KPics Series #2 - Ni Pham at Hendo Studios

December 11, 2022

While I am earning my stripes as another San Diego photographer, I am trying to create as much great content as I can while here. That said I am always looking for ways to work with other great artists around the world.

Ni Pham is a model who I have been wanting to work with for awhile, but she is based out of Michigan. Well her travels brought here to California and we were able to coordinate her dropping by San Diego to do a shoot.

Below are a few different looks we captured at Hendo Studios during this shoot.

Black & White Background

This shot went over really well on Instagram, mainly for the black and white background.

The black portion is from a v-flat and the white a cyclorama wall.

Initially I was using the v-flat to bounce light back into Ni, but at some point decided to flip it over and use the black side as a background. Really happy with the results of it.

Felt like it added a nice change to the usual single, solid colored background that I generally do, but it also didn’t distract too much to where it competed with the model.

Skims Look

I always like seeing the content that Skims post on their IG. In general I just like simple looks and wanted to capture something that may be used by Skims in their advertising.

Even better was that Ni had clothing from Skims which made the look look even more authentic.

We used a yellow background for this shot, but when editing I made the overall look more brown to be closer to a skin tone with a moody-contrast so it gave off a sense of strength.

Lingerie Silhouette

Lingerie looks have been shot in every way possible. It’s also a very trendy theme in the San Diego photography scene.

I tried to incorporate a soft and elegant look, similar to what I’ve seen in the Korean pilates/fitness modeling scene.

I was happy with the result achieved here because only specs of light landed across Ni, making the look less literal and more artistic. I also liked the gradient vibe that was casted on the background.

Working with Ni showed the potential of what can be done when working with other creatives outside of San Diego. While I’m building my name and brand here, I definitely want to put effort into also bridging outside of San Diego to see who else I can create great photos with.

See the full gallery of the other shots Ni and I captured here.

KPics Series #1 - Shyann Lockhart, Dolóres and Steve Wozniak

November 05, 2021

Let’s Get it Started

Hey Everyone,

Planting the seed for a recurring KrisAguilar.com blog series where I recap a set of my photos and give a bite-size rundown. Thanks again for those who have been part of this journey as I’ve moved into being a San Diego fashion photographer.

I’ll be kicking off this series with shots from my friend and model Shyann Lockhart, the San Jose hardcore band Dolóres, and Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak.

Let’s get it started.

Shyann Lockhart (IG @ShyannSanDiego)

I have been shooting with Shyann for about once every month since January/February 2021. Each shoot we try to do something different to push ourselves creatively and technically as artists.

This pool set is one of my favorites.

The idea for the vibe came from shots I’d see from film photographers in the Korea, Japan and China scenes. We kept the edginess that you might see in their photos, but took a more clean look over a textured-film aesthetic.

We were also featured on the SD Photo Squad (IG: @SDPhotoSquad) once we published this set.

Dolóres (IG @DoloresHardcore)

Dolóres is one of the first few people to give me an at-bat when I started to take photography seriously. Pictured here are Joey and Leo from the hardcore band based out of San Jose, CA.

I hadn’t really done band or concert photography before, and reached out to them to try this out. Fortunately they had a show slated not too far from our conversation and I was there. The lighting in the bar wasn’t my favorite, but we were able to pull off some nice shots.

Some time later when I was starting the KDigitals Podcast, we set up time to record an interview together which is where the Music Ink Studio shots came from.

Steve Wozniak (Woz.org)

Now this was a moment I never saw myself ending up in.

I was interning at Milagro Marketing, an advertising agency based in San Jose when I was still in college. One day while at work my boss asked if I was up for a photo job, and casually mentioned it was Steve Wozniak. The city of San Jose was honoring him with a street name (Woz Way) and wanted to document the celebration.

My brain couldn’t process that it was going to be the real Steve Wozniak - and sure enough I’m at the venue waiting for him to arrive and he does. I had the chance to chat with him for a few moments where we talked about the Apple Watch and a custom one he had made out of parts from a washer unit.

Such a priceless experience.

