Jase Kim

Ashley Patrick & Tess – Family Portraits (NYC – Madison Square Park, Union Square)

Posted on January 15, 2015 by jase

One of the sheer joys of being a wedding photographer is meeting people from all walks of life and spending one of their most important and cherished days with them. Another amazing perk to the gig is watching the family grow in number and being able to photograph that ever expanding family.

That said, the following are images from the fourth (yes, fourth!) photo session I’ve done with Ashley and Patrick, one of my most favorite clients of all time! Their adorable baby girl, Tess joined us for this shoot as well as their new little bun in the oven. I wanted to share these photos with the world earlier, but I didn’t want to ruin their surprise in any way so I held off until word got around their circle of friends and family.

The family session started in Madison Square Park and we eventually ended down a few blocks in Union Square. The sun was out and the temperatures weren’t too chilly, even for a family who now calls Texas home.

As always, it was an absolute pleasure to spend a couple hours catching up and capturing some fantastic images with Ashley and Patrick. Although, I must admit, trying to get one year old babies to smile isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but it’s a great feeling when you’re eventually able to catch that fleeting moment when they let their guard down and you see the pure, innocent smile and laughter of a child. Especially a child as precious as Tess.

Enjoy the photos and congrats to Ashley and Patrick on their second child! I’m already looking forward to our fifth photo session. =)

~Jase

Posted in beloved sessions, family sessions, NYC | Leave a comment

AILEEN+BRIAN (New York City New Jersey Wedding Photography)

Posted on December 2, 2014 by jase

One of the worst fears of a wedding photographer is rain. Not necessarily because it would put a huge damper on my day or images. In fact, I don’t mind the rain so much because it presents a challenge to get more creative and think more outside the box. But the fear comes from how the bride and groom may react to such inclement weather. Sometimes (and understandably so), they don’t see the silver lining like I do.

Enter Aileen and Brian. The day started off overcast and the chance of heavy rain was imminent. It started to pour during our getting ready time and I’d hear an “Oh my god, it’s raining!” or an “Oh man, what are we gonna do?” from some of the bridal party and family. My phone was even going crazy sending me emergency alerts and whatnot. But Aileen just sits there smiling, looks at me and says, “Hey, it is what it is. Can’t control the weather.”

That, my friends, is the perfect attitude and nothing could’ve stopped us from having the best day of our lives. As good fortune would have it, the downpours came and eventually went and we were able to capture a few moments outdoors. But the fun didn’t come from the sudden change in weather, it came from the friends and family who traveled from near and far to celebrate with Aileen and Brian.

After having gotten to know them in the past year, it was no surprise to me that so many people were in attendance to witness their marriage, rain or shine. What a fantastic couple these two make and it was a real thrill to document their big day.

Enjoy a sample of the photos and mazel tov!

~Jase

Posted in NYC, wedding photography, weddings | Leave a comment

AMANDA+RANJAN (Madison Square Park Beloved Engagement Session) – New York City Wedding Photography

Posted on November 17, 2014 by jase

In reality, when meetings run long, it’s usually a bad thing. But in the wedding photography world, it’s oftentimes a wonderful thing.

Initial consults normally take just about an hour to discuss what my potential clients are looking for and how I can help meet and exceed those expectations for their big day. It’s during that hour where I try to figure out the dynamics of the couple’s relationship and personality… are they the affectionate type, quiet and reserved, wild and crazy, playful and easygoing, what have you.

Observing all that helps me get a general sense of who they are as people and as a couple, and if my style and personality are a good match for them. It also helps later on when I’m planning their engagement session so that their images from the session are unique and true to who they are. I mean, these photos are of two unique individuals ready and willing to spend the rest of their lives together… why should they settle for generic, cliche photos? It’s the least I could do.

Enter Amanda and Ranjan. I met up with these two at a cozy little wine bar in the Upper East Side. We hit it off immediately, discussing everything from their wedding day to the advantages and disadvantages of fifth floor walk-up apartments (apparently, there are some advantages). Three hours (and a few glasses of wine) later, they had found their wedding photographer.

Which eventually led us to their engagement session in Madison Square Park. It rained intermittently earlier in the day, but that wasn’t going to stop Amanda and Ranjan from having an amazing session and truly embracing the spirit of the shoot. These two were so natural in front of the camera. I don’t think I asked them to hold hands or kiss the entire time. They just did it on their own! And I think the genuineness (is that a word?) shows in the images.

I’ve had a great time getting to know these two and I look forward to not only documenting their wedding next year, but meeting up with them again for drinks and some eats and sharing some laughs in the meantime. They remind me of why I love my job so much and how fortunate I am to be doing what I’m doing – which isn’t just photographing people, places and events, but meeting and getting to know great people.

So with all that said, here are a couple images from the shoot. Enjoy!

~Jase