Justin Lim Photography / The Official
Blog
On "Retiring" and Moving On - 2022 Begins...
Happy New Year! A little personal news! In 2022, I will take the first steps in becoming a "photographer who has shot professionally" rather than a "professional photographer".
What this means is that I will be scaling back on large scale events such as full day weddings and corporate event shoots in Hong Kong. It does not mean that I have relinquished the photographic chain completely - I will still be available for interesting projects and editorial commissions, not to mention my continued love of family portraiture and the like.
For those who have already been in touch with me about their weddings prior to today, rest assured that existing and confirmed bookings for 2022 remain unaffected by this decision. I will also be taking a limited number of bridal reservations going forward. In many ways, I feel I am shooting as well as I ever have, but now is the right time to step away in terms of making a choice about my lifestyle. COVID presented interesting challenges for the business - strangely I am as busy as ever - but I think it is finally the time to find some time for my own projects, perhaps even refocusing my attention on the business side of the industry. Shooting large scale events in HK during the era of distancing and masking (yet with the same demands from luxury clients vis-a-vis high-level event work) was certainly a very unexpected and challenging experience, but one I'm pleased we met head on.
I know I have also been lucky that - as I have risen through the ranks - I have worked with a kinder, more generous calibre of wedding couple. Thank you so much to the graciousness of the couples, especially those in these last few year. It was evident that - finally - I was able to cross that final barrier, that where the wedding couple is not simply a client, but a friend.
It has been a tremendous ride. I first started with cameras in the late 90s and shot my first paid event in Hong Kong in 2006 - making this my 15th year as a professional shooter of some kind here. Every time I went out there to shoot as a “professional”, I thought how lucky I was to be able to tell your stories.
Suffice it to say a big thank you to the hundreds of clients, couples, families, brands and vendors I've worked with, especially those who went out of their way for me (many did). So many things I saw, so many places I went - if you had told me that when I started I would not have believed a word. A big thank you to Jane, Oliver and Cole as well, for every time they stepped up to the wedding plate with me.
Those moments! The first wedding in 2006. Opening my own studio The Kandid in 2013. Waking up at dawn to capture a sunrise at Yosemite on someone's wedding day. Wolfing down ramen with the directors of a world-famous diamond brand in Tokyo. Capturing first looks in the vineyards of Burgundy and Bordeaux. A wintry week in Copenhagen shooting Nordic café culture courtesy of RAINS. My first ever North American magazine cover for American Airlines. 8 days in Bali shooting hotels with the Lifestyle Resorts crew. 48 hours with Prada in Tai Kwun. 2 months in Singapore for my first ever solo exhibition. Shooting MR PORTER's first ever own-brand menswear campaign. Every single Instagrammer I met, broke bread with (even the nasty ones, the bad actors, who did more for my commitment to this industry than they will ever know). All the laughter, tears, joy and even the tequila shots at the afterparties of every single wedding I was hired to shoot (I still hate tequila).
Every single click added gloss to my entire photographic journey, gave an extra sheen to my life.
I recently passed a cumulative 100k followers on social media, which was a strange feeling of something that should have been a watershed moment but also felt a little hollow and underwhelming - like I had something more to give but perhaps not to that world, which if anything seems more distant than at any point in my online life. In the end, as much as I have loved so many things about this side of the photographic industry, I can't wait to embrace another side of it - it is all very exciting. COVID has changed the world and the way we see it - but I'm on tenterhooks waiting on what comes next, knowing I will always be a creator of some kind.
This is the end of this chapter, but not the end of the story. If you were there, thanks for being a part of it. There’s still so much to do…
Yours,
Justin
@hurtingbombz
Upper House: Your Wedding Journey
I'm thrilled to be a bespoke partner at the upcoming Upper House Wedding Showcase for 2020, where I will be giving a special workshop and consultation for couples, giving the benefit of my years of wedding photography experience in Hong Kong. To make your appointment at this exclusive event on 20-21 June 2020, please reserve your place via the following link.
upperhouse.com/en/offers-gifts/offers/yourweddingjourney-2020
With the current world health crisis having disrupted weddings across the globe, the value of trusted partners in planning your wedding cannot be underestimated, even as Hong Kong starts to slowly emerge into event season.
I’m also excited to share photos from my recent shoot with Cindy at The Upper House, below - a really elegant storyboard which hopefully reveals why I love shooting there. It’s certainly a venue that I feel always pairs well with my own aesthetics and sensibilities.
Hong Kong Tatler - Best Wedding Photographers
Thank you to Hong Kong Tatler for naming me as one of their 8 chosen photographers to capture your big day.
The full article can be seen here.
