Nicole J Kim Photography

We booked Nicole for our City Hall elopement and couldn't have been happier! The whole process start to finish Nicole was excellent at giving us plenty of information which helped our photo booking and overall City Hall experience go absolutely smoothly. Having Nicole there leading us made the day seamless. As for the photos, we really felt her expertise photographing the location of City Hall! She has all the poses, angles, locations, lighting on lock. We initially chose her as our photographer because of how she captures the architecture of the building in the photos. And our photos came out absolutely beautiful! I loved how she captured us naturally. I couldn't recommend Nicole more, and I will definitely be booking with her in the future!

Nicole was such a joy to have on our special day! We are so lucky to have found someone who captured our elopement so stunningly. She immediately made us feel comfortable in front of the camera. We would recommend her to anyone!!

I cannot recommend Nicole enough! From the moment we met, she made us feel completely at ease, and it was clear right away that she’s not only a talented photographer but a genuinely kind and caring person. She took the time to understand our vision for the day and captured every special moment with such grace and precision. The photos are absolutely breathtaking—every shot is a work of art, and she has this amazing ability to capture both the big moments and the small, intimate ones that tell the true story of our day. It’s clear that she cares about her clients and goes above and beyond to ensure that every moment is captured beautifully. If you're looking for someone who will not only provide stunning photos but also bring warmth and positivity to your special day, Nicole is the one!!!

Nicole is incredible. We were so happy with our engagement and wedding photos, and she made everything fun and easy from start to finish! She really went out of her way to understand what we were looking for (asking about things I didn't even think about or know I wanted) - she is genuinely committed to delivering the best. She was so organized and efficient in the planning process and we were really comfortable in front of the camera when the time came to be photographed. Our wedding party and immediate family members specifically came up to us after the wedding to let us know they really appreciated Nicole! Our wedding took place in Napa in October, so I was curious how the photos would turn out with less lighting and in a candlelit environment. Nicole is so talented and we loved how everything turned out - if you are wondering about this at all, Nicole is amazing at sunset/ blue hour photos, and can capture a dimly lit, romantic venue beautifully. She is thoughtful and intentional about her use of flash and will check your preference/ offer her own expert advice after doing her own due diligence (she is so thorough!). We would not hesitate to recommend Nicole, and hope to work with her again in the future. :)

Working with Nicole was an absolute pleasure! This was our first time working with a professional photographer, and we weren’t sure what to expect during a two-hour session. From the start, Nicole's easy-going and friendly nature put us completely at ease. She made us feel natural in front of the camera, creating an environment that allowed our personalities to shine. She also welcomed our input on poses, making the session feel collaborative and tailored to us. Nicole’s genuine interest in our love story made the experience even more special, and her warm demeanor made it feel like we’d known her for years. If you’re looking for a talented and personable photographer in the SF Bay Area, I couldn’t recommend Nicole more highly!

Nicole was incredible to work with! She took a lot of time to get to know me and my partner, and our vision for the photos. During the photo sessions, she made sure that we felt comfortable and her expertise taking photos at SF City Hall was clear. She knew exactly where to go and had our day clearly planned out. Nicole felt more like a friend who was there to take pictures, rather than a hired photographer. Everyone in our party who met her had nothing but wonderful things to say. The pictures turned out amazing and I would highly recommend Nicole to anyone!

Okay - where can I start? Everything you read about her from other reviews is truthful. She is very talented, thoughtful, and professional. We hired Nicole as our wedding photographer. Leading up to our wedding day, she ensured to scout the venue and give location options for first look and group photos. As we were not local to the Bay Area(we are on the East Coast), it was very helpful to us. On our wedding day, I met her in person. She has a big, sweet, and calming smile. She did an incredible job talking to my husband's family and our friends in English and my family in Korean. Both sides of the family complimented her personality and attitude - professional and sweet. Then, we received sneak peeks and I screamed with happiness. The turnaround time was very quick. She captured all the moments of our special day. We thoroughly enjoyed reviewing all her photos, and we appreciated having a photographer with such a loving and passionate perspective. I highly recommend Nicole for documenting any kind of special moment in your life.

