It feels like yesterday that we said “happy new year” and welcomed 2026. Now, half the year has already passed and we’re right in the thick of the summer season.
I usually save these “Year in Review” posts for the end of December (and sometimes push them into the following January), but this year I wanted to try something different. While I have a bit of summer downtime, I thought it would be a good opportunity to stay on top of things and look back on how the first six months unfolded.
From January to June, the schedule moved steadily between corporate events, portrait sessions, personal projects, and even some travel photography in between. Re-evaluating the work now, rather than waiting for the end-of-year rush, is a nice way to appreciate the rhythm of the season while it’s still fresh.
So, here is a look back at the first half of 2026.
January
January started with some valuable family travel time. My mom, sister, and brother-in-law were visiting Korea, which was a great excuse to pack up the camera and hit the road. Some notable spots we visited were Busan and, of course, the timeless escape of Jeju Island.
Later in the month, I traveled up to Seoul for a portrait session with the Cartier Women’s Initiative. I was photographing Jeklin Kim, a former game designer who co-founded GemGem Therapeutics—an incredible startup that develops AI-powered mobile games to help children with disabilities rehabilitate their hand motor skills. It turned out to be one of the coldest days of the year and a heck of a time to be shooting (partially) outdoors, but we had a blast. It was especially great because I got to collaborate with my good friend and videographer extraordinaire, Justin Lovett.
Next, I headed over to Dulwich College Seoul to cover a community service event celebrating their 15th anniversary. It was inspiring to document their entire student body of over 700 students coming together to make more than 600 kilograms of kimchi to support local elderly residents in need.
To round out the month, I went straight to Incheon to cover the Zebra APEC Sales Kickoff meeting at the Inspire Resort. It was a massive, fast-paced event, and it’s always a pleasure sharing the field on these large-scale corporate events with my friend and colleague Dylan Goldby.
February
The first two weeks of February were again all about family and travel photography. I got to visit Vietnam for the first time, exploring the picturesque, lantern-lit streets of Hoi An. That was followed by some time in Da Nang, where we stayed right next to one of the most expansive and walkable coastlines I’ve ever seen—My Khe Beach and the connected shores of Non Nuoc. We had an incredible time exploring, eating, and shooting, and I’m already looking forward to my next trip back to Vietnam.
After flying home and enjoying the Seollal holiday with family, I had a deeply meaningful personal and professional milestone in Busan. I met up with my childhood high school classmates, Bok and Myh—who married and started a beautiful family together. We literally hadn’t seen each other in 20 years, so it was an absolute pleasure to catch up and meet their kids. I actually first photographed their eldest daughter, Chloe, when she was just a baby (and I was just an aspiring pro), and now she is in college. I had the privilege of showing them around Busan and doing a family portrait session along the way—a beautiful full-circle moment to mark two decades of friendship.
Next, it was back to work as I headed over to Ulsan to meet up with my long-time friend and journalist Johan Nylander. We spent the day at Hyundai Heavy Industries, touring the massive shipyard and conducting interviews for a major feature in Sweden’s leading business newspaper, Dagens Industri. I provided the editorial photography to accompany his piece on how the South Korean giant shipyard is gearing up for a multi-billion-dollar Swedish construction project—a fascinating look at the scale of modern industrial collaboration..
March
March was an eclectic mix of events, portrait photography, and even a surprise proposal. The month started with a couple of smaller events for my regular client, Dulwich College Seoul, followed by a memorable private event alongside Dylan Goldby, where we covered a meetup of adoptive families.
Shortly after, it was back to Dulwich College Seoul to cover their Early Years Conference. It was a wonderful day of professional learning, bringing together early years educators from across the region to share insights, participate in collaborative workshops, and explore the latest research in early childhood development.
Next, I headed over to Seokchon Lake to meet up with Hannah and her daughter for a senior portrait session. Senior photos are a quintessential rite of passage in US high school culture, marking the transition into adulthood, and since both mom and daughter are big fans of Korean culture, Seokchon Lake was the perfect setting. We even lucked out with some early cherry blossoms, which added a beautiful, soft layer of spring to the shoot.
Then, it was off to the Grand Hyatt Seoul to cover the Australia-Korea Business Awards (AKBA) 2026, working once again with Dylan Goldby. Organized by AustCham Korea, the prestigious event celebrated the deep economic ties and outstanding business achievements between Australian and Korean companies, honoring leaders in key sectors like sustainability, trade, and innovation.