How Music Influenced My Photography

October 07, 2021

Prior to becoming a San Diego photographer, I was a Los Angeles guitarist (more specifically based in San Pedro, CA).

It’s easier to understand the transition from music to photography looking back, but back in 2008 I wouldn’t have seen it coming.

Becoming a rockstar, touring around, playing shows and writing music was all I wanted to do in high school. Something that originally emerged from playing a lot of Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Getting my first guitar was a milestone in my life that set the stage for my future. Here’s how it got started.

The Early Days

After getting my first guitar which was some random, no-brand model I bought off a friend for maybe $20-$25, I would watch so much YouTube tutorials on how to play riffs. Think the first song I fully learned was Rage Against the Machine’s ‘Killing in the Name’.

I eventually found myself playing way more metal and listening to bands like Slayer, Iron Maiden and Megadeth. I also played in different types of bands from thrash, nu-metal and metalcore.

Music definitely was my passion and goal at the time. There was one time during a class that the teacher asked everyone to go around and tell the class what they wanted to be when they grew up. Lawyer, doctor, chef, soldier - all these great sounding titles came up. I of course said rockstar and got laughed at by everyone, including the teacher. Story of my life.

As passionate as I was though, things never got to take off the way I wanted. Each band I was in either broke up or I got kicked out of. Drama, difference of opinions, coordinating practices - there was always something that got in the way that it never worked out. I only played two live shows which were fun as hell, but not the venue shows I had dreamed of.

After high school passed and I was in community college, life was starting to hit different for me and playing in bands was becoming harder and less of a priority.

Despite all that however, there was still a drive to create, and in 2013/2014 I picked up my first DSLR camera. And just like guitar - I had no idea what was going to come next.

Discovering New Music Outside Metal

Photography wasn’t the only piece of art that was new to when I started college - so was rap and EDM.

Initially I started listening to more metal bands, but new friends and peers helped exposed me to more ourself of that. Skrillex, ScHoolboy Q and Flatbush Zombies are all prime examples of artists I had on repeat that I discovered during this era.

It was actually Flatbush Zombies’ MRAZ music video that had me analyzing the visuals and wondering how it was made. It’s actually a video I come back to every so often for inspiration.

It was also interesting to see music videos that showed more than the war, moshing and satanic imagery that the metal scene showed.

Watching Music Videos for Fun

In high school I watched Headbanger’s Ball on MTV2 on repeat - in fact I recorded every episode I could and would watch everything on repeat. The exposure to new music was great because it showed me more music videos to watch.

I went from watching Warbringer’s ‘Severed Reality’ to E-40’s ‘Function’. Both had their own visuals and looking back I see how they provided my a great creative base to refer to depending on who I’m working with.

Ending Thoughts

I still see myself pursuing the idea of being a rockstar, except now with a camera instead of a guitar.

The foundation that guitar and music created for me is generally the creative muscle I channel at shoots. Even when describing my style I always drop that I make people look like rockstars.

There used to be times where I felt that I was giving up on my dream of creating by not pursuing guitar, but I have finally arrived at a place where I have been able to put the guitar down for something bigger.

Ultimately at the end of the day, the guitar still lives inside me as an artist an will continue doing so for years to come.

Series Recap - Chic Rockstar

September 22, 2021

I finally checked another project off my list this past August 2021 - I brought different creatives together to create a great production.

As much as I spend time working on client projects, I also like to hire folks to work on my own personal projects. Photographers are artists in their own regards and should create their work that they enjoy themselves.

I spend a lot of time on Instagram thinking “what would I like to see?”, “what is missing?’, and “what will buzz?”. It helps me get my creative problem solving parts of my brain going and makes me reflect on who I am as an artist.

This is the context behind all my series and what eventually led to this chic-rockstar look with models Shyann Lockhart and Sydney Spencer, and stylist Astrid Montalvo.

What came together was a great blend of edgy fashion vibes.

I also had an old colleague Greg Diaz create amazing graphics to help showcase the shoot. The goal with the graphics was to create something in the vein of a movie poster, but using the sleekness of a fashion magazine ad.

Altogether I was really happy with this whole production. The goal at the end of the day was to assemble a team together for a common vision and to accomplish it.