Nicole was so sweet! She was easy to work with from the get go, responded quickly, and answered any questions I had. The photos turned out beautifully as well, which was a given!! We've never taken photos together before, so this was our first time, and Nicole didn't make us feel uncomfortable at all. She also was able to capture the beautiful architecture of SF city hall while also capturing us on our elopement day. Nicole was so great, I would definitely recommend her to anyone.

We hired Nicole for our wedding and couldn’t be happier with our choice! Nicole was professional, detail oriented, fun, energetic, and overall amazing to work with. She offered several meetings and the use of a Pinterest board beforehand so she could understand our vision. She even scouted out photo locations at our venue ahead of time! She was able to handle our wedding of 175 people with no problem. On the day of she not only made us feel comfortable, she helped us stick to our timeline. We absolutely love the way our photos came out. If you want to have a great time taking photos that you’ll be obsessed with, hire Nicole! 

Nicole's style of shooting and editing is amazing and really makes it seem like youre in a romantic movie. We were in love with how dreamy the pictures came out and couldnt believe it was us! She’s very quick to respond and so so easy to work with. Our session didnt really feel like a photoshoot, it felt like me and my fiance were just on a date. This was our first professional photoshoot together and she made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera. We did a sunset session and everything was timed perfectly! If you need someone to take your engagement pictures, highly recommend her!!

My husband and I had the pleasure of having Nicole photograph our engagement session as well as our wedding and we cannot recommend her highly enough! Nicole is incredibly talented and we are so happy with all the photos she delivered for both events. She is thorough and prepared - we had preplanning calls way before the engagement session and wedding and in addition, she had us fill out a detailed survey so she could get a good understanding of our needs and wants. She is also really good at communicating and explaining how to pose and what to do. Afterwards, she kept in touch with us and explained timing and expectations. She even sent us some sneak peak photos right away and asked for any feedback (we had none)! Not only is Nicole very professional, but she is also extremely kind, personable, and a pleasure to be around. We had so many guests compliment Nicole and her presence and energy at the wedding - she had a smile on her face the entire day and it so clear that she loves what she does!

Nicole is an exceptional photographer and we loved working with her so much! Not only is she super talented, but she's so hardworking, thoughtful, and fun to be around. I initially found Nicole because I really loved the style of her portfolio of engagement / wedding shoots and I was looking for someone who could also photograph pets because it was really important to us that our puppy be in our photos. I saw she had a couple of samples with pets that were so adorable that I had to contact her right away. We connected instantly and I booked her for our engagement shoot and wedding day. She really delivered! She did a great job of talking through my vision, communicating about expectations/timelines, and helping with outfits/poses. We had such a great experience working with Nicole and will definitely be booking her again in the future for another special occasion!

Nicole was our photographer for our civil ceremony at SF City Hall and she was absolutely incredible. Not only did she know all the places to take pictures that would showcase the beautiful architecture of City Hall, she was also professional but personable, which made me and my partner much more comfortable in front of the camera. We couldn't be happier with our photos. Highly recommend Nicole as your wedding photographer to document your special day!

Nicole has been a joy to work with from start to finish. We were given opportunities to find out and share what styles we like. Nicole has high attention to detail not only on a photography sense but also on client relations. During the day of our ceremony, Nicole was on her toes with creative ideas and is great at directing poses. This is our first time doing a photoshoot, and Nicole made us feel comfortable and confident. We loved working with Nicole, and would highly recommend her to photograph your special day!

We had such a positive experience working with Nicole. We hired her both for our engagement and civil ceremony. For the engagement: Nicole was so helpful in helping me to plan out my surprise through Zoom and in-person with location scouting. She listened closely to my interests but was able to fill in a lot of the gaps and give me confidence about the (surprise) plan. For our civil ceremony: we followed her advice and were able to get amazing shots with little interruption at San Francisco's City Hall first thing in the morning. During both shoots, what stands out about Nicole is her enthusiasm and creativity. She made us both feel so comfortable in front of the camera and found a perfect balance between supporting our vision and suggesting her own ideas. Before and after both shoots, Nicole is so organized, proactive, and easy to communicate with - we felt supported from beginning to end. We would recommend Nicole to anyone!

10/10 would recommend Nicole to anyone taking wedding / engagement photos! She's very professional and really focuses on natural movements which makes the pictures so vibrant and natural. I didn't prep at all for my session but was all good because I just followed her directing.

