This was my first-time shooting with a film camera, Yashica FX-3 (previously owned by my father), with Portra 400. This was my first time using a reflector and learning how important composition was for film since you only have a certain amount of shots per roll.

After my first film photoshoot, I bought a Canon Rebel t3i and used the website, ModelMayhem to contact models to begin my photography journey with. This was my first Digital Camera Photoshoot.

After my first digital photography shoot, I created an Instagram account and began posting my work for others to see. I was eventually contacted by an agency model (IG: angelmydarling) to do a collaboration on a concept idea we both came up with. I hired a makeup artist (IG: gilianmademepretty) and thus began my journey.

As I started to shoot more original concepts with models: either through agencies or ModelMayhem, I developed a following on Instagram and drew the attention of various brands and fashion bloggers and began to collaborate with them. (IG: sky_sky_) (Brand: Disturbia)

My shoot with (IG: aeneas_erlking) ended up on Nylon Magazine’s Instagram Feed. I was a huge fan of Nylon Magazine, so this was such an accomplishment for me in my first year of photography.

As I started to build my social media, I was contacted by the Zooshoo brand to work for multiple campaigns. This was my first time working with a national brand and a Wilhemina Agency Model. (IG: zooshoo)

As I had mostly been working on editorial, catalogue and blogger style shoots, this was the first shoot to help develop my signature bright and pastel fashion portraiture style that is rooted in inspiration from KPOP. (IG: nicqueen)

After attending Anime Expo for many years and shooting photography for a few, I decided to try my hand at doing cosplay photoshoots. I rented out a studio and used studio lighting for the first time for my first cosplay photoshoot. (IG: kam.legacyy)

During this time, I was enrolled in the Santa Monica College photography program and began to use a variety of studio lighting ranging from soft boxes, beauty dishes, and umbrellas to create content I could submit to modeling agencies. (IG: soriajames)

I volunteered to be part of the photography team for the professionally run Anime Los Angeles Fashion Show and gained valuable knowledge and experiences in shooting a live event and the runway. I have been with the team now for 5 years. (IG: alafashionshow)

As I began to attend more anime conventions and network with more cosplayers, I created my separate cosplay photography Instagram account: cosmatcha. This was the official beginning of my cosplay photography portfolio. (IG: janesin__)

As I began to network more in the anime scene, I worked with various brands including but not limited to: Wooji, ToshikiGirl, iiiiClothing, Kinfold Apparel, Fuwa Fuwa, etc. and had my work featured in various online catalogues. (IG: natsumikichu for IG: wooji.us)

During 2019, I began to expand my social media and network with various cosplayers and bloggers around the world and started creating content with international clientele ranging from but not limited to Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and Canada. (IG: yuyu.monster)

I did photography for Ebiko, a brand launched by streamer, iGumdrop and have shot consistently and worked with her for the past three catalogues. This allowed me to crossover my pastel palette with creative specialized commercial photography. (IG:ebiko.us)

During 2020, I took a prolonged break in photography due to the pandemic, but as 2021 rolled around and it became a lot safer to do so, I began to resume my photography and took on a creative portfolio building mindset. (IG: lo3tus.pocus)

I had my work with streamer, Triciaisabirdy, featured as part of a Twitch campaign promoting LBGT streamers for Pride Month at New York Times Square. (IG: triciaisabirdy)

With conventions coming back up, I’ve been able to resume working on my cosplay photography portfolio. I had not been able to do so with the lack of events over the past two years. Expect to see a continued growth in all my ventures of photography. Thank you for reading through my journey. (IG: kaeri.chi)