This week’s Member Moment features work by Film Club member Sarah Yoon, whose work showcases editorial fashion shoots as well as slice-of-life moments. Scroll down to see her pictures and to read the interview!
PL: What got you interested in photography?
SY: My interest in photography came naturally. I was always drawn to art and "eye candy" growing up. Whether it was fashion or painting still life, I knew I had a love for beauty-or at least what I perceived to be beautiful-and for expressing myself through visual art. Interestingly, I struggled with other mediums. My perfectionist nature often made the process stressful because my thoughts didn't always translate the way I imagined them in charcoal or oil paint.
But when iPhones and small digital cameras became accessible, I quickly realized how photography could bring my vision to life so clearly and effortlessly. What you see through the viewfinder is what you get. Post-production has its limits, and I found that boundary actually freed me creatively. With painting, I never knew when a piece was finished. But with photography, the moment you click the shutter, you already have your image-an almost finished product. That immediacy gave me a new kind of creative freedom.
Eventually, that love led me to work as a fashion photographer for The Walk, Penn's fashion magazine. It gave me an outlet to explore storytelling through style and taught me how to work with people and aesthetics in a fast-paced, creative environment.
PL: What type of camera do you shoot with?
PL: When taking pictures, what are some objects or elements or feelings within a scene that inspire you to take a photo?
SY: I'm guided by how something makes me feel. Most of the time, I just try to capture what looks beautiful to me. That beauty can take so many forms-someone's expression after hearing a bad joke, the way their hair moves with the wind, or even fishermen laughing together at sunrise before their first catch. As simple or mundane as these moments may seem, I find magic in their honesty. Being present, being the only one there with a camera-that sense of quiet responsibility to document what no one else sees-is what inspires me most.
PL: Of the pictures you submitted, can you share an interesting story about one?
SY: This photo is really dear to my heart because it features my cousins. We were on a walk near my grandparents' house in the Korean countryside. They've grown so much since then-now feisty teenagers navigating puberty-but this image feels like a time capsule. I feel like I was able to capture them in their truest form at that age, frozen in time through my gaze. There's something really special about preserving that version of them-before the world gets too loud.
PL: What do you enjoy most about digital/film photography and what is challenging about it?
SY: What I enjoy most about photography-even to this day-is seeing how people respond when they receive their photos. It feels like I get to play Santa Claus year-round, gifting people a version of themselves that they may not have seen before. It's the messages I get from clients or friends that keep me going-things like, "I never have good photos of myself, and my mom really loves these," or even just seeing them quietly update their profile photo.
Some of my friends claim to hate being photographed by me, but end up posting the photos everywhere-from LinkedIn headshots to holiday cards. I remember once scrolling through all my friends' profile pictures and realizing 25 of them were taken by me. That kind of impact is so rewarding. Photography doesn't just nurture my creativity-it strengthens my relationships and fills my heart, too.
PL: How would you like to grow this collection of photographs?
SY: Photography is definitely a labor of love. There's no one "right" way to do it-except maybe exposing something correctly. But even then, what does correct really mean? That ambiguity is something I've come to love deeply. Photography offers this unique creative freedom to alter reality and turn it into art. Some images hit me with a visceral reaction-it's a different kind of emotional response than looking at something like Monet's Water Lilies. It feels more human, more raw, more grounded in the everyday.
I'd love to grow this collection through more creative editorial shoots-crafting stories with stronger direction, using lighting more intentionally, and building narratives that go beyond candid beauty.
Lately, I've also been diving into film photography, which has its own learning curve-especially with the mechanical powerhouses that are manual film cameras. (Photolounge probably knows this from all the blank roll gift cards I've redeemed.) But film feels like an even truer time capsule-something timeless and magical. The harmony of colors, the grain, the texture... it's just unmatched. I hope to keep learning and exploring this medium to create work that's honest, textured, and full of soul.
Every day, Club Members take exceptional pictures. If you are not a Film Club Member yet what are you waiting for? Join today to support the photo community in Philly and to start saving money on film processing!