Subtledream Productions

Nau mai, haere mai. Welcome.

I’m Kai, a visual storyteller and founder of Subtledream Productions.

I work with purpose-driven people and organisations to document the human truths behind their values, relationships, and connection to place - through visual storytelling.

Since 2009, I’ve partnered with communities, changemakers, and values-led enterprises to create photographs, films, podcasts, and written work that honour context, cultivate trust, and let stories speak for themselves.

This is more than content creation. It’s about presence, listening, and crafting work that feels grounded, relational, and alive. Much of this work happens in moments of trust - before, during, and beyond the lens.

Ngā mihi nui - I’m glad you’re here.

My personal statement video, 39 years in the making.

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

What is my story?

My journey with photography began at 13, when a simple camera became a bridge between technology, beauty, and memory. What started as curiosity grew into a calling - a way of noticing patterns, weaving people and ideas together, and helping stories turn to action. Over time, I’ve learned that storytelling is as much about unlearning who I thought I should be as it is about embracing who I am becoming.

Born in Hong Kong and raised in California, I carry Cantonese whakapapa (ancestry) and experiences shaped across Asia, the Americas, and recently Aotearoa New Zealand, where I’m growing roots. Each step has shown me that every project carries a thread - and when woven with care, those threads become spaces that hold and uplift communities. My mahi (work) has taken me from earthquake recovery in mountainous Nepal, to community education in coastal Ecuador, from intimate weddings in Tuscany to documenting food resilience in Aotearoa’s community gardens. Whatever the purpose or principles, I bring deep listening, creative craft, and clarity - helping visions be seen, felt, and shared with integrity.

Outside the studio, I’m an outdoor lover, permaculture-minded systems thinker, and participant in men’s groups rooted in honest sharing and inner work. These practices keep me grounded to the whenua (land).

Why people choose to work with me

• Seeing with depth I notice the often-unspoken connections between people, place, and purpose - and translate them into grounded, resonant stories.

• Weaving with intention Each project is shaped in relationship with its kaupapa and community, so the work feels authentic rather than imposed.

• Catalysing with care My work doesn’t just document - it supports momentum, trust, and the next chapter of a project’s life.

• Sustainability & integrity Guided by permaculture, systems thinking, and Tangata Tiriti values, I work best with values-led organisations.

• Artistry & professionalism Decades of global storytelling have shaped a balance of creative vision and technical reliability.