I hadn’t always dreamt of being a photographer. In fact, my whole life I wanted to ski, get an instructor license, and become a ski demonstrator in Korea. However, I had to quit due to an injury, which left me feeling hopeless. After overcoming my initial setback, I decided to pick up a camera and dabble in photography. When I started my new hobby by taking pictures of the people around me, they told me, "Wow, you're good at taking pictures. I like it." I was so happy to hear their words of affirmation and thought that I should give a shot at pursuing a professional career in photography.

As I was praised, I worked harder and felt more confident in my skills. I gradually became passionate about my craft. To broaden my horizons and find my muse, I went to Venice and captured special moments for ordinary people, not professional models. As I posted my photos and communicated with people, I started receiving many inquiries. All my shooting and correction techniques are self-taught. The more people liked my style, the more confident I became, and I was eventually able to establish my own style. Here are four lessons I learned on this fulfilling journey.

1. Developing your own style is a journey

When I am taking photos, I put a lot of thought into the aesthetic of what I’m shooting. If you want to gain experience quickly, I suggest that you simply take a lot of pictures and then review what you have shot repeatedly. I believe that your taste in photography develops gradually from shooting and experimenting lots and from there, you will be able to define your own photographic style. If you only think about style without experimenting, you're more likely to get lost in the direction that you need to go.

I also believe there is no “correct” style to go for. I was able to develop my skills because I put myself in environments where I could gain experience. Going to Italy was a good challenge for me. As a photographer, I learned that experience is not only about photography skills.

2. Work with your subjects

I don't believe in couple photography being the work of a photographer alone because the story of the subjects in the picture plays a big role. I simply use the art of photography to express the couple’s story more dramatically. You need to think that photos are not created by yourself but together with the couple you are photographing. When taking couple photos, you will be able to take good photos when you enjoy the moment. Imagine you are a close friend of the couple. It will be fun. The more you’re enjoying yourself, the more natural-looking photos will come out. Techniques and gear are next.

3. Keep it simple

When I first started taking photographs, the most significant mistake I made was trying to fit too many elements into a single picture. Of course, I sometimes attempt to do this but not as much as I used to. To avoid making your photo overly cluttered, which draws the attention away from your main subjects, you need to simplify the way you think. One strategy is to concentrate on the margins and the lines on your camera frame and apply framing techniques such as the rule of thirds, in order to draw your viewer’s attention to where it needs to be.

4. Shoot light with essentials only

As a couple photographer, I prefer to work light by carrying the essentials only. I can always count on my Alpha 7C, which despite its small size, packs a full-frame sensor and just the right processing speed I need to capture my shots. For lenses, I highly recommend the SEL55F18Z or SEL24105G. The SEL55F18Z is a standard prime lens that can be bought at a reasonable price for beginners while the SEL24105G covers a wide zoom range in a single lens, perfect for when you’re just starting out. I would recommend that you bring both of them with you instead of picking either one.

The process of improving oneself through consistent practice and connecting with people is what makes me love photography so much. I have grown a lot, not only as a photographer but as a person, since the very moment I picked up a camera.