Kpop: Grooving new life into this portrait photographer.

Kpop style inspires many of my portraits … and many of our everyday moments.

Korean pop music, or Kpop, came into our lives at the perfect time - back when my LongCovid meant this portrait studio was still a distant hope.

Elspeth’s friend had casually asked her if she’d ever heard of BTS. Elspeth surfed the internet to check them out. Then Elspeth not-so-casually fell down the rabbit hole known as Kpop, pulling her brother and I behind her. If you, like me back then, have never heard of BTS, here they are performing “Butter” at last year’s Grammy awards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbkBVxU5K5A

Kpop music is a finely crafted auditory energy boost. For this chronically ill family, for whom energy is at a premium still, it was exactly what we needed to put some fun back into our lives, and give us energy to keep us fighting for answers and healing.

“My will to live greatly increased after I found Kpop,” Elspeth observed in November 2023.

We started holding family dance parties several times a week, learning the moves to “Butter,” “DNA,” “Boy with Luv,” “On,” “Dynamite,” “Permission to Dance.” So many dance moves, so many happy songs … and some deep, emotive ones, too: https://www.instagram.com/p/CnFx-UOjXlL/.

BTS is specifically known for their inclusive, uplifting lyrics, and a not-small fan demographic that includes older women like me - women who resonate with their message and their demonstrated hearts. Aslan even wrote a homeschool paper on it, “BTS and Older Women’s Empowerment.”

When I wasn’t yet well enough to practice my craft, Kpop kept me dreaming. When I was ready to start shooting again, Kpop album photobooks were just waiting to give me inspiration. In my previous photographer life, golden hour and dramatic composition were my inspirations. Now, in the studio, I needed a new source for my fire. Korean pop style - edgy, moody portraits, often with bright pops of color and so much flair - inspires me now.

Another motivation to explore Kpop was our desire to get away from All Things Colonizer Culture. Now, we’re not huge fans of capitalism in this house, either, and South Korea certainly plays that game exceedingly well. They appear to strongly pressure their populace to do the same. But hey, at least they’re not colonizers.

And they sure can get a groove on.