Not every frame
stops you cold.
Kai Nakamura's do.
Photographer & Filmmaker · New York, NY
About me
The person
behind the lens
Kai Nakamura
New York, NY
I'm a photographer and filmmaker based in New York — specialising in editorial, commercial, and documentary work.
For over twelve years I've partnered with global brands, independent artists, and editorial publications to create imagery that tells authentic stories. My work spans five continents — from the neon-lit streets of Tokyo to the sun-bleached landscapes of Patagonia. Every frame is a chance to find the extraordinary in the ordinary.
48h Turnaround
From shoot to delivery
Commercial License
Ready to publish anywhere
RAW + Edits
Full resolution, every frame
Available · Q3 2026
Anyone can take a photo.
I capture the emotion inside it.
Toolkit
What I bring
to every project
The Still
The Moving
The Finish
The Kit
Selected Work
Stories I've
helped tell
Vogue Japan
National Geographic
Wallpaper*
BBC Earth
Architectural Digest
Acne Studios
Experience
12 years of
doing the work
National Geographic
Contributing Photographer
- Documented indigenous communities across Southeast Asia for a six-part editorial series
- Produced cover imagery for three issues with a combined reach of 4M+ readers
- Collaborated with field journalists and video teams on multimedia assignments
Sony Music Entertainment
Lead Visual Director
- Art directed and shot album artwork for 20+ platinum-certified releases
- Directed music videos with budgets up to $300K, managing crews of 15+
- Built a consistent visual language across artist brand ecosystems
Condé Nast
Staff Photographer
- Shot fashion editorials, portraits and travel features for Vogue and Traveler
- Mentored junior photographers and managed freelance contributor relationships
- Developed the studio's digital archiving and retouching workflow
Freelance
Independent Visual Artist
- Built a client roster spanning luxury hospitality, fashion and tech sectors
- Won the International Photography Award in the Advertising category
- Collaborated with agencies in New York, London and Tokyo
Kind Words
What clients
say about the work
“Kai has a rare gift for making subjects feel completely at ease in front of the camera. The resulting portraits for our spring campaign felt raw, real, and utterly magnetic. The attention to light, composition, and emotional resonance is simply extraordinary.”
Yuki Aoyama
Creative Director, Aesop
“Working with Kai on our album artwork was a revelation. The visuals completely transformed how people perceive the music. Critics called it 'album art of the year.'”
Kwame Baptiste
Artist Manager, Republic Records
“Kai shot our entire Patagonia documentary. The drone footage and intimate ground-level shots worked together in a way I've never seen before. Breathtaking.”
Isabel Reyes
Executive Producer, Pulse Films
“The brand identity shoot Kai delivered exceeded every expectation. Our site conversion jumped 34% after the relaunch. The imagery does more selling than any copy ever could.”
Emeka Obi
Design Director, Koto
“We commissioned Kai for our architecture issue and the results stopped people in the street. Every frame had a stillness to it that made the buildings feel alive. One of the best shoots we have ever published.”
Astrid Brandt
Editor-in-Chief, Wallpaper*
Let's work together
Your story deserves
the right lens
Based in New York, working worldwide. Available for editorial, commercial, and documentary projects — let's talk.