Kim was born and raised in Washington, DC. She was an active member of the punk community there, eventually learning the bass guitar and playing in bands like Getaway Car, Cupid Car Club, Ape House, the Delta 72, Sweet Heat, and Skull Kontrol. She began studying photography at the Corcoran College of Art + Design when she was 15. She has since traded in her Pentax K1000 for a Nikon.