*© Kimberly M. Wang | @eardogfoto | eardog.com*

Kimberly M. Wang moved to Orange County from New York City (Tribeca/Soho) at the beginning of 2022 with her rescue hound mix, Lila, and life-partner, Frank John Hughes, a screenwriter and actor.

A Portrait, Branding, and Editorial Photographer, Wang had already made a name for herself in major markets like NYC, LA, and the Bay Area, known for her visual storytelling and collabs with leading brands like Vogue, Meta/Facebook, Martha Stewart Living, Animal Planet, and more.

She learned the art of storytelling while serving as a TV Director/Producer, traveling the world creating television specials and series for major networks, before branching out on her own to create Eardog Productions, with a mission to help change makers share their stories with the world.

Wang is now offering her talents to Orange County and is currently partnering with local collaborators on a Cultivating Love campaign – a project that highlights locals who wake up each day with a mantra that keeps them focused on self-love and gratitude, helping them to approach life with a clearer sense of purpose.

Wang’s art is so much more than a photo – her goal is to create a photograph that embodies the very being of her subject. A photograph that will be cherished for generations to come.

How did you get into photography?

My first camera was a little compact Olympus that I found under the Xmas tree as a kid in grade school. My first muses were my childhood dogs, a sweet black and tan beagle, and a Keeshond. As a kid growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, I always loved art, music, film, dogs, horses, and photography, and not much has changed in that regard!

But the first half of my career, I was focused on my work as a television Director and Producer for Martha Stewart, ESPN, PBS, MTV, and most of the major networks you can imagine. Every shoot was different, which was a big part of the appeal of working in the industry.

As a Director/Producer, it was my job to: Ride horseback through the mountains of Brazil with a 4x Indy 500 champion; travel on tour with the great jazz musician Wynton Marsalis and his orchestra; profile young, NYC, LGBTQ activists working to create safe spaces for teens; and hit the slopes of Park City, Utah with one of America's original astronauts, Buzz Aldrin.

No day was ever the same, and that’s true about my life as a Photographer, too.

I made the shift from TV to Photography in 2008 when the financial crisis drove the industry to focus on reality tv. I wasn’t interested in riding that wave, but since I’d always shot stills behind the scenes of the shows I was helming, the leap to Editorial, Portrait and Branding Photography made complete sense. So, while, for me, the medium has changed, the people and stories I focus on share a lot in common in that they’re wildly diverse.

One day, I might be shooting a full 8 hour day with a high school senior as we create a set of portraits that tell the story of who that young adult is now, in that precious moment before they leave for college and embark on their lives as adults.

Through storytelling imagery captured during their very own magazine-style feature shoot, I capture all of their many colors and interests – from athletics to the arts.

Knowing that these images will become an important part of the family’s pictorial history means that I treat these shoots (and truly ALL of my clients) with great care.

I can see them in my mind’s eye, gathered together 20 years down the road, with the albums and wall art I commission for them sparking memories and stories, and laughter!

And then I might find myself on the set of an Emmy-award winning television series, as I did while shooting a European magazine story with the super talented Hollywood Costume Designer Ane Crabtree, best known for her work on The Handmaids Tale, (where I worked with her), Westworld, and Masters of Sex.

The next day I might find myself abroad, documenting important philanthropic work. One of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever worked on was photographing the renowned mezzo soprano and multi-Grammy Award winner Joyce DiDonato, as she collaborated with an Athens-based NGO devoted to bringing music education to young children detained at one of the largest refugee camps in Greece — vulnerable kids who otherwise have little opportunity to receive any kind of formal schooling and mentoring while they wait to be relocated.

Quite a bit of my work focuses on collaborating with small business owners and multinational corporations looking to grow their audiences, but whose marketing/branding imagery is in need of an update, and a focused, curated, and modern look.

I work with them to devise a plan so that every location, every outfit, Every scene reflects their stature, aesthetic, and story so they end up with a library of imagery that will help attract their ideal clients and accomplish their goals.

It’s this diversity that makes every day a new challenge. From headshots to branding to family portraits: the common thread is always story, authenticity, and of course, the highest level of service.

Your process is so different than a typical shoot. You really get to know your subjects. Why is that so important to you?

Most people, even those who are well known and have been in the public eye for many years, don’t love having their portrait taken.

They’ve had mediocre or terrible experiences in the past and find a camera pointed in their direction to be a drag, at best, stressful and demoralizing, at worst.

So, my process starts with a Discovery Call, which helps me to get an idea of their dreams and goals. That initial connection means so much to me, and to my clients, because I make it clear that their session is a collaboration, and I’m here to help solve their challenges, and create an enjoyable, and transforming experience.

Once they book with me, the next step is their Wardrobe Consult and Story Planning Session, where we conquer some of the other major issues that people experience when having their portrait taken: not knowing what to wear, what’s flattering, where to shoot, how to create imagery that will get them noticed.

All of the work we do prior to the sessions are what help my clients get into the groove of being photographed. IT help us form a bond so that WHEN they’re standing in front of ME AND my camera we’re super comfortable with one another. We’re already friends!

