Nicole J Kim Photography

with her. She gave us so much information about what the timeline of our shoot would look like and made it so easy to know what to bring and what to expect. The day of, she was running up stairs and around the entire building just to get the perfect shot of us. She was so kind and made us feel comfortable taking photos (usually we are quite awkward). Of course since it’s city hall, there were tons of people walking around, and she edited our photos flawlessly. Our album was even delivered on the early side :) Nicole is the best, and I hope we have another reason to book a shoot with her!

apher for our engagement photos, and choosing Nicole was a no brainer. She is incredibly talented and such a joy to work with - the perfect blend of professional, warm, and personable! As someone who is also passionate about photography, I can be a bit particular, but Nicole was so collaborative and thoughtful throughout the process! She took my ideas into consideration while also sharing her expertise, and she genuinely wanted to make sure we were a good fit before moving forward. I was a little nervous going into the shoot because I've only had professional photos taken a handful of times and I'm not used to being in front of the camera, but Nicole made us feel completely at ease. The entire experience was soooo much fun! She guided us effortlessly, encouraged us to try a variety of settings and poses, and somehow made everything feel natural and easy. One thing that really amazed me was how quickly she worked. I remember thinking, "Wait, that's it?" after she'd take a few photos before moving on to the next shot. When I received the gallery, I was absolutely blown away that she was able to get the perfect shot in such a short amount of time. Every image felt intentional and authentic and she really captured moments that made me feel beautiful! Nicole is truly a master of her craft, and I cannot recommend her enough!! We'll cherish these photos foreverrrr, THANK YOU NICOLE you're the best :') 1000/10

ugh the actual shoot, and final delivery.

at by the end of the session it truly felt like we were in our own world and the photos came out better than we could’ve imagined. She really understood the vision and brought it to life! The whole experience was truly great and she made it so easy for us. 

but not once did we ever feel rushed. She guided us through where to be and what to do to capture the perfect shot so we could just focus on ourselves and our day. We absolutely loved the photos that Nicole took. They are etched in her style which drew us to Nicole in the first place, yet she also somehow managed to make them feel personal to us and one of a kind. I especially loved how she managed to capture all the little moments from our ceremony. We look at her photos often (we're not that vain, they're just that good) and it feels like we're there again. Book her, you won't regret it.

nd genuine way. We both truly love the images.  We met with her over Zoom prior to booking, and it was really nice getting to know her and seeing how much she genuinely wanted to get to know us as a couple so she could best support us on our day. On the day of our elopement, she helped us relax and truly enjoy the moment. She was extremely professional and timed the day perfectly, including guiding us on when to start walking over to the clerk for the ceremony. We’re so grateful for her care, and warmth, and we couldn’t have asked for a better elopement photographer.

at felt natural and relaxed. Her sunny, calming energy made the entire experience genuinely fun. From the very beginning, Nicole went above and beyond. She scheduled a video call to get to know us and understand our vision, followed by a beautifully curated moodboard with outfit inspiration and thoughtful tips. She also walked us through different location options, and her level of preparation gave us complete confidence that the shoot would turn out exactly how we hoped. Thank you, Nicole, for capturing our joy so effortlessly and making the experience so special. We couldn’t recommend her more highly!

wedding as well. From helping us with the timeline, to listening to our needs and making us feel so comfortable, we cannot recommend or thank her enough. She captured our perfect day better than we could have imagined.

NG she is with weddings and especially city hall photo shoots (indeed she knows City Hall inside out). So I'm going to focus on what makes Nicole an absolute standout... and we talked to MANY photographers. This review is for anyone who not only wants a skilled photographer, but also someone who is kind and warm and adds to the energy of your wedding.  First, she is so organized and prompt with responding. A bride’s dream. Now during the intro call, she was calm, guided us through all our questions, and was really receptive. And then in-person during our elopement and wedding reception, she was our number one hype woman! She made our first professional photoshoot as a couple so fun and put us at ease. Not only does her work speak for itself, but her personality made the experience feel like my best friend or a close family friend was with us. My husband is an introvert and very camera shy and even he mentioned having fun.  She is meticulously detail oriented, stopping to fix my mom's hair, fix my sisters dress, help my dad not be so stiff, etc. she made everyone feel like a VIP.  On top of that, our family really thought she was my friend because of how smiley and happy she was during our precious moments at the wedding.  THIS is who you want capturing your most special day and intimate moments. And who you want to invite to be among your closest circle.  And the photos..... just took my breath away. There are not enough words to describe how OBSESSED we are with Nicole's work and we cannot recommend her enough!

d.

of. She helped us capture the vibe and feel we were looking for and we are absolutely in love with the results. She is a pleasure to work with and we had a lot of fun during the shoots. Would definitely work with her again! 

from start to finish. We really appreciated the care she took in understanding and capturing our vision. My husband and I aren’t super comfortable in front of the camera, but Nicole immediately put us at ease and made the whole process so fun. We’re so grateful to have such beautiful photos to remember our special day – and we truly can’t recommend Nicole highly enough!

