Using pandemic as an opportunity, TikTok photography influencer David Suh

[Nex-Gen Leader: David Suh]

“Don’t take photos for others, but to explore beauty of yourself.”

With having impressive 5.7 million followers across Instagram and TikTok, David Suh (29) made headlines for capturing the profile picture of Instagram’s CEO.

Suh reminisced, “In high school, I aspired to be a dancer and got my first camera to record my dance routines. Gradually, photographing friends and dance became a hobby, igniting my passion for the camera and photography.”

Suh’s dedication to his craft was evident early on. “There were numerous online tutorials teaching photography,” he recalls. “Many had fees for the recorded tutorials, but as a penniless student, I often ditched classes to catch the free live sessions.”

In 2018, Suh transformed his passion into a profession by setting up his own studio. However, the pandemic that soon followed threatened his newfound career. Undeterred, he leveraged the power of social media, especially TikTok, to maintain connections.

“During the pandemic, TikTok became a primary mode of communication,” Suh noted. “Seeking a broader audience reach, I began sharing videos on effective posing techniques. The response was overwhelming, and my followers skyrocketed.”

Suh’s contents are mostly about various posing. He emphasizes authenticity in the photo. Therefore, he tries to observe peoples’ body language to explore the different styles of pose.

“Posing for me is more than just prepping for a photograph. It’s about connecting and expressing oneself. The positive feedback from my audience reinforces my love for photography and the process of self-discovery it offers,” he said.

Offering a fresh perspective, Suh opines, “I view photographers as designers more than artists. While artists create from scratch, designers embellish existing frameworks. Similarly, a photographer’s task is to design an image where the subject – the client – stands out.”

Currently running a David Suh Studio in Los Angeles, he’s set to inaugurate a new venture, DAUS studio, in Silver Lake next month.

BY YEJIN KIM [kim.yejin3@koreadaily.com]