Join us in congratulating Chanmi Kim on becoming one of our newest Unraveled Expert Artists!

Kim, based in Calgary, Canada, specializes in family and newborn photography, with a talent for capturing the essence of her clients’ lives in a romantic light, using vibrant colours and heartfelt connections. Despite being an extreme introvert, her attention to detail and sense of calm and kindness during the shoot allows her clients to feel relaxed and truly themselves in front of the camera.

Outside of photography, Kim is a chef and a chauffeur for her two children. She enjoys sipping coffee while cuddling up with her golden retriever to solve murder mysteries alongside detectives on screen.

Chanmi Kim’s work focuses on the softness of parenthood while simultaneously capturing the innocence and playfulness of childhood. Her edits are warm and soft like a mothers embrace and every image is focused on connection.

Welcome Kim! We are so thrilled to have you in our community and NOW a UEA!

For more inspiration from Kim check out her social links below:

Here is Chanmi kim, Unraveled…

What inspires your art?

Family connections and nature. When I see a mama holding her child, or the adorable look the child gives their parents. Sunsets that explode with colour. Golden grass dancing in the breeze, I could go on!

What do you shoot with? Camera body and favorite lens?

My go-to is the Canon R6 with an RF 28-70.

What other ways do you express your creativity?

When I was younger, singing, writing and playing the piano were my creative outlets. But now, photography has become an obsession, and I pour all my creativity into my lens!

How do you de-stress at the end of the day?

Sitting on the couch with my husband(and best friend) while rewatching my favourite shows, looking at videos/photos of my kids, and planning future vacations.

What kind of music do you listen to while editing?

I love a wide range of music - Cardi B and Nicki Minaj if I’m editing late in the evening, jazz if it’s a Summer afternoon, sometimes musicals, movie soundtracks, singing ice, etc. Or I’ll leave on the show "Elementary" as comforting background noise as I edit.

What is your favorite book?

Anything by Agatha Christie!

Name one movie that inspires you.

Recently the cinematography in “A Haunting in Venice” and “Murder on the Nile” have absolutely blown me away. The colours, compositions, it’s all just mesmerizing. “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is another favourite.

How do you handle self-doubt or creative slumps?

I’m an absolute over thinker and when Winter hits and outdoor sessions come to an almost full stop, self-doubt always creeps in. I try to keep my mind busy by diving into the backend of my business. Looking at education (unraveled!) lights my passion back on fire to keep going as well. I’ve learned to limit my time on social media during these moments, resisting the urge to compare my work to others’. It’s important to remind myself that my path and my pace are different.

What has been the most difficult part of your creative journey?

Aside from self-doubt, my introversion was another hurdle to overcome. Just the fact that I’m meeting complete strangers and having to lead them through a shoot was terrifying. I’ve become a lot more talkative and outgoing since I’ve started this journey, meeting new families at every shoot. I believe that my quietness and calm translate into my sessions, allowing families to feel at ease and simply “be,” without constant direction from me.

What is your favorite pizza topping?

Don’t come at me, I’m not a pizza fan. But if I had to eat, I’d say lots of veggies.

What is your most favorite kind of light and why?

Soft light created by overcast skies, or the sun going in and out of the clouds. I love the colours that come out in the images in the skies.

Who is one of your favorite photographers?

I cannot pick! Stacey Chadbourne Olesya Alferenko Mari Trancoso Nicole Park Shannon (Love Lake Photography) Allie Clarke Kayla Locke Just to name a few...

What is your favorite course or lesson at Unraveled?

‘Every Day Documenting Life’ by Allie Clarke was incredibly inspiring and had me invest in a smaller camera to carry around on the daily in hopes of documenting my kids' day-to-day more.