Artist Profile: Kimi Juan

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A few months ago, I stumbled upon the Instagram account of a young, professional photographer who shared the same last name as mine. We aren’t related, but I couldn’t help but wish that we were when I saw how beautifully she captured the world she lived in. Can you imagine the gorgeous family trip photos I would have acquired? I half kid.

Meet Kimi Juan. A little shy in front of the camera, but incredibly talented behind it.

I asked Kimi a few weeks ago if she’d be a willing to come out on the artist profile section of my site. She was a joy to work with and sent over her stunning images and answers to my questions in less than a day. A true professional. I, on the other hand, took forever to put this post up. Blame it on work and also wanting to make sure this post was squished into features deserving to be beside her images. Her pictures are that beautiful.

I hope you enjoy Kimi’s serene snaps and answers to my questions. Leave a like heart if you want me to feature more talented local artists like Kimi.

Hi, Kimi. What exactly is it that you do?
Hi! I am a Photographer. I like to dive into all kinds of Photography, so i don’t really like to classify myself into just one field.

When did your love for photography start?
It started when I was 16 (I’am 22 now), in one of our family trips to Hong Kong. I bought my first camera and started taking pictures and from there I never stopped. Somehow, something kept pushing me to always want to have better pictures and until now I still feel the same way, I always want to have better pictures.

How would you best describe that type of images you capture?
I just like capturing beautiful things, whether it’s people, places, or things. People tell me that my photos are very minimalist, and I kind of agree. My photos basically show how I see the world and how I feel most of the time.

I understand you’ve recently graduated from college. What are your plans now?
Do freelance work definitely. I’ve already started shooting for different people and getting published so I hope it just keeps going from there. I just really want to take pictures for the rest of my life.

What equipment do you shoot with?
I mostly shoot with a Canon 5D Mark iii for my more serious work and a Fuji XE-1 or my iPhone 5s for my personal work.

Tell us about your Emerge series.
My emerge series is my most prized work to date, definitely. When I started this series I wanted to shoot different people and show that they emerged from what they were to know themselves and what they want to do. So the series basically means that we all think we are someone at one point then we eventually discover who we really are. You are emerging from what you were to who you really are, just like when you come up from the water.

Are you planning on working on another series in the near future?
Oh definitely! I have so many in mind already, I’m just so busy with life that I don’t get to start them right away, but if i could I really would. I have another series coming up, but it’s a secret!

Portraits aren’t always easy. How do you capture people in their purest sense?
I never tell people, when I’m taking a photo of them, to pose. I like to capture their candid moments, what they would do if I wasn’t there. I like to ask them about what they’re passionate about and instantly you can see their true emotions and that’s when you take the picture, because that is when they’re real.

Are there any photographer you admire?
I definitely look up to Annie Leibovitz. The way she tells stories through her photos is just incredible and I would like to do what she does one day.

If someone wanted to get into photography, what advice would you give them?
Go for it! Give it a try, and if you like it, stick to it. If you don’t, then still take nice pictures. It’s really such a beautiful gift, to see the world in a different perspective. Also, don’t try to take photos like somebody else, it really pays to be yourself and have your own style.

How do you feel social media has helped you get your name out there?
Social media helped me alot, that’s really how I got started. I put up a tumblr and started posting my photos, then i moved to Instagram. I really love Instagram too because people can just use their phones to see your work, and I think that’s where everything began. I think it’s really important to share your work, especially now that everyone is on Instagram and Twitter.