A few days later, I traveled down to Jinhae. By this time, the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival—Korea’s largest cherry blossom festival—was in full swing. The timing was absolutely perfect, as I was there to document Lyndon’s surprise proposal at the Jinhae NFRDI Environment Eco-Park. It was a picture-perfect spring morning with the blossoms over the lake, and of course, Hannah said “yes.”
The final day of March was an intense double feature. I started with an early morning cherry blossom family session with the Tran family in Jinhae.
As soon as we wrapped, I hopped straight onto the KTX to Seoul to photograph the welcome reception for the Team Canada Trade Mission (TCTM) at the stunning Samcheonggak that evening. It was a high-profile gathering welcoming over 500 Canadian delegates and Korean business leaders, setting a beautiful cultural tone for the trade mission’s week of high-level economic and defense discussions.
April
The month of April kicked off with a continuation of the Team Canada Trade Mission (TCTM) coverage. After the opening events in late March, we documented the networking reception at the Lotte Hotel Seoul, capturing the momentum of the economic partnership in full swing.
The next day, I met up with Lui and her friends at Changdeokgung Palace for a portrait session commemorating their long-time friendship. Seeing the bond they shared made for an incredibly genuine shoot, complete with some beautifully emotional moments that I was deeply honored to capture. Fun fact: Lui had actually contacted me eight years prior to photograph her sister’s winter engagement session in Seoul, so it was wonderful to connect with the family again after all this time.
Next, I headed down to Jinhae and Changwon to squeeze in one final, beautiful cherry blossom family session before the petals disappeared for the season. That was followed immediately by a commercial assignment for Volvo Construction Equipment Korea, where I stepped out from behind the camera to handle digital tech duties for Dylan Goldby.
After wrapping up down south, it was back up to Seoul to photograph Phil and his family at Changdeokgung Palace. The spring light was working perfectly for us, making for a relaxed session full of fun, candid family moments.
Then, we logged a few more travel miles and headed over to Busan. I met up with the Yeo sisters at the vibrant Gamcheon Culture Village for a session celebrating sisterhood and commemorating their travels togetether. We even managed to find one lone cherry blossom tree that was stubbornly hanging on, which gave us a perfect splash of spring color for the frames.
A few days later, I was back on the coast at the colorful Huinnyeoul Culture Village for a couple’s portrait session with Dana and Terry, exploring the narrow, cliffside alleyways and capturing some fantastic moments against the sea.
Toward the end of the month, I returned to Seoul for a high-profile, two-day assignment covering the BCCK’s “Open Conversations: Kellogg Beyond Oxford in Seoul” event on April 24 and 25. Associated with Kellogg College, University of Oxford, the forum brought together distinguished global academics, alumni, and business leaders for a series of impactful dialogues. It was a true milestone event, and it was a privilege to document the insightful discussions.
April capped off on a high-energy note with a couple of student sports events for my regular clients at Dulwich College Seoul. It’s always a pleasure to switch gears, step onto the sidelines, and capture the action and school spirit of the kids in their element.
May
May and June are always exceptionally busy and rewarding months with my long-time client, Dulwich College Seoul (DCSL). As the academic year draws to a close, the campus fills with energy, and I am honored to be entrusted with capturing these major life milestones for the students and their families.
The busy school season kicked off in mid-May with a very significant event: the Year 13 graduation. Capturing the pride, excitement, and bittersweet goodbyes of the graduating class is always a highlight of my year.
In the middle of the graduation rush, I also got to document a unique and highly creative collaboration hosted at the school. Through Education in Motion’s partnership with the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), they held a dynamic two-day professional development workshop for educators in Seoul. Watching the RSC practitioners share rehearsal-room techniques to bring Shakespeare’s language to life was fascinating, and it was a joy to photograph the expressive, collaborative energy in the room. My friend and talented cinematographer Dan Smukalla was also there for video duties, which made the workdays even more fun.
Between school events, I traveled to Gyeongju for a gorgeous family portrait/newborn session with Jalese and her family. Woljeong Bridge and the historic Kyochon Village served as our backdrops—two of my absolute favorite spots in Korea for environmental portraits.