500px - Guest Editor for March 2016
Photography is a competitive business. There are a lot of photographers out there, which is why the rare accolades that come from your peers are all the more worthwhile. Thank you to 500px.com - the world's most dynamic and influential photography platform - for naming me their Guest Editor for the month of March 2016. I am delighted to be curating moments on their Editor's Choice gallery for them for the next few weeks.
To see some of my choices, check out the Editor's Choice page on 500px.com
Emirates - Open Skies, January 2016 Feature
I find it a little strange to be regarded as an "entrepreneur", as my dedication to my photography is my foremost concern, one which I also regard as very much influenced by traditional artistry rather than entrepreneurial endeavours. Nonetheless, I am extremely honoured to be featured by Emirates Airlines for the month of January 2016 in their Open Skies in-flight magazine. It's definitely a nod to some of the more diverse projects I've been conducting via The Kandid, which have been interesting detours from my typical wedding and baby briefs.
To read the full article, click here.
Bottega Veneta Cruise Collection
It has been a very busy few months, but would just like to tell you about this recent shoot I did at The Kandid for Bottega Veneta and Lifestyle Asia.
To see the feature, click here. It's wonderful to be creating, styling and shooting for brands of this calibre, who really appreciate that photography is one aspect to a great shot, but styling is another facet entirely. Luckily the studio now supports both!
TUVE
TUVE, Justin Lim Photography, 2015
I was recently fortunate to be granted insider access to all the rooms at the spectacular TUVE Hotel. For a long time, Hong Kong has lacked a truly boutique design hotel experience. We needed a game changer for design buffs. This hotel is an incredible tribute to minimalist design and industrial aesthetics which has been missing from the local scene for quite a while. What a privilege to see all their rooms and take in some of their philosophy. I just loved the rustic greys, the attention to detail from the woods to the little iron bath hooks. Highly recommended to any visitors, I'll have to arrange my own staycation!
21 photographers who will change your Instagram experience
Iceland, 2015
Thanks to the global creative hub creativebloq.com for naming me one of their "21 photographers who will change your Instagram experience".
The full list can be viewed here.
The Walrus Grand Opening HK
If I had a dollar for every time I was invited to a nautical themed street party in Hong Kong... well to be honest I'd still have a dollar. But The Walrus - brought to you by the same people behind The Woods - is awesome, so thank you to their team for asking me to capture their big opening event! When the DJ spun a funkadelic version of Lennon's original song, we set sail and partied on into the evening. I'm definitely #downtoshuck now!
Follow The Walrus on IG at @thewalrushk for more fun!
The Walrus Grand Opening Street Party, Hong Kong, 2015 - Justin Lim Photography
The Walrus Grand Opening Street Party, Hong Kong, 2015 - Justin Lim Photography
The Walrus Grand Opening Street Party, Hong Kong, 2015 - Justin Lim Photography
For further information as to event packages contact me on justin@thekandid.com
Handsome London Feature
Thanks to Handsome London for inviting me to be the first contributor to their curated blog. Fantastic site! For more information visit handsomelondon.com
The Kandid - Home Journal 2015
I'm delighted to let you know that my photography and social hub have both been featured in this month's edition of Home Journal magazine. I photographed an 8-page feature on small plants, which took place entirely at my own workspace, The Kandid. This shoot saw names such as Ovo Hotels and Quest Terrarium visit my little hub. A very cool shoot indeed.
Paris in Bloom
Paris is a place we all love to get behind, with its sleek, urbane sophistication and its effortless insouciance. Driven by a new minimalist aesthetic, it remains the gold standard of chic. Great to spend some time there after so many years.
For more of my reviews on Paris small plates, see my write-up on Townske.
Laine & Mark, Star Ferry, Hong Kong
Some highlights from Laine and Mark's recent wedding. I was so happy to meet and shoot for this wonderful couple whose wedding was such a fun, laid-back occasion. Their nuptials gave us all a chance to take things off dry land and stretch our sea legs a little. The Star Ferry - that old throwback to our colonial heritage - might not seem a very orthodox choice, but it was especially nostalgic to those of us who have made that crossing in years gone by.
After the sojourn at sea came the rustic and industrially-styled reception, held at The Butcher's Club near Aberdeen.
Some highlights from the day are pictured below.
A delight to be part of such a warm, intimate day with so many special memories to take away. I'm always lucky to work with couples who require something a little different in their wedding styling and photography.
Lifestyle Asia - Instagram Me Feature
Justin Lim, self-portrait at The Kandid, 2015
Thank you to Lifestyle Asia for inviting me to showcase a day in the life of my Instagram feed!
You can see this feature here.