I want to know what brings my clients joy, what they’re most proud of, what places are meaningful, what loved ones make their hearts sing. And we also talk about what they might be self conscious about. (Most folks are self conscious about something, and that’s totally NORMAL!) With this knowledge, I can design a shoot that takes all of their concerns and feelings into consideration, to truly focus on what makes them feel confident!

For instance, if they are newly divorced and want to jump back into the dating pool, but find the idea of creating an online profile daunting, or simply want to celebrate their newfound freedom and can’t imagine how to communicate through imagery how special and beautiful they are, then I’ll prepare them for the shoot, and capture them in a way that will ensure that they’ll feel gorgeous and radiant, and absolutely worthy of love. And I’m just over the moon when they see their portraits and get teary because they’re so happy to finally feel SEEN.

How has your clientele changed since moving from New York City to Orange County?

There’s a special something that all of my clients share: they’re passionate about what they do! Whether that means caring for their families, growing a business, creating art and music, or even running for public office: they’re all devoted to something that they care deeply about. So, it’s lovely to find that commonality.

But it’s been super fun to find that my clients in California really love the idea of seeing the images we create on their walls! Many of my clients here have a lot more space for art than some of my clients back in New York City. That we create gorgeous wall art to suit their specific decor and aesthetic makes what I do a perfect fit for folks who are truly over having literally thousands of sort-of-ok images floating around in the Cloud, and nothing truly worthy of framing and hanging in their homes. And it’s been a really cool surprise to find that clients are seeking me out after hearing that we can create truly special works of art for them!

Where is your favorite place to shoot in Laguna?

This is such a great question, but I don’t know that I have an answer yet, because I’m still learning the area, and for me it’s always about the light!

I love natural light, and early morning light is the most beautiful light. Sunsets and golden hour are lovely, too, but it does fade quickly. And I love the quiet of early morning shoots when we can do our work when everyone else is still just thinking about getting out of bed!

Of course, Lindsay, I LOVED our shoot together at Main Beach in Downtown Laguna. There were dogs everywhere, you looked gorgeous in that soft, morning sunshine, and two lovely ladies even offered to hold your sweet pups while we worked! How can I not love Laguna after that sweet, neighborly moment!!

How has the SoCal lifestyle inspired you and your business?

The temperate weather is a wonderful shock to the system. In New York City, (a city that I will always adore) every shoot had an outdoor component, which can be a bummer, and even impossible at times when cold, rainy, or snowy weather rolls in on shoot day. That my clients and I can be comfortable here while shooting helps create a sense of ease that you only get on the good weather days of late spring, summer and early fall, in NYC. But I also find that our close proximity to the ocean helps me to feel grounded in a way that I’ve been longing for.

I’ve traveled a great deal over the years, but it’s the ocean that always makes me feel alive and connected to my creativity and my purpose, which is all about helping others feel seen, heard, and celebrated.

What types of shoots and clients have been your favorites?

I had an absolute ball shooting at Nellie Gail Ranch in Laguna Woods with Nikki Garcia, the manager of the Nellie Gail Equestrian Center, who is also a competitive rider. It was my goal to create a series of portraits of her and a stunning Friesian mare named Magriet in the magical woods surrounding the Center. Nikki has such a strong and beautiful presence, and her portraits are meant to be framed large, hung prominently, and passed down from generation to generation. The Master Retouching on each image was inspired by pre-Raphaelite, painted portraiture from the late 1800’s, which is a treatment that’s different from much of my other work that is more naturalistic, and super vibrant. I love the timeless look of Nikki’s portraits.

It’s such a joy to get back to photographing people and horses — animals who always leave me in awe. They’re regal and yet goofy at times, and so smart. I haven’t worked with horses since I had a house in Vermont over a decade ago, so that’s yet another perk to living in a place where there are so many horse lovers!

I’ve also been honored to photograph a candidate running for public office. One of my clients needed portraits for her campaign, as well as couple/anniversary portraits, and we were able to capture it all for her. I just love strong women who are committed to supporting those less fortunate. Their eyes sparkle with intention and purpose!

And I have worked quite a bit in the LA area, as well, shooting feature stories for publications about acclaimed creatives like the contemporary artist Shantell Martin, the jazz singer and multi-Grammy winner Dee Dee Bridgewater, and the Emmy winning writer/actress Ashley Nicole Black of Ted Lasso and A Black Lady Sketch Show.

Another favorite is the super talented Interior Designer, Tineke Triggs, who is often featured in the top shelter magazines, and we had a blast capturing all of her many styles and moods. She has such a strong point of view with her own work, and it was wonderful to set up scenes that revealed all those gorgeous aspects of her.

For me, photographing creatives is like catching lightning in a bottle!

For Laguna Beach Living readers Eardog Productions is offering 10% off Session Fees for anyone who books within 30 days. Learn more on Instagram at @eardogfoto or at www.eardog.com.

Creating Generational Photographs with Eardog Productions