Meet Kath | Kinetic Kath

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kath and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kath, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
People often think photography—especially in fashion or portrait work—is just about capturing how someone looks. But for me, it’s about capturing what you feel from them, not just what you see.

This March, I photographed Kaito Mori, a singer-songwriter who works with Amazon Music Studio, in Tokyo. We only had about an hour to shoot—my schedule in Japan was tight—but during that short time, we had a meaningful conversation. He told me he didn’t want to chase the spotlight; he just wants to release music as a streaming artist and let the work speak for itself.

Before the shoot, he sent me a few demos he had written. As I listened, I kept thinking about what he said—and the energy he carries in person. I started editing the photos not just as portraits, but as a way to reflect that feeling. I’m not a graphic designer, but I tried my best to create a piece that could represent him visually—something personal, something honest. His music carries so much light and color, even if he prefers to stay in the background.

That’s what most people don’t see about photography. It’s not only about lighting or gear. It’s about the quiet moments, the music, the story behind someone’s eyes—and turning all of that into a single frame.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a portrait photographer who focuses on capturing people at their most beautiful—not by turning them into someone else, but by helping them see the best version of themselves. I don’t apply a one-size-fits-all aesthetic. Instead, I take time to understand who they are and what makes them feel seen. My goal is to capture a moment that feels uniquely theirs.

This path wasn’t easy. Many people believe they’re not beautiful unless they look like someone else—a celebrity, an influencer, a polished, filtered version of a “standard.” I’ve been asked to replicate trending styles or edit people beyond recognition. But the more I did that, the more I felt disconnected from my own work.

That’s when I realized: real beauty isn’t about fitting in—it’s about showing up. What sets my work apart is not perfection, but presence. I want every photo I take to be a moment where someone sees themselves and thinks, that’s me—and I look like myself at my best.

That’s the story I want to tell with my photography: not how people should look, but how stunning they already are when they’re fully themselves.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to visit, I’d want to show them the version of the city that feels inspiring and alive to me—not just the landmarks, but the spaces where creativity actually comes to life. One of my favorite memories of that is taking my friend, Chanée Zhao, to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures for a photoshoot.

Chanée is a singer-songwriter originally from Baotou, Inner Mongolia, now based in Los Angeles where she’s studying vocal performance. She recently served as a sound curator for Silicon Valley Fashion Week, where she integrated her musical sensibilities with high-concept fashion presentations—showcasing her ability to think beyond the stage and into cultural experience design.

During our shoot, the museum became more than just a backdrop—it became part of the conversation. With its cinematic architecture and curated lighting, every corner invited a new feeling, and Chanée knew exactly how to respond to it. Watching her move through that space—connecting with it, interpreting it—reminded me why I love photographing artists. It’s not just about capturing a look, but about documenting energy.

That experience was a perfect example of what this city means to me: not just a place to see, but a place to create. Especially when you’re surrounded by friends like Chanée, who bring their own story to every frame.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Someone I want to give a heartfelt shoutout to is my friend Nino.

We’ve had some of the most honest, grounding conversations. Especially recently, when I’ve felt unsure about my own work. There were moments I wasn’t just doubting the outcome—I was doubting whether I had anything worth saying through my photography at all. I was making things, but they didn’t feel like me. Some clients started asking me to imitate other photographers’ styles. And I did it, sometimes—but every time, a part of me felt even further away from the reason I picked up a camera in the first place.

And that’s when Nino’s voice cuts through.

She’s a singer and multidisciplinary artist trained in classical voice and deeply influenced by jazz, indie, and electronic music. She founded her own label, Moonlight Daughter Records, and continues to grow as an artist and entrepreneur through UCLA’s music business programs. But beyond her accomplishments, it’s her clarity and emotional honesty that always stay with me.

She never tells me what to do, but she always brings me back to the question: What do you truly believe in? She reminds me—gently but firmly—that I don’t need to mold myself into someone else’s vision. That the work I’m most afraid to make—the most honest, the most personal—is probably the most important.

Nino has this gift of helping people remember who they are, especially when they’ve been buried under expectations, noise, or comparison. She reminds me that dissatisfaction isn’t failure—it’s a sign that I care deeply, that I’m still searching for something real.

I think a lot of where I am today—not just professionally, but emotionally—comes from the space she holds for me. So if there’s anyone I’d want to dedicate this moment to, it’s her.

Website: http://linktr.ee/tadda.studio

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photo_kath16/

Image Credits
Photo 1: Kaito Mori
Photo 2: Kaito Mori
Photo 3: Kaito Mori
Photo 4: Girl Named Nino
Photo 5: Girl Named Nino
Photo 6: Chanee Zhao
Photo 7: Chanee Zhao