Every year, SIS is filled with pep rallies, winter concerts, and other exciting moments that define student life. One way SIS captures these moments and presents them to the online community is the unrecognized contribution of Da Hyun Kim, the school’s one and only photographer.
Mrs. Kim works in the Admissions and Advancement department, where she primarily films various events and student life, edits them, and promotes the footage. She manages the SIS Instagram account and contributes to the design of Hori merchandise given to students as school supplies at the beginning of the semester.
She worked at SIS for three years, attending diverse school events to capture moments of school life. For major annual traditions like the winter concert or the graduation, her attendance is almost a given. Also, she tries her best to attend almost all events going around at schools, such as student-led activities, special assemblies, and more.
“My favorite event to take photos of is the concerts,” Mrs. Kim said. “I think concerts are one of the events where you can really see the results of what students have worked on for such a long time. When I photograph them, the students always look so cool.”
At concerts, Mrs. Kim rarely stays in one place. She moves between aisles, back of the stage, and the center, searching for angles that show both the performance and the emotion behind it.
“As for the kind of pictures I pursue, I prefer capturing people acting natural rather than posing,” Mrs. Kim said. “So when you look at my photos, you’ll notice moments during activities—those natural smiles, the genuine enjoyment. Those are the moments that stay with me the most.”
Mrs. Kim’s photo archives adds on to the part of SIS history, including social media accounts and school publications. Many generations of students will remember their school years through her lens, as well as parents, alumni, and prospective families who look to her photos for a glimpse of SIS student life.
“One of the goals I have when taking photos or videos is based on a quote from a photographer I really admire: a photograph captures a single moment and preserves it forever,” Mrs. Kim said. “And I truly believe in this quote. So even though these are just small scenes from your school days, I love that they can remain as lasting memories for a long time.”