We were so grateful to have Nicole as our photographer!! As a couple feeling completely clueless about planning our wedding, Nicole went above and beyond to make sure we knew what to expect and felt comfortable and excited about our wedding day! A few things that really stood out for us: 1) She's incredibly communicative and organized. She responded to every email immediately, even before we booked her, had consultation calls, and did so much to prepare for the wedding how we wanted it. 2) She did a lot of prep work - Nicole sent us a questionnaire to understand what we wanted, read through the whole thing, proposed a timeline, walked through it with us, then scoped out our venue to understand the best areas in our venue that would work well for the photos we wanted, and gave us the opportunity to walk her through the types of photo styles we liked to understand exactly what we wanted 3) Our wedding party was obsessed with her. I'm still being told by people how much they loved our photographer, and how nice but effective she was. 4) We loved the photos- Nicole sent us the photos before expected, and they're amazing and exactly what we had asked for. For our wedding we wanted to relive the wedding through our guests eyes and see how it was for them since we would miss those moments on our wedding day. The photos gave us a really wonderful opportunity to have that!

Nicole is the absolute BEST!!! She was able to perfectly capture exactly the vibe we were going for and the photos turned out even better than I could have dreamed! I can't even describe how much I love them and how wonderful our experience was! My family all continues to sing her praises, and to quote my aunt "These are the most elegant and artistic wedding pictures I have ever seen."

It was truly a pleasure to have Nicole capture our engagement session and we could not be happier with how the photos turned out. It was a wonderful experience working with Nicole from beginning to end. She is professional, down to earth, easy to communicate with, and simply made us feel comfortable throughout the process. In preparation for the photo session, she took the time to get to know us and get a sense of what type of poses and vibe we envision for the photos. She even offered some outfit guidance which was very helpful! We really enjoyed working with Nicole and would absolutely recommend her as your photographer to capture your most special moments. Thank you so much again Nicole!

We had an amazing experience with Nicole as our Civil Ceremony photographer. From the very first call, it was clear how much she cared about her clients. She asked the right questions to get to know us and our vision for the photos. While she made sure to give us our creative space, she also provided us with expert guidance when we needed it. On the day of Nicole captured so many wonderful photos and made taking photos fun and comfortable. She also went out of her way to capture very specific/meaningful photos for us, and was so encouraging every step of the way. Overall, Nicole's style and editing are exactly what we wanted and we'll treasure each photo for the rest of our lives.

If I could give Nicole 10 stars I would! From the beginning, Nicole had great communication, she was incredibly thoughtful discussing at length my vision for the shoot, and also flexible with her schedule to accommodate the weather and my busy schedule. Her infectious positive energy helped us feel at ease on shoot day and we had a great time. Nicole was on time delivering the final shots and I cannot wait to work with her again in the near future! Thank you Nicole!

Nicole is a gem. Not only did she go out of her way to make every detail perfect for us, she also was so fun, bubbly and professional. Our whole family loved working with her. Thank you Nicole! As people who hate photos of ourselves typically, we love the memories you captured for us on our wedding day!

A Heartfelt Lens: Capturing Moments with Empathetic Grace My husband and I recently celebrated our wedding, and the magic that Nicole, our incredible photographer, wove into our day deserves more than just appreciation—it deserves accolades. Nicole isn't just a photographer; she's an empathetic artist who skillfully turns moments into memories. From the beginning, Nicole exhibited a rare combination of professionalism, creativity, and a genuine love for her craft. What impressed us most was her unique ability to seamlessly blend into the background while still capturing the most intimate and genuine moments. Her empathetic touch made her more than a photographer; she became a storyteller, capturing not just images but the feelings and connections that made our day unforgettable. Nicole's empathetic approach wasn't just evident in her stunning photographs; it was a guiding force throughout the day. During moments of joy, her lens danced with elation; in more tender instances, her photos resonated with a deep and touching sincerity. Nicole wasn't just documenting our day; she was feeling it with us, and it showed in every frame. Her adaptability and poise under pressure were remarkable, turning potential challenges into beautiful opportunities. She not only worked well with the direction we provided but also had an intuitive sense of when to step in and offer guidance without ever being intrusive. What truly set Nicole apart was her infectious delight in the process. While observing other couples' photographers on edge for the perfect photo, seemingly stressing out the couple, Nicole was a beacon of joy. After every click, she squealed with delight, creating an atmosphere of ease and happiness that permeated our entire celebration. Being camera-shy, my husband and I were initially apprehensive about the spotlight. However, Nicole's empathetic approach transformed our nervousness into comfort. Her ability to connect on a personal level allowed us to be ourselves in front of the camera, making each snapshot a true reflection of the love and joy we felt that day. In short, Nicole exceeded our expectations in every way possible. If you're seeking not just a photographer but a true artist who can feel the heartbeat of your special day, Nicole is the one. Thank you, Nicole, for sharing your incredible talent and making our wedding memories come alive with emotion. xoxo, N+A

