effort, and failing only to start new again, became a vicious cycle, and it continued like this for a while.

I’m not saying that all these milestones were failures, and I’m certainly not saying I have reached my end goal in my career. These significant “milestones” taught me unforgettable lessons, and I paid for these lessons, but I never have regrets. It’s all led me here to today. I’m a father of two boys and I do what I love every day, which is wedding photography. Don’t be comfortable; if everything becomes too easy to navigate throughout the day, it means you can take on more. Don’t be afraid to take risks and don’t be afraid to fail. I can personally guarantee you there will be something you will gain from stepping out of your comfort zone and taking that extra weight on your shoulders.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I love visually telling love stories, especially on wedding days. It’s a special day for many people, and I get to document everything through my vision, using my unique perspective. Yes, at times It’s stressful, and I have to solve many challenges on a daily basis. To succeed in wedding photography, you have to wear many hats and master many areas: product photography, portrait photography, commercial documentarian, and architectural photography. I must follow strict schedules while being flexible and ready for change at a moment’s notice. Mastering time management becomes crucial and comes with experience. Unfortunately, there’s no secret or shortcut; maybe if you have beyond an IQ of 139…. I’ve heard many people talk about the 10,000-hour rule…. 10,000 hours to be an expert in their field…. I’ve had to put in 20,000 hours because I lacked consistency and didn’t believe in developing skills through hard work.

Honestly, I thought having the best gear and equipment would make me a pro. That’s just not true. I thought…following famous photographers’ latest trends and styles will help me get there faster; But there are no shortcuts, I will never have their career because I hadn’t earned it. What I can tell you is that after ten years…It’s about doing what you love to do. Doing What you want to do…will help you get there. I’m not quite sure where “there” is…. But take it from me, you’ll never work a day in your life if you do what you love every day.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Super Bowl LVI Champions LA Rams’ MVP, Cooper Kupp said it best, “We’re going to Disneyland!”

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I was blessed with two of the best people in the world as my parents, and I couldn’t thank God enough for that. I want to give a big shout-out to my mom and dad for all the support they have given me through it all. They gave up their comfortable lifestyle for my brother and I, giving up everything, so we can have a better education and have a chance at our dreams. They gave up their life so I could have a better life. They never enforced anything, and they left everything for me to decide and proceed with how I wanted to live my life.

In short- Thank you for everything.

Website: www.thomaskimphotography.com

Instagram: thomaskim_photography

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/thomas-kim-photography-santa-clarita-3