Meet Kim Ye-seul: A Passionate Young Photographer in Ulsan
This time, we met a young entrepreneur from Ulsan who loves photography and has established a photo studio in the city. She is actively working as a photographer.
With her unique sense and expertise, she captures a variety of photos, including ID pictures, events, and candid shots.
What is it like to work with photography, according to this young photographer from Ulsan? We spoke with Kim Ye-seul, the owner of '473 House.'
Located in Seongnam-dong, Jung-gu, 473 House.
Q. Please introduce yourself.
I am Kim Ye-seul, a photographer running the photo studio 473 House. At the studio, I mainly take ID photos and children's portraits, and I also actively engage in external shoots for events and performances. I prefer natural photos and wish to share my style.
Q. What motivated you to start your business?
As I was nearing graduation, I was contemplating employment. Since my graduation was delayed compared to my peers, I felt the pressure to make a decision. I had never been inclined to work in a company, so I wanted to pursue my long-standing hobby of photography seriously. I started learning the theory again, and fortunately, I got the chance to work at a studio near my university just when I needed practical experience. I was grateful that they accommodated me since I had few classes in my last semester, allowing me to learn a lot about running a photo studio.
While waiting for customers, I developed a desire for external shoots, which led me to leave my job and start photographing events and performances. I believe that shooting in variable situations helps improve photography skills and quick thinking, and it has indeed been beneficial. I enjoy capturing moments with children in the studio.
While doing external shoots, I unexpectedly found myself preparing to open 473 House. As I needed to register as a business, I thought it was a good opportunity to start seriously. I even found an office to take ID photos. Originally, I was looking at a very small space in a narrow alley, but my parents helped me find a slightly larger place outside the alley for safety.
Looking back, I'm very grateful. Not only can I take ID photos, but I can also photograph babies, and the waiting area for customers has become spacious, which is satisfying.
Q. What challenges or satisfactions have you experienced while operating?
For about two months after signing the lease, I was only thinking about how to operate the studio while painting and decorating. Even though it was physically demanding, I didn't feel it at the time because I was doing what I wanted. After opening, customers started to come, but I realized that I was underprepared. I wished for 473 House to have its own identity, but I think I lacked the time to establish that. Recently, figuring that out has been the most challenging part.
There were days when I edited multiple photos and felt that they looked like they were taken at different studios, which was frustrating. On weekends, I was still doing external shoots, but it wasn't just about shooting. I had to take thousands of photos a day, upload them, and spend time giving myself feedback. As I had to pay attention to many things, I felt my photography skills were declining, which was twice as stressful. In the beginning, I wished more customers would come when I improved, so I didn't mind having fewer customers. Recently, I've developed a more consistent direction, and I started a cute children's photography project that customers seem to enjoy, so I'm operating with a happy heart. Of course, I'm still doing external shoots well.
Q. What are your future visions or plans?
473 House mainly focuses on ID, passport, and children's photos. I'm considering removing the partition this summer to create a larger space where two or three people can shoot together. I'm also preparing to increase external shoots this year. I have a long-standing desire to take outdoor portrait snaps, and I'm planning to create a portfolio. It might open in the second half of the year or even next year.
Whenever I prepare to take photos or press the shutter, I think a lot. Since I'm very interested in snaps and outdoor shoots, I hope to develop the expertise to capture satisfying compositions with just two or three shots in ten years.
Q. What are your thoughts on the city of Ulsan?
I'm 29 this year, and I've lived in Ulsan my whole life, even graduating from university here. I don't think I've ever been away from Ulsan for more than a month. I really like Ulsan because it's quiet and peaceful. Some might find it boring, but I appreciate that.
What I find disappointing is the lack of cultural experiences. I have a keen interest in music, concerts, exhibitions, and photography, so I often traveled to Seoul in my early twenties to satisfy my cultural cravings. I sometimes thought it might be better to stay in Seoul for a while, but I always gave up because there were too many people. Just arriving at Seoul Station makes my head spin. Ulsan is the best.
Q. Any advice for aspiring young entrepreneurs?
Those who want to start a business likely want to earn money doing what they love or find alternative ways to make a living. I realized in the first few months that if you pursue what you love, you can maintain and develop your business. Now that I'm not struggling to maintain it, my mind is filled with thoughts on how to grow.
When I first started photography at 26, many said I should move to Seoul. Some of my acquaintances have relocated to pursue photography. I was lucky to gain experience as a student, but I believe the pathways to employment in photography are very limited in Ulsan. I considered gaining more experience in companies in other regions before starting, but I wanted to shoot my own photos, which led me to entrepreneurship. If you have a solid mindset about the instability of income in self-employment and confidence in your skills, I think it's worth a try.
Q. Any final thoughts?
I hope to continue having opportunities to take photos in the future. Currently, I focus on portraits and landscapes as a hobby, but someday I might explore objects or food. Regardless of the subject, I want to keep my camera close. Recently, I did a snap shoot at a yoga studio, and it felt exciting and refreshing to shoot in a new place with a new subject. Since childhood, my biggest flaw has been losing interest and giving up easily when I don't like something, but I still feel happy every time I shoot. I love photography.
Listening to Kim Ye-seul's story, I realized that photography is an attractive medium that can expand into various areas. In a society where documentation is still deemed important, I expect photography to be utilized in many forms.
Even as AI technology advances, I believe there will always be unique human sensibilities that cannot be replicated. Please look forward to the various aspects of Ulsan that Kim Ye-seul will capture through her photography.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/ulsan_nuri/224176976085
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