It was an absolute pleasure working with Nicole and I cannot recommend her enough! Although Ive only taken a sneak peak at the results right now, I could not wait to write a review because I was so happy with the whole process and the early look at the photos that came out. Even way before the photoshoot, she scheduled a video call to discuss our needs, theme, outfits and location. She is very organized, detail-oriented and tries her best to accmmodate what we had in mind. She communicated clearly throughout the process and made sure we were on the same page regarding the logistics and direction of the photshoot. Our photos were taken at Joshua NP. She showed up promptly on the day and picked great spots along the drive, taking into consideration the direction of the setting sun. She had us feel very natural, comfortable yet connected with each other. She gave great directions and brought out a variety of poses, expressions and compositions. She was very sweet and patient throughout the whole time despite the fact that she had to direct 5 people and 2 dogs; we almost felt like she isnt a photographer but one of our friends tagging along and being in the moment together. In terms of her work, I really like the natural, effortless vibe of the shots that at the same time feel almost movie-like because of the connection it captures. The colors and lights are on point as well. If you want a professional and attentive photographer for any occasion, you really wont go wrong with hiring Nicole!

Communication: Nicole is detail oriented and flexible. If you have a flurry friend, Nicole is the must go photographer. Photo shooting: Nicole is super good at capturing the interaction between natural movement and beautiful sun light. She will guide you how to move in a natural way and help your dog show the cutest smile.

My fiancé and I chose to work with Nicole to get some engagement photos done and we could not be happier with that decision! We were initially drawn to Nicole's work because we noticed how comfortable and natural everybody looked in the photos which is something that was very important to us. Working with Nicole from start to finish was an amazing experience- she is SO organized, great at communicating, and really just wants to make sure she's getting you exactly what you're envisioning. The photo shoot itself was nerve wracking because we've never taken professional photos, but Nicole is so sweet and funny, was hyping us up the entire time, and made us feel so relaxed. We ended up having so much fun and really felt so comfortable. We are so happy with how the photos turned out and we would absolutely recommend working with Nicole!

We would HIGHLY recommend Nicole to anyone looking for a professional, organized, accommodating, and talented wedding photographer. Nicole took the time to do site visits and planning calls and we felt very prepared with her guidance going into the wedding. On the day, Nicole was calm, fun, and helpful and captured everything we wanted her to. We are obsessed with the photos Nicole shared and will treasure them forever! We've already recommended her to a friend getting married next year and will continue to recommend her. Thank you, Nicole!!

Amazing photographer who truly cares about the experience you're looking for. Nicole was able to help us capture our special proposal moment that will last a lifetime. She was also very helpful in the planning phase so I could successfully surprise my partner with the proposal!

We could not have asked for a better photographer for our wedding. We found her through instagram and the whole process from booking to coordination of timelines was a breeze. She was very thorough in finding what we wanted for our wedding photos and went above and beyond scouting locations for our first look as well as a sunset shoot near our venue that was stunning, but close enough that we would still get to celebrate fully with our family and friends. The photos we have are exactly what we were hoping for, and we cannot wait to see the full album. We have received abundant feedback from our guests of how approachable, charismatic, and fun Nicole was which made everyone feel very comfortable having their photos taken during the cocktail hour and reception. We felt the same way and felt very comfortable and confident in her judgement as a photographer. I would not hesitate to work with Nicole again for any of our photography needs.