s. For example, we wanted our engagement shoot to be in our old neighborhood in SF, and she thoughtfully mapped out a route and pre-walked it. During both sessions, she made us feel so at ease and comfortable in front of the camera (we both are usually not!). She was the ultimate hype woman. Aside from our experience of working with her, her work is also stunning. She captured both days perfectly to the point where we literally gasped out loud when we received both albums. I cannot recommend her enough!!

and loved how their photos turned out, so we decided to book her right away! For the consultation meeting, we reviewed the packet we filled out describing what we wanted for the day, sites she had previously scoped out at the venue, as well as reviewed a Pinterest board I had created. She was so sweet to gently inform me that I had liked several contrasting editing formats, and we were able to narrow it down to a cohesive style of editing based off my generic descriptions. She was patient and thorough listening to me describe what my vision was, and she delivered! Day of, my bridal party and I cannot praise her enough! She was so enthusiastic and outgoing, capturing all the candid moments I wanted, plus she was also able to get so many beautiful pictures of our guests, despite our tight schedule including a two wedding ceremonies, cocktail hour, and reception! Plus, she stayed extra late waiting for the full moon to come out and take photos of us. Working with Nicole made the whole experience so wonderful, she really took so much care into making sure we all felt effortless and joyous. I cannot recommend her enough - she is the best!

able. She got to the site early to scope it out, had a plan in mind, and made us comfortable the entire time. Genuinely so grateful! I never thought I could love photos this much, but she captured the spirit of the day so perfectly. I can't stop looking back on our gallery <3

letely at ease, and her expertise in capturing the best moments truly shone through. She knew all the perfect spots within City Hall, ensuring every shot was breathtaking. The photos are absolutely gorgeous and perfectly capture the beauty and emotion of our special day. I truly couldn’t have picked a better photographer. Thank you so much, for making our wedding memories last a lifetime!

e and well-organized, making sure we knew exactly what to expect for the big day. She even sent us a questionnaire beforehand to get a clear idea of what we wanted and who we wanted in our group photos, which helped move things along smoothly. From the moment she arrived (bright and early, might I add), she was full of energy, positivity, and just good vibes. My husband and I are kind of awkward in front of the camera, but she made us feel completely at ease. She hyped us up, gave us the perfect amount of direction, and somehow made us look natural and effortless in every shot. On top of being an amazing photographer, she was also a lifesaver when it came to keeping things running smoothly. We were a little late (oops), and to make things worse, the streamer I swore wouldn’t make a mess… well, it did (so sorry, again Nicole!). And yet, she handled everything with so much patience and kindness. I felt awful, but she never made a big deal about it, just rolled with it like a total pro. And the photos? The sneak peeks alone had me obsessed. She captured everything so beautifully! The emotions, the little details, all of it. I already know these will be some of our most cherished memories. If you’re looking for a photographer who is not only insanely talented but also a joy to be around, book her now. Seriously, you won’t regret it! I would hire her again in a heartbeat!

tly impressed with her professionalism and her ability to make the photoshoot flow so seamlessly. She was easy to talk to, flexible, and really aimed for creating the type of photos we wanted (soft and glowy). Not to mention she is just the sweetest! It was our first time taking professional pictures with just the two of us so I was a bit nervous of how it will go. Her personality and attention to detail made our whole experience enjoyable and memorable. We quickly knew we must have her shoot our upcoming wedding. Throughout the process of both events, Nicole was very communicative and organized. She sent our gallery when it was promised and even went to our venue weeks ahead of our wedding to scope the best places to shoot. Overall, we are so grateful to able to cross paths with Nicole and hope to work with her again in the future :)

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!

of the camera. We would recommend her to anyone!!

ly 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!!!

nd 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. :)

y beginning, working with her felt completely natural. We originally booked Nicole for our engagement shoot, but when our original wedding photographer fell through six months before the big day, there was no hesitation. We had to have Nicole. Maybe it was fate, but looking back, we truly couldn’t imagine working with anyone else. Nicole made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera and captured every moment with such beauty and intention. She’s not just a photographer, but a true artist with an incredible eye for storytelling. Her ability to preserve the magic in both the big and quiet moments is simply remarkable. When we received our final photos, we were completely blown away. Every image brought us right back to the emotions of the day. We laughed, we cried, and we relived it all. She captured not just how everything looked, but how it felt. Hiring Nicole was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. Honestly, we’d have another wedding just to shoot with her again! If you're looking for a talented, kind, and visionary photographer, we wholeheartedly recommend Nicole. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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!

mfortable 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!

her. 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.

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.

veral 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! 

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!!

ed 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!

y 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!

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!

hotography 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!

t 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!

atural. I didn't prep at all for my session but was all good because I just followed her directing.

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!

scribe 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."

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!

ons 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.

exible 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!

k you Nicole! As people who hate photos of ourselves typically, we love the memories you captured for us on our wedding day!

ay 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

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!

ction 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.

iced 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!

ing 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!!