The best part is that it only got the creative juices flowing even more.

This production was a test of what could be done with the amount of time and energy put in - and it has raised the bar for what could be created meaning the next series will need to top this.

Excited for what’s to come later this year.

Describing My Photography Style

August 23, 2021

My style is a blend of natural and rockstar aesthetics.

When doing portrait photography, I spend my time trying to help people feel comfortable on camera. Even if the lighting is great and sharpness on point, an awkward looking person still looks awkward. And that’s not something you can fix with changing your camera settings.

That approach helps the folks in my photos look more candid and comfortable, even when the poses are staged.

At the same time though I want my photos to standout and look unique. This is where the rockstar seasoning comes in.

Once people are feeling comfortable, I can better direct them and start to give more focus to the lighting and composition. This is where I’m able to be more creative and as a result make the people I’m photographing look great!

I would say that this rockstar vibe comes from my interest in music videos, magazine ads, and playing in bands. The natural part comes from me just wanting to make people feel comfortable. It’s so easy to look at a portrait and know within seconds what the vibe of the shoot was. If people look uncomfortable, it’ll show and take away from the entire shot.

3 Modeling Tips from a San Diego Photographer

August 04, 2021

Being in front of a camera is awkward. In my 10 years of shooting, it never changes - even when I’m modeling.

This is true in almost every scenario when you are the main subject such as in fashion shoots, graduation pics or your wedding.

A common question I get asked during shoots is “How do I pose?”

Now there’s always different ways depending on the shoot, and here are three you can use on your next project.

KDigitals_Photography_Example Gallery_Fashion_Photo_9.jpg

1. Stand Angled to the Camera

Standing angled creates depth and a great shot.

Doing so causes light to hit from different angles, generating a mix of lights and shadows that create an amazing story.

Standing straight-on takes away this depth potential and can leave an image looking flat.

Now that doesn’t mean you can’t ever stand straight - like with any photo, it comes down to the combined execution of the photographer and model.

2. Chin Up

Anyone who’s modeled for me has heard me say this phrase so many times. And the reason is because it creates such a powerful look.

Raising your chin causes your eyes to look down over your face, creating a sense of power and confidence. It also eliminates the look-up which can convey a sense of weakness.

Raising your chin shows off your neck and prevents your chin from bunching up.

This is honestly one of my favorite looks to shoot.

3. Do Something With Your Hands

“What do you want me to do with my hands?” comes up a lot during shoots.

When you find yourself jittering your hands, honestly just improvise and run with it. It can be as simple as putting your hands (or one) in your pockets, crossing your arms or grabbing your clothes. The goal is to get your arms moving until you land on something that works well. It also helps the photographer see different looks that they can then take the lead on for a better pose.

A good rule of thumb is to make triangles. This can come from putting your hands on your hip, or placing them on your head. You create shapes which builds a nice composition overall.

These are just a few tricks you can add to your modeling tool belt. Feel free to mix and match these tricks with others too. They can also help get you warmed up as you shoot. Hope this helps!

And if you find yourself in need of a San Diego photographer - reach out today!

6 Months Since Becoming a San Diego Photographer

June 30, 2021

It has been six months since I became a San Diego photographer - or a photographer in San Diego.

I had spent the previous five years in San Jose working in corporate, and creating the building blocks to myself as a professional. During this time I had also been working on my chops as a photographer, wearing many hats as a wedding photographer, event photographer and portrait photographer.

It was in December 2020 when I decided to leave it all behind for San Diego to pursue my career as a photographer. Since moving here, I’ve been mainly focused on portrait photography, lifestyle photography and fashion photography.

What I love about San Diego is the amount of creative energy and folks looking to make a name for themselves here. Below is a gallery from my work with Shyann Lockhart who has been one of my favorite artist to work with.

The goal of 2021 has been to build my network and establish the KDigitals name in the scene. As much as I love photography and am confident in myself, I am also conscious that I am entering a saturated market filled with lots of talent and competition. Right now it is a matter of breaking through that noise and showing people I am someone to worth paying attention to (and hiring).

This year is all about building the foundation to the house.