We had our engagement photos, civil wedding, AND family wedding celebration captured by this wonderful photographer. Nicole is one of a kind! With each major life event, we could not help but book her again and again. For one, she is an incredibly talented photographer with an eye for all kinds of beauty. She is professional, timely, and collaborative. She can read well into situations and make really fun suggestions for taking photos! All very important traits for someone who is documenting memories that you’ll want to look at forever. She is great at working with the clients to figure out what is most important, to really cater and individualize her work to your photos. Her experience really sets her apart, because she will ask questions that I’ve never considered or make suggestions that I would have not known were options. Even after the photographs are completed, she checks in to make sure that you are completely happy with the final product. She is so down to earth and easy to talk to. We were so happy with our photos and all of our family members/friends love them as well. If you are new to getting professional photos done or are seeking someone to partner with to make some really amazing art, she is your girl!

My husband and I were fortunate to have Nicole as our wedding photographer, and words truly fail to express the depth of our gratitude for her outstanding talent and charismatic presence. Our wedding was a traditional Indian ceremony, abundant with vibrant colors, intricate rituals, and an intensity of emotions. Nicole navigated this culturally rich environment with admirable ease and respect, capturing the essence of our traditions with an understanding that reflects her professional and personal brilliance. Nicole's energy and positivity permeated the entire event, keeping us uplifted throughout the day. She quickly became more than a photographer to us, integrating seamlessly into our celebration and winning over our friends and family with her vivacious charm and genuine sincerity. Her ability to tune into the nuances of our customs and the bond we share as a family added a priceless layer of depth to the captured moments. Her photography skills are indeed unparalleled. She made me feel absolutely beautiful and exuberant, manifesting her keen eye for beauty and love in each photograph. Even our son, who is usually on the shy side, found himself at ease with Nicole. His words, "Nicole was so nice," have been echoing in our hearts ever since, conveying more than just a simple sentiment. In conclusion, we can't thank Nicole enough for immortalizing this joyful lives with such grace, warmth, and an ever-radiant smile. If you're looking for a photographer who can deftly navigate and respect traditional or cultural ceremonies while bringing out the best in you, we wholeheartedly recommend Nicole. She is an absolute gem, a consummate professional who goes above and beyond to capture your most cherished moments.

Nicole is, without a doubt, the embodiment of positivity in the field of wedding photography. Her radiant personality and uplifting spirit filled our day with joy, humor, and endless smiles. Her passion for her work was not only evident but also infectious. It truly was a pleasure to have her as our photographer on my daughter's wedding day. Her expertise shone through in every shot she captured. Nicole has an extraordinary sense of light, understanding how to use both natural and artificial sources to create the perfect mood. Whether it was a romantic shot of the couple against the setting sun or a joyful family photo in the beautifully lit family room, Nicole made every image magical. Her keen eye for posing ensured everyone looked their best in every picture, adding a touch of elegance and style to each shot. Moreover, Nicole's professionalism and attention to detail were impeccable. She made a point to get to know everyone and paid close attention to all the guests. She captured not just the couple and the immediate family but the spirit of everyone present, their happiness and shared joy, which I believe is the true essence of such a special occasion. It was wonderful to see how everyone played a part in my daughter's big day and Nicole made sure of that. What stood out most, however, was her ability to inject humor into her work. She effortlessly lightened the atmosphere, making everyone feel comfortable in front of the camera. This was especially significant as it allowed genuine emotions to surface, giving us a collection of photos that truly depicted the love and happiness that permeated the day. Nicole's work far exceeded our expectations. The memories she captured for us are priceless. Her photographs are a testament to her skill and creativity, and her vibrant personality is a boon to any event. For anyone in need of a professional photographer who will ensure that every detail of their special day is beautifully captured, I highly recommend Nicole. Her unique blend of talent, positivity, and an excellent sense of light and pose make her a truly exceptional choice for any special occasion.

Nicole was so great to work with for our City Hall wedding. Her clear and dependable communication quelled any worries we had in planning. On the day itself, she was fun and supportive while efficient with our limited time. Not to mention great at corralling our family along the way. We love the final photos and so glad we had Nicole capture these memories!

We absolutely loved our experience working with Nicole. She took our wedding and engagement photos and we could not have been more pleased with how they turned out! Nicole made us feel comfortable throughout the entire process. Her attention to detail was impressive and her directions helped the photos look so effortless and natural. She took us to multiple spots so that we had different scenery in our photos. Nicole was also able to capture so many sweet little moments, gazes, and gestures we shared that made the photos turn out extra special. Thank you, Nicole!