Not everyone arrives at a session feeling instantly comfortable in front of the camera.
For some, it feels unfamiliar. For others, it can bring a little nervousness, self-consciousness, or the pressure to somehow do it ‘right.’ That’s completely normal, and part of my role is to take that pressure away.
I approach every session with the understanding that the experience matters just as much as the photographs themselves. The images are important, of course, but so is how it felt to create them.
I hope that your session gives you more than a gallery to look back on. It gives you space to slow down, be present with one another, and step out of the noise of everyday life for a little while.
My role is never to force a moment.
It’s to create space for people to settle in,
feel comfortable and be fully present
with one another.
I’m often told that I bring a calm energy to a session, which still surprises me a little because it’s not always how I’d describe myself away from the camera.
But with a camera in hand, something shifts. Photography has always felt like a way of paying attention, of noticing the things that are easy to overlook while you’re living them. I feel completely at ease. It’s where I’m most present, most grounded, and most myself. That sense of calm shapes the way I work and the experience I want to create for the people in front of my lens.
I know being photographed can feel vulnerable. It can bring up self-consciousness, uncertainty, or the feeling that you need to get it right. I approach each session gently, allowing stories to unfold naturally and guiding only where needed. My role is to create a space where people can settle in, feel comfortable and be themselves.
Living and working on the Mornington Peninsula has shaped so much of the way I see.
I’m drawn to the coastline, to open air, soft light and the sense of exhale that comes from being near the water. That connection to place often finds its way into my work too, whether we’re photographing your family at home, wandering along the beach, or finding a quiet location that feels right for your story.
Originally from Seoul, I’ve also lived in London and Trier, Germany. Living in different places has given me a deep appreciation for people, culture and the many ways we connect.
Outside of photography, I’m someone who laughs at the oddest things and then keeps laughing about them days later. I used to play the oboe, sing, and play piano, and while those parts of my life are quieter now, I think they still shape the way I notice rhythm, emotion and atmosphere in the world around me.
At the heart of it all, this work is about preservation. It’s about creating imagery that allows you to return to a season of life and feel something of it again. The closeness, the atmosphere, the way life looked before it changed.
If that’s the kind of experience you’re looking for, I’d love to photograph your story.
Love Jo x
