Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin King.
Kevin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started taking pictures of people on the street with a modified brownie camera when I was young. I graduated when my dad bought me a disk camera in the late 80’s and wouldn’t buy me a 35mm Pentax until I was “good enough.” Eventually, I graduated to a Mamiya 645 medium format camera after college. I had fun with it, but eventually, the wife and kids arrived and I took a break. I came back to Los Angeles a year ago with a Canon 5d MarkII that allowed me to do things that I never thought possible. My co-workers had a lot to do with my improvement. They still do.
Has it been a smooth road?
I have a panic attack before every shot. My fear is that there is only one perfect moment and my personal failures will disallow that perfect shot from happening. I love experiencing a perfect line from a play or a hearing a perfect note from a live concert. I always fear that my personal inadequacies will deny that perfect moment from being recorded the second I click the shutter. That fear never leaves me.
How would you describe the type of kid you were growing up?
My parents do relief work overseas so I grew up traveling constantly – I attended 8 different schools by the time I graduated. Through that, I was exposed to a multitude of experiences, cultures, and locations. I gravitated towards things that captured it, so naturally, I turned to writing and photography.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Visiting my late grandmother in San Diego and letting her spoil me, (only grandson).
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Photography-wise, I’m heading into the studio for a 6 part series I’ve sketched out in my head. At this point, it’s a matter of finding the right subjects. Outside of that, I plan to sit for the California Bar in the next 12 months. Once I pass it, I will apply to work for the Innocence Project.
Contact Info:
- Website: kevinmichaelking.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: kming7777
