Portfolio & Testimonials

“Genuine, authentic, clear. Kai speaks from the heart and shares wisdom with humility and integrity.
Now, more than ever, we need storytellers like this 🙏”

— Ludo Palffy, NZ

This is my personal statement video, decades in the making.

It speaks into my values and who I wish to attract to collaborate with.

Portfolio

A smiling man with long dark hair holding a camera up to his eye, wearing a white floral shirt, standing in front of a wooden slatted wall.

Photo
Gallery

A person with long hair and a gray jacket filming with a camera and microphone outdoors in front of a mural of a woman with gray hair, wearing a black shirt, holding a phone.

Video
Gallery

A smiling man with dark hair and a goatee holding an open magazine, standing in a cozy living room with a bookshelf, indoor plants, and a window in the background.

Collaborations &
Communities

Two women sitting at a dining table, smiling and talking, in a room with large glass sliding doors leading to a backyard garden with planters and a wooden fence.

Podcasts &
Interviews

Testimonials

“I LOVE these photos taken by Kai J. Lee at a Stories for Impact workshop in New Zealand, delivered by Erica Austin & Kai. I keep scrolling back through them and smiling to myself!

They capture so much of what I hoped for when I first started sharing Digital Storytellers’ Stories for Impact workshops in Aotearoa back in 2018.

That vision was to see the Stories for Impact workshops take on a life of their own, delivered to incredible community leaders who I might never meet, infused with the wisdom of local facilitators and adapted to fit the needs of the community in the room.

In this case, the workshop was for a community of Systems Change Practitioners who are tapping into story to listen to community, surface shared narratives and use video share what impact looks like in action. ”

— Natasha Akib, AU

“Kai is a great videographer and photographer! Kai did a fantastic job with the interview session we had for The Human CV. He made the whole process seems effortless and was very supportive along the way. I highly recommend Kai for your future media production needs.”

— Natalia Machdoem, NZ

“Kai is really gifted, he shoots pictures not only with his professional skill but HEART, he doesn’t mind to get all wet or dirty as long as he gets the best angle or distance for the pictures, I am very satisfied with subtledream photography and definitely will refer to my family and friends.”

— Dennis Tai, US

“Kai, you get wonderful photos because people relax around you. You help create & become part of the story!”

— Cherish Wellbeing Center, NZ

Photo by Jen Stevie

Photo by Jen Stevie‍ ‍

“Kai, you did an incredible job as our photographer, seamlessly blending into the mix and capturing our event with such grace and professionalism. The photos are fantastic, and we couldn’t be prouder of how beautifully you’ve documented our conference. On behalf of the team, thank you for bringing your talent and heart to our special occasion!””

— Anke Richter, Decult Trust NZ

A man is giving a presentation in a conference room with a crowd of diverse attendees. A large screen displays two speaker profiles with names and titles. The room has hanging lights, potted plants, and a whiteboard with notes.

Photo by Erica Austin‍ ‍

“Kai delivers beautiful and impactful storytelling work. His care and motivation shine through, whilst his personal approach makes him a wonderful person to work with. Kai’s passion for supporting projects with a for-purpose mission is equally complemented by his creativity in telling their story.”

— Luisa Zuppardi-Smith, NZ

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“Deep respect for your work, and have huge admiration for the integrity and fire from which you create! Looking forward to our future endeavors and honoured to have had your talents support this project!
Ngā mihi nui! Thank you heaps!”

— Tyler Stent, NZ

A person in outdoor gear with a blue jacket, striped beanie, and sunglasses, sitting on rocks with a camera, smiling in a mountainous snowy landscape with snow-capped peaks and a glacier in the background.

A group of people sitting in a circle around a campfire inside a large tent at night, illuminated by the firelight.

An indoor auditorium with a large audience seated and a woman speaking at a podium on stage. The ceiling has several small lights and stage equipment.

Photo by Jonny Knopp‍ ‍

A person wearing headphones and a hoodie sitting at a cluttered table with a computer monitor, tablet, and various objects in an office or classroom setting. The background features a blue bulletin board with papers, drawings, and posters, including a large whiteboard with handwritten notes.

“Shout out to the homie Kai for the sharp portraits. The dude’s an absolute wizard with the camera and has just landed back in town with space for new work. Check him out 🌼 subtledream.com 🌼 He’s a podcaster, videographer, photographer and is also just an all around legend worth connecting with!”

— Bear Heart, NZ/AU

“Talented visual storyteller, an absolute pleasure to collaborate with. Kind, caring, compassionate — brings a beautiful energy into the room!”

— Sebastian Buffa, US/CO

“You have many gifts to share with the world amazing Kai!!! Your visual storytelling is sublime and your gentle nature allows you to be able to weave into many varied populations.”

— Kathy Guidi, NZ

Group of five people standing outdoors on grass with ocean and sky in background, smiling and dressed in colorful, stylish clothing for a celebration.

Three men recording a podcast in a small cozy room with bookshelves, photos, and decorative unicorn figurines on the walls, all wearing headphones and speaking into microphones.

Photo by Carla Penderock

A group of seven people gathered around looking at a photo album inside a rustic room with wooden walls and a tree trunk. They seem happy and engaged.

Photo by Ryan Serrano

“I can honestly say he is one of the best photographers I’ve ever worked with. Super-talented, hard-working and fun to be around - Kai also has the magic ability of being in the right place at the right time. I can totally recommend him for any photography work - let him share his vision of the world with you!”

— Graham Wynn, UK

“Your eye is
the camera.

Your heart is
the lens.

Your mind is the
focus.
Look out for the light
that sliver of time,
that fragile crystalline moment
that will reveal
a hidden dimension.
Turn a photo into portraits. Into art.

Reveal something new
like an explorer’s first map
of an unknown country.
First steps. First dawns. First light.
Showing what
was previously unknown.

Pull back layers to reveal
something about them and perhaps
more importantly,
about yourself.

So keep telling their stories.
Keep painting, with light.”

— Steven Moe, NZ

A person standing on rocks holding a camera with a gimbal, overlooking a landscape with grassy hills, a river, and a city skyline in the distance under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

“Cannot highlight enough how Kai’s visual work is transformational, clear, honest, and stunning! Truly a holistic storyteller and adept at waiting for the right moments to engage in beautiful relationship building with clients, coworkers, and the more-than-human. I feel privileged to have been able to work alongside Kai during a video project that involved tons of changing logistics and language dynamics to navigate and then again to see him in his stride and ease while documenting a wedding on the Oregon coast. He is a wonderful teacher at so many levels.”

— Jessie Paul, US

“Working with Kai was a treat. I needed visuals for a clients website and his insight, intuition, and engaging creativeness brought the project to life in a way that showcased the clients unique identity and mission perfectly.”

— Guthrie Straw, US