Next, I headed down to Busan for a babymoon portrait session with Agnes and Terence. We split our time between their beautiful, picturesque hotel and the nearby alleyways of Haeridan-gil. It was actually my very first time shooting in that colorful, trendy neighborhood, and given the fantastic light and character of the area, I’m certain it won’t be my last.
Then, it was back to Seoul to work with Datasite for their Dealmakers Night Seoul 2026. My assignment for the evening was to set up a portable, professional headshot studio in one corner of the venue to provide on-site LinkedIn portraits for the guests. While people were a bit camera-shy at the start of the night, they quickly warmed up once they saw the real-time results on screen. Word spread fast, and we gained momentum, keeping me busy behind the camera for the rest of the evening.
The very next day, I photographed the Weir family at Changgyeonggung Palace. Gareth and Nicola are friends from the British Chamber of Commerce in Korea (BCCK), and it was an absolute pleasure to capture their warm, candid family moments against the timeless architecture of the palace.
To wrap up a massive month, I was back on the DCSL campus to cover their annual Founders Day—a vibrant, high-energy celebration that brought the entire school community together.
June
June closed out the first half of the year on a remarkably high note, keeping me constantly on the move between major international summits, corporate events, and joyful portrait sessions.
We kicked off the month in Busan with a high-energy family shoot. I met up with the Kim family at the famous Gamcheon Culture Village. The village’s colorful, cascading houses matched the lively, fun-loving spirit of the family perfectly, making for a highly animated and candid session.
Next, I traveled up to Seoul for the Team Canada Investment Roadshow. Led by Global Affairs Canada, this trade commissioner-led initiative focused on driving foreign direct investment and fostering economic ties between Canada and South Korea. My sincere thanks to the Government of Canada for their continued trust in me to document these high-stakes economic gatherings.
The international corporate momentum continued at the Andaz Seoul Gangnam, where I covered the Queensland Universities Korean Alumni Dinner 2026 for Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ). Jointly organized with Study Queensland, the evening brought together 100 alumni and industry professionals from UQ, QUT, and Griffith University. Part networking event, part warm reunion, the night succeeded in re-connecting old faces, welcoming new graduates, and strengthening the vital community links between Queensland and Korea.
Mid-month brought another intense “double feature” day. I started early in the morning at Gyeongbokgung Palace, capturing a beautiful, elegant extended family portrait session for Tisha and her relatives.
After wrapping up, I quickly pivoted and spent the evening photographing the prestigious BCCK King’s Birthday Dinner and Business Awards 2026 at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. The gala celebrated outstanding business achievements and the vibrant UK-Korea community, culminating in a lively, packed dance floor.
The following week, the focus shifted back to the younger generation. I covered a succession of primary school graduation ceremonies and subject award presentations at Dulwich College Seoul. Witnessing the young students celebrate their growth and academic achievements was the perfect way to wrap up my seasonal coverage for the school.
The final stretch of June was dominated by two large-scale, multi-day international events:
First was the Macquarie Global Investor Meeting (GIM) 2026 at the Grand Hyatt Seoul. Marking the first time Macquarie has hosted this flagship global client event in Asia, the three-day summit drew over 500 participants—including 400 global investors from 20 countries—to discuss how AI and the green energy transition are driving a massive new global infrastructure investment cycle.
A few days later, I photographed the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) joint high-level workshop in Seoul. This event gathered global industrial leaders, policymakers, and corporate executives from major conglomerates like Hyundai Motor Group and SK Innovation to discuss concrete solutions for decarbonization, industrial circularity, and APAC value chain collaboration.
Mid-Year Reflections
It has certainly been an intense, fast-paced first six months of 2026. Looking back, I’ve logged thousands of travel miles across South Korea and beyond, and spent countless hours refining and editing thousands of frames.
More than anything, looking back at this archive fills me with a deep sense of gratitude. As a freelance photographer, being entrusted to document pivotal business milestones, historical international summits, and deeply intimate family memories is a privilege I don’t take for granted. I am incredibly lucky to do what I love for a living, working alongside wonderful creative collaborators and meeting fantastic clients along the way.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed putting this review together mid-year while the memories, the sights, and the creative challenges of each shoot are still fresh in my mind.
Thank you so much for joining me on this look back at the first half of 2026. I’m looking forward to a little bit of quiet summer downtime, personal projects, and family time before the autumn rush begins.
Stay tuned for Part II!
